Recommended Reading, Listening and Watching 11-13-15 edition

Each week (more or less) I send out an e-mail to my congregation sharing my thoughts along with a list of things I’ve read, listened to or watched that I think are worth passing along.  I’ve been neglecting my blog lately and this list is from a while back, but the stuff on this list is still worth digesting if you haven’t seen it already.

Recommended Reading and Listening

Mizzou Protests and Racism on Campus Both I and CCCUCC Seminarian Bethany Meier were proud to stand with other KC area clergy and community groups at a press conference yesterday supporting the protests of black students at Mizzou.  Here's a story about it. Lewis Diuguid of the KC Star had two great opinion pieces this week offering some background on racism at Mizzou: 1.  "MU has a long, troubled history of racism that must be overcome," and 2.  "Missouri must work its way out of the spotlight for racial hatred, intolerance and bigotry" Jenne Osterheldt of the KC Star also had a great opinion piece about racism at Mizzou: "Racism at Mizzou is real whether you believe it or not" Barbara Shelly of the KC Star (it was a great week for Star opinion pieces) about the situation at Mizzou: "Mizzou, Ferguson and Missouri's Collective Failure to Pay Attention" Two accounts of racism on the Mizzou campus being nothing new--one from a black student, one from a black faculty member Another account of racism at Mizzou from a black alumna Protests at Mizzou, Yale and elsewhere have faced push back from critics charging the protesters don't respect free speech.  Here's a good response to that charge in the New Yorker.  Racism  Looks like KU is being more proactive on racism than Mizzou. TIME Magazine's cover story this week is about the family members of those murdered at Emanual AME Church in Charleston, SC.  The story deals with what forgiveness means and doesn't mean to these families. A provocative blog post on the UCC blog New Sacred about what it means to be "Black, Conscious and Christian" Starbucks Red Cup Uproar UCC minister, Emily Heath, has a great response to those Christians who are upset about Starbucks' choice of cups for the holidays. Renee Girard Philosopher and anthropologist Rene Girard died this week.  His thoughts about the significance of Jesus' death has greatly influenced my own thoughts on the subject.  You'll hear a bit about his theories in this Sunday's sermon. LGBTQ Equality CCCUCC's Seminarian, Bethany Meier, was a volunteer at the Reformation Project, a conference for people working for LGBTQ equality in churches who reject LGBTQ people.  Here's the keynote speech. Faith If you're a fan of the Trappist monk and spiritual writer, Thomas Merton, like me, you'll be interested in this interesting connection between his life and Missouri detailed inthis story aired on KCUR. A great reflection on the concept of "home" in this UCC daily devotional by UCC minister, Kenneth Samuel.