Category: Culture

ancestors, Christianity, Culture, Family, Family, fear, history, humanity, racism, spirituality

Ancestors

Gary Furr

I made the mistake of getting interested in my ancestors several years ago. Genealogical research is when you set off in the most hopeful of frames, just knowing we will discover Dukes, Earls, celebrities, inventors, Queens and famous artists in our personal tree. More likely you will find ordinary people who farmed, had children and never moved. Or worse, horse thieves and other people running from debtors prison or an ex-wife and children. It’s like a fellow who was looking into his heritage, but he wasn’t very encouraged by what he found. He wrote a friend and said, “It’s not … Continue reading Ancestors

Bible, Christian Nationalism, Christianity, Citizenship, Culture, Ethics, Faith, fear, Hope, hope, humanity, Jesus, Love, Politics, Story, Television

Random Thoughts from the Bargain Bin

Gary Furr

When the new Pope began speaking, I wasn’t sure what language I’d be hearing, so I turned on “live captioning.” When he said, “We must pray to Mother Mary” in Italian, it said, “Pray to Mother PayPal.” (Did that J.D. Vance do that?) In the gospel of Matthew, we are told the Wise men came to Jerusalem, asking where the child was to be born. The Bible says, “When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him.” As a precaution, he ordered all the baby boys massacred. So when terrible things happen, trace irrational oppression. You … Continue reading Random Thoughts from the Bargain Bin

America, Children, Citizenship, Culture, Ethics, Family, Grace, Hope, hope, humanity, Leadership, spirituality, Story1 Comment

Glimmers of Hope

Gary Furr

Glimmers of Hope Sometimes. I stand back and think of how strange this moment is. We had a car sale on the lawn of the White House. People are screaming at their representatives at town hall meetings. A man who said he could make the government run better got on a stage with a chainsaw to encourage us somehow. I have abandoned arguing on Facebook with anyone. Well occasionally I get sucked in like we all do, but it seems as though we cannot decide who the real adults are. Adults are not acquitting themselves too well at the present … Continue reading Glimmers of Hope

America, Citizenship, Culture, Ethics, history, Hope, Leadership, mass murder, Race, Story, Theology, war6 Comments

Not Everything is a Deal

Gary Furr

A conviction, my late friend Jim McClendon used to say, is that which, should you cease to believe it would mean you were no longer you. The sacrifice of Ukraine and appeasement of Vladimir Putin is appalling. Who are we? I’ve watched our new Vice President scold Germany and Europe for not holding hands with the far right. In a press conference, the President essentially turned the three year war into a giant misunderstanding that should never have happened at all. There is plenty of blame to go around, going back to failure to oppose the annexation of Crimea enough … Continue reading Not Everything is a Deal

9-11, America, Baptist life, Christian Nationalism, Citizenship, Constitution, Culture, Ethics, First Amendment, Harrassment, humanity, Immigration, Interfaith Dialogue, Justice, Modern Life, Politics, September 11, spirituality, Terrorism1 Comment

Give Me Liberty and I’ll Give You Liberty, Too

Gary Furr

Religious freedom is either a principle or a convenient fiction. I once taught American church history at Samford University, and I at least know something about religion and American history. And on the matter of religious liberty, I am a fiery Baptist. It is a principle, not a convenience. If you are a real Baptist, you fight for EVERYBODY’S freedom.  My friend Glenn Hinson once wrote, “For faith to be genuine, it must be free.” That means unsupported by government, and free from government power over our conscience and the practice of faith as long as we do not interfere … Continue reading Give Me Liberty and I’ll Give You Liberty, Too