I know a lot of outstanding teachers. Theirs is a difficult job and I have a great deal of sympathy for them. But I had some doozies when I was young. This is about one of them. It made sense that the meanest teacher of our elementary school had the name, Mrs. Snodgrass. She had … Continue reading The Mean Teacher Retires
Category: abuse
I Hope I’m Wrong About This Prediction
I've always felt gratitude and respect for the service of the outgoing Presidents, even the ones for whom I didn't vote. Until this one. It’s the last twenty-four hours of his term, and I’m not breathing a sigh of relief just yet. In every church I ever served, there was a Trump personality who grasped … Continue reading I Hope I’m Wrong About This Prediction
Conservatives, This is Your Fault!
To my conservative family and friends, as well as the millions of others, I want to say clearly that I'm angry because you put this jackass in the White House.
Who Cares About the Election?
What would it be like if we had a whole nation of grownups who knew how to think critically and cared enough to resist the hysteria of crowds? What kind of leaders would be chosen?
This Is Not New
This is not new. And it shouldn't be a surprise. The only thing that should shock anyone is that rioting still seems to be a necessary last resort because things have changed so little.
A Conspiracy of Silence
I’m horrified that we locked my sweet, loveable, funny aunt into a prison of silence, where she dreaded the day she would die and go to the hell we had created.
Will God Answer for His Actions?
Over my time as a minister, people whispered these questions to me, often ashamed to put them into words. I’m articulating them in hopes of engaging their thinking.
Drowning in the Baptismal Waters
It has taken me a long time to see that our religion could be a tool to prey on the vulnerable. The baptismal waters come closer to drowning them rather than cleansing them.
Atheism Versus the Easter Bunny
Many Christians accuse atheists of having a hidden agenda, which I think takes a special blend of nerve and insanity, considering that their highest priority is to convert the entire world.
Standing Apart from the Crowd
I’ve been observing crowds all my life. I’ve seen them get sad, anxious, giddy, angry, reactive, and just plain stupid. People who were generally thoughtful as individuals could lose their ability to think for themselves when influenced by a crowd.