News & Articles
Being Useful
I was asked recently to give a talk on one of the most influential philosophers and theologians of the 20th century—Martin Buber. I doubt that the people who asked me to talk about Buber were aware of the gift they gave me with their request. Of all the philosophers or theologians I could be asked…
I Can’t Hate Nickelback
This past weekend, I came across a documentary on the musical group Nickelback. First of all, I confess that I’d never listened to a song by this group before I watched the documentary. I also confess that all I knew about Nickelback was that they are one of the most hated groups in the history…
Hope and Optimism
One of my favorite experiences is to read something that I’ve never thought about before. This happened last week when I was reading an article by the Catholic activist Dorothy Day. There are few people who have lived a life of such strong convictions as Dorothy Day. Consequently, she has never failed to challenge my…
When Faith Battles Faith
Having focused on apocalyptic literature in the Bible in my doctoral studies, I find myself alarmed by Secretary of Defense’s director, Peter Hegseth, spreading the idea that the attack on Iran is part of Biblical prophecy. Both history and faith tell us that such a stance will likely lead to disaster. First, let’s consider what…
Flood The Zone
Everyone who reads this column experiences what is known as “flood the zone” even if we cannot define it. “Flood the zone” refers to the practice of the Trump Administration to overload the news we hear from and about Donald Trump on a daily and even hourly basis. In any given week, it’s possible to…
What To Think About AI
Recently, I’ve heard people who claim to be in the know make predictions about how AI (Artificial Intelligence) will change life in the future. Specifically, I’ve heard claims that AI will do many of the jobs that we humans now do. Some people I respect, particularly those in the arts, are alarmed at the coming…