All posts filed under: Philosophy

Sacred Assets, Tough Decisions

Sacred Assets, Tough Decisions

Published by Sam Flores

Many of us were taught an unspoken deal: Live faithfully, do the right things, and life will work out. In this episode, Amber and Tom gently — but firmly — challenge that transactional model of faith and money with Amy Butler, a pastor, author and founder of Invested Faith. Amy shares how her own ministry journey exposed the limits of “cosmic vending machine” theology and why she believes faith communities are called to something deeper: interdependence. Drawing from her books “Beautiful and Terrible Things” and “Holy Disruption,” she explores how churches can move beyond scarcity thinking and creatively repurpose their assets to fund social enterprises that challenge unjust systems.  Along the way, the conversation gets refreshingly practical: why pastors need balance sheets, not just Bible studies; why financial literacy is a form of pastoral care; and why closing or transforming institutions can be holy work. It’s a hopeful, grounded look at how faith communities can steward money, power and privilege with courage, imagination and a little disruption. About Pastor Amy Butler: Pastor Amy Butler has led …

Is There Any Merry Among You? – OpentheWord.org

Is There Any Merry Among You? – OpentheWord.org

Published by Sam Flores

…Is any merry? let him sing psalms.— James 5:13 By Rick Renner Have you ever experienced something that thrilled you so deeply, you felt as if you’d explode if you couldn’t express your joy about it? If you were alone when this happened, did it sadden you that you had no one to rejoice with you? Did it throw cold water on what you were feeling? What should you do if you ever come to one of those moments when you’re all alone, but you feel so elated that you just need to shout, dance, or sing to express yourself? I encourage you to go ahead and do it! The Lord is right there with you, and He’ll be happy to share that moment of bliss with you. So don’t waste time feeling sorry for yourself — just open your heart to the Lord and let out that shout! If you feel like screaming with joy, then scream! If you’re so excited that you can’t stand still, then throw off your shoes and start dancing! …

5 Key Works in the Philosophy of Mind You Should Know

5 Key Works in the Philosophy of Mind You Should Know

Published by Sam Flores

  Philosophy of mind didn’t emerge in a vacuum. It grew out of the natural progression: the turning of the philosophical lens onto the thinkers themselves. After centuries of pondering the nature of reality, knowledge, and ethics, philosophers began to ask: What about the mind that does the pondering? How does it fit into the world it seeks to understand? This shift marked the birth of one of philosophy’s most fascinating and enduring fields. In this article, we will cover the five most influential books in the philosophy of mind. The criteria for choosing the books were their historical role, the novelty they introduced into the philosophy of mind, and their relevance to those outside academic circles.   1. Aristotle, De Anima (c. 350 BC) An engraving of Aristotle by Anonymous Italian (after Enea Vico), 1553. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art   Aristotle’s De Anima (“On the Soul”) is one of the earliest and most influential works in the philosophy of mind. In this text, Aristotle explores the nature of the soul (dubbed psyche in …

US Catholic bishops to vote on updating child sexual abuse guidelines

US Catholic bishops to vote on updating child sexual abuse guidelines

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops plans to vote Thursday (June 11) on revisions to its cornerstone document addressing the sexual abuse of minors, including new language that emphasizes “the presumption of innocence” for accused priests.  But a prominent archbishop pushed back during a Wednesday presentation of the proposed revisions, urging the conference to take more time to consult survivors and priests. “ I am worried how the language presently in the draft will impact our known victims as well as our unknown victims,” said Archbishop Shawn McKnight of Kansas City, Kansas. “I’m also concerned about how our priests are going to respond.” The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, commonly known as the Dallas Charter, is a set of policy commitments that the bishops created in 2002 as the church began to reckon with the full impact of the church’s sexual abuse crisis victimizing children. Since then, the document has been revised three times. One of the flashpoints has been whether the charter should expand its scope to sexual abuse …

Trump’s meeting with Orthodox Christian patriarch sows confusion

Trump’s meeting with Orthodox Christian patriarch sows confusion

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — The Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, met with President Donald Trump last week in the White House and awarded him one of the highest honors in the church, the Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.  In return, Theophilos came out of the meeting with an honor of his own, the suggestion of becoming a peacemaker in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, apparently backed by Trump, Israeli media reported.  The news left many observers scratching their heads. In the constellation of Orthodox Church leaders, Theophilos is seen as solidly in Russia’s camp. The patriarch is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow later this month. The Ukraine-Russia war is the largest conflict affecting the world’s Orthodox Christians today, with majorities of both Russia and Ukraine’s population identifying with Orthodox churches.  The conflict has divided the wider Orthodox world too, after the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople granted autocephaly to a Ukrainian Orthodox Church independent of the Moscow Patriarchate, prompting Moscow to break communion with Constantinople and forcing many of …

How do we confront hatred in rock music?

How do we confront hatred in rock music?

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — The Stones put it this way: It’s only rock ’n’ roll, but I like it. And I do — the Beatles, the Stones, David Bowie. But there are some things I don’t like about it. Author and musician Daniel Rachel has written a new, disturbing and quite overdue book, “This Ain’t Rock ’n’ Roll: Pop Music, the Swastika and the Third Reich.” And I interviewed him about it for my podcast.  The book documents something that has been hiding in plain sight for more than 60 years. As Rachel writes: For over seventy-five years, musicians have been drawn to the language and provocative imagery of Nazism, fascinated by its power, menace and underlying sexuality. They have flirted with the theatrical spectacle of the Third Reich, displayed the swastika, flaunted memorabilia, worn Nazi uniforms and marveled at the grandiose rallies of 1930s Germany. Decades ago, Woody Guthrie had a guitar with the words inscribed on it: “This machine kills fascists.” We never thought that future rock stars might have guitars that could say they …

What Pope Leo’s AI encyclical means for Catholic colleges and universities

What Pope Leo’s AI encyclical means for Catholic colleges and universities

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — One of the greatest privileges I enjoy as a university president is looking directly into the eyes of new graduates as they cross the stage in our commencement ceremonies. This year had a twist: Given recent news stories about universities using artificial intelligence to announce graduates’ names, I made a point to reassure the audiences an actual human would do the honors.  And at each ceremony, that announcement brought loud cheers. Yes, we love our technology today, but we also still yearn for authentic human connection. If we don’t provide it, our institutions risk becoming transactional degree factories where students become dehumanized.  The day after our final ceremony, Pope Leo XIV published his first encyclical, titled “Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” This writing carries critical implications not just for Catholic higher education, but for all educators. While many of the insights are worth highlighting, Pope Leo could not have been clearer about the path forward: “Let us cultivate relationships.” Colleges and universities must always strive …

US bishops signal closer ties to Pope Leo — while nudging Trump on immigration

US bishops signal closer ties to Pope Leo — while nudging Trump on immigration

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — In agenda-setting speeches for the beginning of their terms as leaders of the U.S. Catholic Church on Wednesday (June 10), Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley, the new president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Pope Leo XIV’s new diplomatic representative in the U.S., emphasized their unity with the pope and each other as they tackled some of the church’s most pressing problems. During Pope Francis’ pontificate, the conference did not always appear to prioritize his keystone initiatives, particularly around environmental teaching and dialogue known as synodality. As church observers watched closely to see what kind of posture the new U.S. leaders might take toward Leo’s papacy, Coakley’s repeated citations of the first U.S.-born pope and references to his teachings may be signaling a closer relationship between the Vatican and U.S. church, though the meeting’s public agenda does not include any sessions dedicated to artificial intelligence or Leo’s first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas.” “ Today, in an age of constant flux, of forced migration, polarization, disruptions, climatic and economic upheavals, …

The country’s largest Protestant adoption agency is dropping LGBTQ couples — again

The country’s largest Protestant adoption agency is dropping LGBTQ couples — again

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — Bethany Christian Services, long described as the country’s largest Protestant adoption and foster care agency, will no longer allow LGBTQ couples to foster or adopt, according to a statement to RNS. In a press release posted Wednesday (June 10), the Michigan-based agency announced that its board voted to “clarify and reinforce” its Christian faith commitments. Those changes require staff and board members to “personally agree and adhere to” a belief statement that includes the Apostle’s Creed, recognizes the authority of the Christian Bible and affirms the image of God in every person. The belief statement also defines God’s design for marriage as “a covenant between one man and one woman.” In an email to RNS, a spokesperson confirmed that these changes will also impact the selection of foster and adoptive parents. “Beginning June 2027, Bethany will only license and re-license foster families whose Christian faith and beliefs align with our Statement of Faith and Belief,” they said. The spokesperson added that senior leaders on staff and others who have “certain roles” with “significant …