I appreciated this, and am grateful to know what the ELCA is up to in standing up for truth; and I am astounded to find that a call to basic honesty *among people of faith* could have caused controversy and conflict. Thank you for blessing this crazy era with your voice, and with your willingness to use it.
This is not about this article exactly. I am interested in your thought s on the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) in general and how they ties into or Christian Nationalism.
Thank you, Diana. It is alarming how baseless and perpetual lies, name calling, and hateful rhetoric have become normalized by half of Americans. It's a tragedy in our time. Sadly, it speaks volumes about the personal values of some (too many) and perhaps our societal values. I'm so grateful to you and to the ELCA Bishops for your collective pursuit of speaking truth. God bless you and your ministry.
I just find it hard to fathom how so many folks can believe the lies and all that is being said about so much..we lived through it all and know.. thank you for your wisdom and words and most of all keeping us informed.. ❤️🙏
I am proud to be a member of the ELCA and proud of our bishops for speaking out. My husband’s eastern religious teachers say that when you speak remember these tenets and keep quiet unless what you will say is: Honest, Timely, Kind and Beneficial. If it’s not all of these things, think twice about jumping in the conversation.
Thank you for bringing attention to such important matters! It’s so odd & dangerous how former-Pres-DT claims to be the savior for all the falsehoods he speaks. It’s like many follow the guy who tickles ears about fears hoping he’ll accomplish desired agendas.
I listened to NPR about connecting first. It takes time. I pray such conversations with connections may still help for Nov 5 U.S. election. I find this challenging. And I’m learning to ask questions: what, how, where (more than “why," which can lead to the responder feeling/becoming defensive.)
"To make children better fact-checkers, expose them to more misinformation -- with oversight
'We need to give children experience flexing these skepticism muscles and using these critical thinking skills within this online context,' a UC Berkeley psychology researcher said." UC Berkely, 10/10/24, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241010124900.htm
Comments are now closed to everyone except paid subscribers. If you read this thread - or read some of the material that I've had to remove, you certainly understand.
As a reminder, no lies or fake news are tolerated here. Also, if you outright insult anyone or imply personal insult to me or anyone else, well, sorry, you can't comment in this space.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this article from The Atlantic. I made it a gift article - you should be able to read it. The piece begins thus, "The truth is, it’s getting harder to describe the extent to which a meaningful percentage of Americans have dissociated from reality."
I was a supply preacher (ELCA, before the bishops' statement) couple weeks ago at a church in Northern Ohio where people are somewhat familiar with me. I hit hard on the clear mandate of Scripture to welcome the stranger as related to the treatment of the Haitian folks in Springfield. I mentioned "politics" but I named no names, instead blaming the whole thing on a person who put rumors on social media. One man walked out during one of the services, and several others made complaint to the congregation's president. I'm reminded of Jack Nicholson's famous movie line: "Truth? You can't handle the truth!"
Amen to that and grateful to ECLA for issuing that statement. My hope is that other mainline churches will do the same. Yet, it is as you stated, up to us to take up that mantle of truth and speak it. It's time. Thank you for this and the encouragement.
Lucien Truscott wrote an excellent piece in Substack asking why the NY Times refuses to refer to Trump as the convicted felon that he is, or call out his blatant racism spouted at his rallies refering to "good genes", or that a judge has labeled him a rapist. And the rest of mainstream press is no better. The dread that envelops me worsens daily. I cannot shake the feeling that his is going to win the election. If he does, God save us all!
The Speaker of the House Mike Johnson spoke in Asheville this week and repeated some of DT’s lies about FEMA. Congressman Edward’s called out the lies but stood beside Johnson among the devastation! Some people in Asheville are going to be so confused.
I appreciated this, and am grateful to know what the ELCA is up to in standing up for truth; and I am astounded to find that a call to basic honesty *among people of faith* could have caused controversy and conflict. Thank you for blessing this crazy era with your voice, and with your willingness to use it.
This is not about this article exactly. I am interested in your thought s on the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) in general and how they ties into or Christian Nationalism.
Thank you, Diana. It is alarming how baseless and perpetual lies, name calling, and hateful rhetoric have become normalized by half of Americans. It's a tragedy in our time. Sadly, it speaks volumes about the personal values of some (too many) and perhaps our societal values. I'm so grateful to you and to the ELCA Bishops for your collective pursuit of speaking truth. God bless you and your ministry.
Thank you!
That statement from the bishops and your comments are so encouraging. I say "Yes"! We cannot accept the normalization of the lies. Thanks.
Thank you for sharing this Diana. I'm grateful to read this statement from the ELCA bishops.
I just find it hard to fathom how so many folks can believe the lies and all that is being said about so much..we lived through it all and know.. thank you for your wisdom and words and most of all keeping us informed.. ❤️🙏
I am proud to be a member of the ELCA and proud of our bishops for speaking out. My husband’s eastern religious teachers say that when you speak remember these tenets and keep quiet unless what you will say is: Honest, Timely, Kind and Beneficial. If it’s not all of these things, think twice about jumping in the conversation.
Thank you for bringing attention to such important matters! It’s so odd & dangerous how former-Pres-DT claims to be the savior for all the falsehoods he speaks. It’s like many follow the guy who tickles ears about fears hoping he’ll accomplish desired agendas.
I listened to NPR about connecting first. It takes time. I pray such conversations with connections may still help for Nov 5 U.S. election. I find this challenging. And I’m learning to ask questions: what, how, where (more than “why," which can lead to the responder feeling/becoming defensive.)
https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2024/10/10/misinformation-lies
"Don't directly negate information."
"Instead, reframe the information." Explain the source & motivation for the false claims"
https://whyy.org/articles/misinformation-rumor-elections-political-statements/
"To make children better fact-checkers, expose them to more misinformation -- with oversight
'We need to give children experience flexing these skepticism muscles and using these critical thinking skills within this online context,' a UC Berkeley psychology researcher said." UC Berkely, 10/10/24, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241010124900.htm
Rev Dr Howard-John Wesley, "What is Truth?" ASBC, Sep 15, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/live/jR8y7D2rtjc?t=6653s
Comments are now closed to everyone except paid subscribers. If you read this thread - or read some of the material that I've had to remove, you certainly understand.
As a reminder, no lies or fake news are tolerated here. Also, if you outright insult anyone or imply personal insult to me or anyone else, well, sorry, you can't comment in this space.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this article from The Atlantic. I made it a gift article - you should be able to read it. The piece begins thus, "The truth is, it’s getting harder to describe the extent to which a meaningful percentage of Americans have dissociated from reality."
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/10/hurricane-milton-conspiracies-misinformation/680221/
I was a supply preacher (ELCA, before the bishops' statement) couple weeks ago at a church in Northern Ohio where people are somewhat familiar with me. I hit hard on the clear mandate of Scripture to welcome the stranger as related to the treatment of the Haitian folks in Springfield. I mentioned "politics" but I named no names, instead blaming the whole thing on a person who put rumors on social media. One man walked out during one of the services, and several others made complaint to the congregation's president. I'm reminded of Jack Nicholson's famous movie line: "Truth? You can't handle the truth!"
And where are all the other "Christian" bishops?
Amen to that and grateful to ECLA for issuing that statement. My hope is that other mainline churches will do the same. Yet, it is as you stated, up to us to take up that mantle of truth and speak it. It's time. Thank you for this and the encouragement.
Lucien Truscott wrote an excellent piece in Substack asking why the NY Times refuses to refer to Trump as the convicted felon that he is, or call out his blatant racism spouted at his rallies refering to "good genes", or that a judge has labeled him a rapist. And the rest of mainstream press is no better. The dread that envelops me worsens daily. I cannot shake the feeling that his is going to win the election. If he does, God save us all!
The Speaker of the House Mike Johnson spoke in Asheville this week and repeated some of DT’s lies about FEMA. Congressman Edward’s called out the lies but stood beside Johnson among the devastation! Some people in Asheville are going to be so confused.