Category Archives: news

First, Compassion: Compassion Fatigue Can Come Later

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Sharon Autenrieth

We’re exhausted.  My last post was written in the days immediately following the SCOTUS same sex marriage decision, and it seems the entire summer has been one long stream of public controversies, celebrity scandals, tragedies, disasters and culture war battles. … Continue reading →

Posted in news | 1 Comment

Ken Ham spreads the good news (just kidding)

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Sharon Autenrieth

No. No, no, no, no, no. This is not how we “reach out” to atheists, people. For the record, I am well aware of the billboards that groups like the American Atheists and the Freedom from Religion Foundation have put … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, news, religion, spirituality | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Tragedy, Twitter and Teachable Moments

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Sharon Autenrieth

A note of correction before we go further:  This post was initially written based on incomplete information, having seen multiple reports that John Piper tweeted Job 1:19, in isolation.  That was incorrect.  He immediately followed that tweet with another, posting … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, blogging, Christian Ministry, Christianity, news, religion, spirituality, theology | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Christian leaders try to “explain” Sandy Hook (uh-oh)

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Sharon Autenrieth

Note:  I tiptoed in where angels fear to treat and wrote the following piece for Civil Religion on the Sandy Hook tragedy, or rather on how Christians respond. Let me admit this right up front: I don’t think I can … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, news, religion, spirituality, theology | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Another tornado, and this one in my hometown

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Sharon Autenrieth

This is where I grew up and where my parents still live. Scott Joplin’s hometown, and the home of the Missouri State Fair. I went to Horace Mann Elementary School, and Smith Cotton High School, although my dad taught at … Continue reading →

Posted in news | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

We should have kept tighter reigns on this whole Christianity thing

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Sharon Autenrieth

It’s a real frustration to watch a yahoo like Harold Camping make Christianity look foolish.  How do you convince people that he doesn’t represent the whole church?  Not the first time we’ve been down this road is it?  Ahem, Terry … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, church, humor, news, religion, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Perfect Storm of Absurdity: Terry Jones comments on Harold Camping

Posted on May 21, 2011 by Sharon Autenrieth

Just when you think today’s cup-o-crazy can’t possibly hold more, there’s this: Among those people who said they refused to get caught up in the hysteria was Florida pastor Terry Jones, who has generated controversy by burning, and threatening to … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, media, news, religion, The Bad & the Ugly | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Waiting for the End of Days, Again

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Sharon Autenrieth

Have you heard the one about the pastor who predicted the Rapture and the end of the world?  Which one, you ask?  Yes, despite the unusual amount of media attention this is getting, the predictions for this Saturday are not … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, church, news, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

For Eastertide: You Whose Name, by Czeslaw Milosz

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Sharon Autenrieth

Death is on our collective mind at the moment, and not just the death of Osama bin Laden.  His death seems to have stirred up again the grief and anger that we’ve suffered as a people over the last ten … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Eastertide, literature, news, poetry, religion, spirituality | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Should We Rejoice Over Bin Laden’s Death?

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Sharon Autenrieth

In our small group meeting last night we talked about the place of questions and doubts in the Christian life.  It was timely, because I went to sleep last night with many questions (and some doubt, too) in my mind. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, news, politics, religion, spirituality | Tagged , | 18 Comments