Sightings Articles

Black and white lithograph of Thomas Jefferson sitting at desk with books

Enlightenment | Thomas Jefferson | Christianity

Enlightenment Religion in the Private and Public Bibles of Thomas Jefferson

For Thomas Jefferson, the human being's responsibility was to extricate and celebrate good religion....

February 29, 2024
sausages

religious freedom | Protestant Reformation | Christianity

The Affair of the Sausages and Religious Freedom

Five hundred years ago today, some Swiss people ate sausages. This was a major event in the history of Christianity....

March 8, 2022
gathering in s. korea

South Korea | political religion | cults | Christianity

Christian Apocalypse in Pandemic-Stricken South Korea

Christianity in South Korea will never be the same post-pandemic....

December 9, 2021
empty pews

American church | Christianity | Catholic decline

Sunday Mournings

Sunday worship was valorized as something it was not, but the “new normal” could turn out to be something that warrants renewed hope....

October 7, 2021
Damages

Beirut explosion | Islam | Christianity | charity | capitalism

The Donation Dilemma

Charity in the aftermath of the Beirut Explosion...

September 17, 2020
pews

Christianity | worship | secularism

Sunday Is ...

Are traditional holy days still something more than just any other day?...

January 13, 2020

Christianity | India | theology

The Expanded Spelling of "koinonia"

Though as an Indian I take a certain pride in the accomplishments of Indian American children, I generally do not follow closely the spelling bee contests where they emerge as winners in most years. Still, I could not help but take notice when fourte...

June 28, 2018

Canada | Christianity | theology

Douglas John Hall, Celebrating Ninety Years

The year 1928 was a good one for theologians. In addition to the esteemed Professor Marty, the Canadian theologian Douglas John Hall celebrated his ninetieth birthday on March 23. Hall was born in Ingersoll, Ontario; attended high school and business...

April 26, 2018

Christianity | Easter

Parades, Peeps, and Paradoxes

Easter parades survive in classic Hollywood films, on the avenues near cathedrals (which paraders pass but rarely frequent), in peeps, and in song. Seldom is there a trace of connection to the religious event which prompts Easter celebrations. Eviden...

April 2, 2018

Christianity | Evangelicalism | Protestantism

In Search of a Rectification of Names

After eighty years, the college fellowship that I attended as an undergraduate at Princeton has altered its name. “Princeton Evangelical Fellowship” is gone, replaced by “Princeton Christian Fellowship.” I was not surprised or annoyed. The original t...

October 26, 2017