Dear Readers, 

What a year it's been. I hardly need recount the momentous difficulties we have all lived through: clinging to health and staving off aloneness in a worldwide pandemic, being confronted as a nation once again with our country's legacy of systemic racism and injustice, and weathering a bitterly polarizing election have all taken a toll on us. The toll has undoubtedly been higher for some individuals and communities than for others, but we have all felt it. 

It was an honor and a pleasure to take over the editorship of Sightings from Joel in September, and I can honestly say that working with incredibly talented scholars and observers of religion in the public sphere to bring their insights to you twice weekly has been a source of joy and light during a hard time. I hope that Sightings has brought some interest, excitement, and comfort to your inbox as well. Thank you so much for being with us through it all.

We will be going on a short hiatus for the remainder of the year but will resume our normal publication schedule with the new year. The Marty Center will also host an exciting online symposium in January on interfaith education; for details and registration, see the website here. In the meantime, we at the Martin Marty Center wish you a holiday season full of light and good will – cheer where it may be found, solace where it is not, compassion for the suffering, and hope for a brighter future.

With warmest wishes,

Daniel Owings
Managing Editor, Sightings