ArcaMax

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: Someone said that if we want to know Jesus, read the Beatitudes, for they list the good things that all religions usually agree on because they are ethical teachings from Jesus of humility, mercy, peacemaking, moral philosophy, etc. They are a “good life guide.” Is this a fair picture of Jesus? ...Read more

Two San Francisco Bay Area USDA employees are among a group of federal workers suing Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, alleging she violated the First Amendment by sending agencywide messages that promoted Christianity to thousands of employees.

In an Easter email to Bay Area federal government employees Thomas MaGee, Anne Poopatanapong and...Read more

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: Are God and Satan equal opponents? I sometimes feel like Satan has the upper hand. – G.S.

A: Satan is not God’s equal in power, in presence, or in any other way. Satan is a fallen angel, not a fallen god. Satan is under God’s authority (as we see in the story of Job). Satan had to receive ...Read more

Following the Florida education commissioner’s March memorandum to protect religious rights in public schools, the state board of education tweaked its policy to clarify its stances on excused absences for religious instruction or religious holidays.

The new rule clarifies that each school district must adopt a policy to allow “release time...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Just east of the front doors of St. Cecilia’s Church in the Fox Chase neighborhood, there sits a memorial to victims of sexual abuse — a rare sight not only in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, but at churches nationwide.

Consisting of a stone pillar embellished with a light and a blue wreath, in a parish that has reckoned ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — For the past several weeks, young people have been running through Church of Scientology buildings. They’re often clad in masks and costumes and film themselves trying to get as far into the building as possible — all to the chagrin of bewildered church staff.

The trend gained popularity after a teenager, who uses the social...Read more

Q: Thank you for your columns. I would like to ask you about the one on happiness. If happiness comes from serving others, does that make God utilitarian?

Does God value people less if they can't go to soup kitchens? In Psalm 62 it says, "My soul finds rest in God alone." That sounds like knowing God is happiness. I believe that....Read more

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: Surveys are showing that church attendance is up, yet immorality is running rampant. Do these really go together? So many people claim to be “people of faith,” but their lifestyles don’t reflect lives set apart from what used to be called worldliness, couched in public displays of ...Read more

Q: Many years ago in your God Squad column you wrote that Catholics weren’t meant to be happy. Your reasoning made sense to me then but now I can’t remember what it was. Can you please explain that to me because a friend of mine recently brought the subject to my attention. Thank you. – (From J in New York)

A: When Father Tom ...Read more

Q: Your insights through your column are thought-provoking and often generate fascinating discussion within our family. One thing I have always wondered about is why God would tolerate, let alone encourage at times, the sacrifice of innocent human and animal life. Our modern sensibilities are shocked by activity of that type. Can you help us...Read more

Q: Our bible study group has discussed this for a long time without getting a satisfying answer, so now we turn to you. In Genesis, God renames Jacob as Israel. But there are numerous verses where he continues to be called Jacob; there are instances where both names are used in the same verse. This continues into Exodus. Other people are ...Read more

Q: There are multiple reasons that bad things happen to us or those that we love. Even more frustrating is why do they often happen to good people? I lost my wife to Parkinson’s, as did Father Tom. She was such a very good and special person to her students and others that it made me search hard for answers. So here is my attempt to help ...Read more

Q: Dear Rabbi Gellman, bravo, bravo and thank you for your cogent lessons on the relationship between the Jewish Passover and the Christian Easter. I spent my high school years in the seminary studying for the Catholic priesthood (in the ’60s, so I am OLD!). We were taught, and I have never forgotten, that our Jewish ...Read more

Last week we explored what Christians can learn from the meaning of Passover. This was an easy task since three of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) taught that the Last Supper of Jesus was a Passover seder on the first night and the fourth (John) taught that it was a Passover meal on another ...Read more

During the winter holiday season of Christmas and Chanukah, I offered some thoughts on what Christians can learn from Chanukah and what Jews can learn from Christmas. Now, as the world and our spiritual rhythms awaken to spring, I offer again an interfaith offering of what Christians can learn from Passover...Read more