Innovate~Educate~Collaborate

Tag: religious education

  • History has taught us …

    History has taught us that “religion” is not divorced from the work-a-day world. Matthew 5 is a good example. Social Justice programs in churches during the entire industrial revolution (which just recently ended) brought about a greater awareness of church and society’s role and the relationship between the two. Today In classical economics terms, there…

  • You are the Church

    “Economic justice and equality are, in principle, akin to political justice and equality. To understand this is to understand how economic and political democracy involves parallel institutions.” ~ Mortimer J. Adler “This is our destiny, to do the best and the greatest that is now to be done.” ~Isaac Hecker And with these two thoughts/quotes in…

  • “Too many people will never come back.”

    “Too many people will never come back.” Those are the words of a local pastor. No, he was not talking about people leaving for another religion or denomination or leaving the congregation. Because of our experience with Covid-19, many are waiting it out to see how it all turns out after a vaccine works. The virus is…

  • Are we really semi- Pelagians and don’t know it?

    Today the 3rd of July in 529 was The Synod of Orange. There was a group Led by the ‘Augustinians‘ of the day, (somewhat forceable group too). After exerting influence, the synod upheld Augustine’s doctrines of grace and free will while condemning the views of Semi-Pelagians, including John Cassian and Faustus of Riez. They believed the human…

  • “Imagine if we used $18 billion to ensure healthy tap water for all people in the US.” By Julie Peller Ph.D.

    “With joy you shall draw water.” (Isaiah 12:3) How plentiful and accessible is fresh, clean water in this day and age? Are we using water in a sustainable manner, in a way that meets present needs of all people and the needs of future generations?  For sustenance and continuance of life on the earth, fresh,…

  • The call from Pope Francis By Julie Peller Ph.D.

    Green Junction Over the past several weeks, the pace of human society has dramatically slowed as a result of a natural phenomenon – the spread of a new virus.  Technically classified as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, this coronavirus has led to a pandemic, a public health crisis on the international scale.  Infectious disease is not new…

  • What happened to Church Social Movements?

    I was thinking about the Church in Europe and the US during the 30s,40s,50s, and early ’60s. A church that had a mantra and focuses on restorative justice, social programs, worker rights. We saw such movements that were collectively known as “Catholic Action” and involved more laypeople than a hierarchy to some extent in their…

  • Reflections on the times of our lives

    A friend and colleague from my former life in technology and I were talking yesterday afternoon and discussing some of the models on the virus, the real question is, what do people think is going to happen after their two weeks or three-week shut-in ends? This virus is not going away till we have a…

  • Respect the gifts of nature and work toward a more sustainable world. By Julie Peller PH.D.

    Over a relatively short period of time, cell phones and other electronic devices have become common for most people worldwide. Cell phones may contain up to 60 elements, including precious metals gold and silver.  Other elements used in cell phones include copper, tin, indium, tantalum, and nickel.  The intriguing, longer list of elements may motivate…

  • “The way we treat the environment signifies our will to please God”. by Julie Peller Ph.D.

    In Psalm 40, the prayer is “Here I am, Oh God, I come to do your will.”  When we look around and see garbage in every parking lot, farm field and roadside, are we doing the will of the Creator?  When we purchase lots of unnecessary stuff, disposable and highly packaged goods, all which require…