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Adam Russell Taylor “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God,” Jesus preaches in Matthew 5:9. Next week, U.S. midterm voters will determine the balance of power in both houses of Congress and countless other elected positions across the country, including our governors, mayors, and attorneys general. Yet as we near Election Day, the level of political vitriol and the threats of violence we’re seeing feel unprecedented. Last week, U.S. security agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, warned of increased risk of attacks on political candidates, election officials, religious minorities, poll workers, and voters. That same day, a man attacked U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, in their San Francisco home; officials called it an “intentional” attack aimed at Speaker Pelosi. One in 6 election officials report that they’ve already been threatened or intimidated due to their work; a recent Reuters survey found that 2 in 5 U.S. voters are worried about threats of violence or voter intimidation at the polls. In a speech yesterday, President Joe Biden offered a powerful case that democracy is on the ballot, stating clearly that there is “no place for voter intimidation or political violence in America, whether it’s directed at Democrats or Republicans.” These threats and the deep-seated anxiety and fears around the election are tied to increasingly violent rhetoric on the campaign trail, particularly among the growing share of Republican candidates who are sowing further distrust and resentment toward our electoral system by doubling down on “the Big Lie” that the 2020 election was stolen. Many of these candidates have even refused to say whether they will accept the results of the 2022 election. Yet, in this charged atmosphere, Jesus calls us to be peacemakers — regardless of our political leanings or party affiliation. So, what does peacemaking look like during the upcoming midterms?
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From the Magazine We Are Not Human Machines (by C. Christopher Smith) Rest Is Resistance on trading in grind culture for the pursuit of a slower, richer life. |
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Do you hunger for a deeper spiritual experience? The Academy is one of the most highly regarded programs of its kind, providing a balanced approach to spiritual formation that fosters rhythms of study and prayer, silence and liturgy, solitude and relationship, rest and exercise, contemplation and action. The next Two-Year Academy begins in January 2023. How do we live this life in Christ? As a spiritual director, my weekly blog is written from the point of view of how do I, how do we, live this life in Christ? The 10.31.22 post is entitled "We Are How We Treat Each Other and Nothing More." Upcoming Zoom Programs with Rev. John Dear and the Beatitudes Center The Beatitudes Center hosts regular Zoom sessions on Jesus, the Gospels, peacemaking and nonviolence, hosted by Fr. John Dear. Upcoming speakers include Dr. Cornel West, Rev. Ron Rolheiser, Dr. Maria Stephan, Frida Berrigan, Bishop John Stowe, Marisa Guerin and others. We are looking for someone who can combine their interests in social justice, sales or marketing, and faith to contribute to underwriting the mission of the organization through advertising sales. For a complete job description and application instructions visit our careers webpage. |
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