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Liuan Huska “Why does Brazil feel so much like Texas?” I wondered. My family and I were in the first weeks of a yearlong family sabbatical in South America, which we started in Brazil. We came for the tropical climate, gorgeous natural areas, and to volunteer at Eco Caminhos, a permaculture farm. During my time in Brazil, I’ve also been observing the leadup to and aftermath of one of the most polarizing and contentious elections in Brazil’s recent history. [...] In October, former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, representing the leftist Workers’ Party, ran against incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. Many observers have argued that Bolsonaro’s policies and personality disturbingly mirror those of former U.S. President Donald Trump. In many respects, Bolsonaro’s presidency has felt like a reply to the fall 2020 elections in the United States: COVID-19 misinformation running amok, Bolsonaro claiming the election was rigged, and political divides deepening to the point of neighbors and friends refusing to speak to one another. In the Oct. 30 runoffs, Lula won by a sliver, capturing 50.9 percent of votes. This election is just the most recent manifestation of deeper social divides in both the U.S. and Brazil. Benjamin A. Cowan, a historian at the University of California San Diego, notes that, since the 1980s, both countries have experienced a coalescing of “moral majorities” and right-wing populist groups, often with conservative Christians on the front lines. In Brazil, like in the U.S., certain affinities are grouped together. In the United States, a political slogan like “Jesus, guns, babies” attracts conservative constituents. In Brazil, conservatives rally around “beef, Bible, and bullets.” No wonder it feels like Texas.
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Our Latest ABC’s ‘Alaska Daily’ Exposes a Wide Audience to a National Crisis (by Rebecca Riley) For too long, the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women has been relegated to the shadows. Blessed Are the Peacemakers In a Tense Election Season (by Adam Russell Taylor) Amid anxiety and fear, Jesus’ call to us is the same, regardless of our political leanings. Are Religious Americans More Likely to Believe in QAnon? (by Grant Schwab) A growing number of people believe the U.S. is controlled by a group of Satan-worshipping pedophiles, according to a new poll. This Midterms, the Bible Reminds Us Poor People Have All the Power (by Liz Theoharis) From the Israelites to the hemorrhaging woman, the Bible insists the poor have the agency to demand healing and freedom. |
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From the Magazine The Fringe Legal Theory That Could Manipulate Our Elections (by Lauren W. Reliford) How a North Carolina case could institute nationwide voter suppression. |
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Eight Days in Ireland Can Change Your Life Eight days integrating contemplative spirituality with peacemaking action for the common good, exploring how northern Ireland is transforming conflict into a more peaceful society. Hosted by Irish Writer & Storyteller Gareth Higgins and Spiritual Director Brian Ammons, with Special Guests including Kathleen Norris, Over the Rhine, and Mark Silver. Awake, Alert, and Ready to Act In a new insightful article from Upper Room Books, theologian Chanequa-Walker Barnes uses the teachings of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 to call on Christians to stay vigilant and hopeful for the potential of a more just world and the coming of Christ. 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. Election season can be a lot! |
But elections aren’t everything. Join us post-election, Nov 15-17 at 7pm ET, for Power Week so we can be together for the next phase of building justice. During those three nights we will give updates on the state of elections and give pointers on, “what now?”
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