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Adam Russell Taylor As the war in Ukraine enters its second year, Ukrainian citizens are hurting and exhausted. Meanwhile, Russia is mounting a new counter-offensive and Ukraine is restocking weapons from its allies, including the U.S. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed and wounded, both Ukrainian and Russian, yet the war grinds on without an end in sight. The ability to imagine and advocate for alternatives to war is a core Christian responsibility. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God,” says Jesus in Matthew 5:9. It’s one of my favorite beatitudes, but it’s part of Jesus’ teaching that’s often ignored. Amid an increasingly devastating and intractable war in Ukraine, it’s time to reclaim it. I admire the Ukrainian people’s courageous resistance and support their right to defend their sovereignty from Russian President Vladmir Putin’s imperialistic aggression. Yet, I’m alarmed that the prospect of peace seems increasingly elusive. As economist Jeffrey Sachs puts it: “Neither Russia nor Ukraine is likely to achieve a decisive military victory in their ongoing war: both sides have considerable room for deadly escalation. Ukraine and its Western allies have little chance of ousting Russia from Crimea and the Donbas region, while Russia has little chance of forcing Ukraine to surrender. As Joe Biden noted in October, the spiral of escalation marks the first direct threat of ‘nuclear Armageddon’ since the Cuban missile crisis 60 years ago.” The deafening silence in the media around the imperative to wage peace and the lack of political will from the U.S., Ukraine, and NATO to at least attempt to pursue peace through mediation, diplomacy, or negotiation is alarming. The U.S. and NATO allies seem more bent on helping Ukraine win a war than working toward finding a peaceful resolution. Ukraine shouldn’t be used as a proxy to achieve the goal of weakening or defeating Russia in a bigger geopolitical struggle.
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Our Latest Women, LGBTQ People Take Lead in ‘Willow’ ... And in Church? (by Michael Woolf) Fans of the new Disney show are balking at two queer women protagonists; I see the same problem in churches. It’s Tempting — But Dangerous — To Protect Faith Leaders We Admire (by Carolyn Whitney-Brown) I wrote books about Jean Vanier. Here's what I wish I’d done differently. Biden’s State of the Union Reminded Me of a Homily (by Lauren W. Reliford) “Christmas for policy wonks.” “The political Super Bowl.” “A very boring speech.” No matter what you call it, the State of the Union is worth our attention as people of faith. What ‘He Gets Us’ Ads Get Wrong About Jesus (by Josiah R. Daniels) Those black-and-white ads you’ll see at the Super Bowl are eye-catching. But I have questions. |
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From the Magazine The Fearless Pursuit of Justice for Shireen Abu Akleh (by Mae Elise Cannon) The killing of a renowned Palestinian American journalist shines a light on Israeli military practices in the Occupied Territories. |
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Come Together in Action with the Faith-Led Climate Justice Movement Anita's village in Malawi has seen the urgent impact of climate change. Follow her journey to the US in The Ants and the Grasshopper, as she uses her faith to connect with American farmers across social divides, inspiring them to take action. Join fellow faith-led climate activists with our toolkit. Central Union Church is Hiring Central Union Church seeks an innovative, visionary, and courageous leader to serve as its next Senior Minister! Visit our YouTube page for more information. Event: Courageous Listening (2/28, 7:30PM ET) Gareth Higgins writes about the power of storytelling to shape our lives. With his work on peace and reconciliation during "The Troubles" in northern Ireland as a backdrop, we’ll have a conversation with Gareth about his book "how not to be afraid” at this free Lumunos on-line event. Peace Farm seeks volunteers to begin Ecological Peace Movement Help co-create experimental cooperative providing farm work and healing arts for soldiers wounded by the religion of Militarism. Send resumes, questions, thoughts on Jesus’ Way. |
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