SojoMail - Dear Christian men: Are you ok?

View this email in your browser By Betsy Shirley Editor in Chief, Sojourners I wince whenever “Christian masculinity” pops up in the news cycle. The conversation always seems to turn into a pissing match about “biblical” gender, the supposed evils of feminism, war metaphors, and inevitably, Mark Driscoll. In “Christian Masculinity Doesn’t Have to Be This Way,” McClain writes honestly about his own struggle in these spaces. “The deeper problem is not that men are seeking brotherhood or guidance,” he writes; it’s what the loudest voices on the internet ensure lonely men find when they get there. Elsewhere this week: We’re thinking about how ending homelessness would be a lot cheaper than the Iran war and trying to imagine a world without the devil. We’ve got everything you need to know about visiting people in prison and an unofficial, no-cringe guide to children’s Bibles. Plus, you all had a LOT to say about Georgia Coley’s review of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey—scroll down to read a collection of the responses we received. Christian Masculinity Doesn't Have to Be This Way (by Rubin McClain) My own faith journey forced me to confront my narrow definitions of masculinity. Read the full article Advertisement Our Latest Stories The Devil We Need (by Jillian Mason Shannon) If the source of evil lies entirely elsewhere, I do not have to admit my own participation in it. Read more Why Your Church Should Start Visiting People in Prison (by Tate Young) Here’s what prison visitations can actually do for those incarcerated. Read more From the Magazine: What Works To Address Homelessness (by Jeff Olivet) We don’t lack tools to support people. We lack the political will to scale what works. Read more From the Magazine: A Story Bible Inviting Kids Into Scripture’s Complexity (by Michael Woolf) Building biblical literacy with people of all ages feels like a necessary, quiet act of resistance. Read more Letters: Readers Reflect on the Uncharted Waters of ‘The Odyssey’ Last week, we were proud to publish Georgia Coley’s review of Christopher Nolan’s newest epic: The Odyssey. In it, Georgia notes that the film’s frequent use of “Zeus’ Law” has a lot in common with the biblical Golden Rule. Just like the ancient Greeks were careful to treat all strangers with kindness because they might be gods in disguise, Christians are called to take care of the poor, because Jesus said he would be manifest in “the least of these.” As she wrote, “The core sin at the center of the fall of Troy isn’t just the violation of social code; it’s the desecration of the sacredness of the human person.” As it turns out, Georgia isn’t the only person with some observations about The Odyssey. Her piece generated a lot of responses from our readers, some who agreed with the review and some who didn’t. We are sharing some of those responses with you to spark more conversation and thought. To add yours to the mix, email us at response@sojo.net — we read every email we get from you. —Tyler Huckabee Read the full article Advertisements Action Alert: No War With Iran! Contact Congress now to demand peace and an end to the war with Iran. As Christians, we know that each and every life is precious and every step must be taken to avoid bloodshed. Instead of recklessly pursuing a policy of escalation, we demand an end to violence and vigorous oversight from Congress in pursuit of peace. Action Alert: End the Blockade Against Cuba Join us now to contact Congress and demand an end to hostilities against Cuba. In this moment, we must follow the best traditions of our faith and extend our hand to Cuba in love and charity. Demand that we start true diplomatic talks paired with natural disaster aid for the island while respecting the Cuban people’s right to determine their own government. Donate Subscribe Copyright © 2026 Sojourners. All rights reserved. 611 Pennsylvania Ave SE #342, Washington, DC 20003 Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842