Is character formation really necessary in our time? Historically, our families, schools and churches have seen this work as central to their missions. Yet today spiritual and character formation are often seen as impractical or antiquated in an age of self-realization. For those who believe that deeply rooted formation is needed -- and even urgent -- today, how do
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As we move through Advent and prepare to celebrate Christ's incarnation, Christmas carols are an integral part of the experience for many of us. In this season–and at all times–how can we understand and fully experience the formative power of music? And amid distraction and anxiety, how can we keep Christ at the center of
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The season of Advent calls us to remember the incarnation of Christ into our world while anticipating his future return. Yet what does Advent have to tell us about our present "now and not yet" moment? In her new book Advent: The Season of Hope, priest, author, and Trinity Forum Senior Fellow Tish Harrison Warren
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What experiences of spiritual and character formation can prepare us for a time of testing? If the habits and practices developed in our private lives are suddenly drawn out "on great fields," how can we be ready to stand firm? Joshua Chamberlain, a mild-mannered Bowdoin College professor, shocked his colleagues when he volunteered for the
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In a society where so many feel unseen and unknown, how do we become the kind of people who deeply see and know those around us? The conflict and division in our society demonstrate the need for people committed to pursuing human connection, even across lines of difference. What can we do – as individuals
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Hope and suffering seem to lay at opposite poles of human experience. We hope to avoid or escape suffering, both for ourselves and for those we love. But what if hope — rather than being mere optimism or a pleasant disposition – is a virtue that grows and develops in suffering? Curt Thompson, Trinity Forum
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The language of the Bible has often been invoked in American political discourse through the centuries. Scripture has been quoted by suffragists and secessionists, invoked in arguments for (and against) American independence, the Civil War, and each succeeding conflict, and cited by virtually every President across parties. So how should we discern a faithful application
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From high art to pop culture, we are surrounded by images, stories, and metaphors from our earliest days. How do such symbols and metaphors shape our thinking, imagination, and assumptions — both as a person and as a people? Amidst the confusion and contradictions of current times, can we disentangle what in our thinking is
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Illustration by Bruce Van Patter Amid the growing polarization, covered-up abuses, schisms, and scandals roiling evangelicalism, studies show that many American Christians – and even many pastors – are increasingly disillusioned with and exhausted by what they experience at church. Wisdom is required to confront the challenge: how can we refocus on the Good News
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Our digital devices promise connectivity and enlightenment in exchange for our attention. Yet attending to these devices often leaves us feeling displaced, disconnected, and dispirited. How are we being changed by these ever-present technologies? Westmont College cultural sociologist and author of Restless Devices: Recovering Personhood, Presence, and Place in the Digital Age, Felicia Wu Song,
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