Here you’ll find a list of resources contributed by our scholars and staff, to facilitate thinking and discussion on culturally relevant issues.
Religion and Reproductive Rights
YouTube Video: Westar on the Issues: Abortion and the Bible with Rev. Lori Walke
Article: The Bible and Abortion
LGBTQI issues/resistance
Scholar Q&A: Putting Clobber passages in their place
Video: Trans resistance in ancient Rome
Blog post: What does the Bible say about homosexuality?
Blog post: Sodom and Gomorrah: What the “classical” interpretation gets wrong
Blog post: What about Romans 1?
Article: What the New Testament says about homosexuality
Article: Putting Paul in his place
Article: When a Man Lies With a Man as With a Woman
Article: Homosexuality and the Bible by Walter Wink
Book: Some Surprises from the Apostle Paul
Book: Family Empires, Roman and Christian by Susan “Elli” Elliott
Event topic (JSOR): Homosexuality and Marriage in the Bible
Lecture: The gay and lesbian issue, by John Shelby Spong
PowerPoint on the “Clobber Passages” and Queer Theory by Brandy Daniels
Webinar on Pride Month, Queer Theory, and the Bible
Paper on the Jesus Woman by Ally Kateusz
Immigration and Refugees
Blog post series: Immigrants and Refugees: In absence of a patron, Siding with outlaws and fugitives, Flight into Egypt
Live interview: Immigration and Scapegoating with James Carroll
Religion and Politics
Blog post: Thoughts on Westar, Politics, and Religion
Blog post: The Bible is not a 21st Century Political Manifesto
Blog post: Questioning Beyond Ourselves
Blog post: Trumpism is a Wake-up Call to the Academy
Blog post: Westar Condemns Trump’s Dissemination of Propaganda and Hate Speech
Lecture: From Good News to Fake News
Live interview: The Political Jesus with Stephen Tickner
Shifting Religious Landscape
Live interview: Creating Safe Community Spaces with Sarah Morice Brubaker
Live interview: Religious Naturalism and the Future of God with Bart Campolo
Blog post: Religious Change Denial
Peaceful Protest
Blog post: Colin Kaepernick and the Prophetic Witness of Peaceful Protest
Misappropriation of the Bible
Blog post: Romans 13 in our Time
Blog post: Biblical literalism and religious tribalism
Blog post: Westar Stands Against Biblical Appropriation Used in Defense of Sexual Assault
Advent and Christmas
Article: Bamboozled by the Bible
Article: Does the Kingdom of God Need God?
Blog Series: Christmas Stories: the Gospel of Luke; the Gospel of Matthew
An Uncommon Lectionary: Pre-Christmas Readings; Christmas Season Readings
Article Series: Who Owns the Holy Land?
Lecture Series: Births of Jesus and Other Sons of God
Lent and Easter
Blog post: Lent and Easter Resources