Items included for this subject area come from a variety of sources. The perspectives conveyed may or may not express a Lutheran ethos. They can serve our instruction as discussion-starters, examples (positive and negative), and illustrations of intersections between God’s two kingdoms, intersections sometimes characterized by tension, sometimes by congruence. Inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Bill would force faith-based colleges to reveal LGBT exemptions: Massachusetts Congresswoman Katherine Clark’s bill would require the U.S. Department of Education to insist that colleges and universities that apply for or receive exemptions from federal civil rights protections for students on the grounds of religious freedom make those waivers public. See also GetReligion article and HuffPost article.
In lawsuit over transgender student using girls locker room, a surprising development: This article reviews a transgender school locker room case in the federal courts. It also explores the composition style issue of pronouns and how style and work choice frame the issue in an essay or piece of reporting.
Can Religious Freedom and LGBT Rights Co-Exist? This 3 min. video clip offers a summary of the issues, cases, and disputes now being argued in culture and church. The video presents several legal issues with sound bytes. Students can get a quick overview of the topic and also consider the composition and presentation of the Atlantic’s […]
Dissertations that are Needed Today: Here are a few thoughts about why you should consider seeking a Ph.D. today. A fascinating dissertation topic would be on alternative ecclesial communities that have taken place in some alternative contexts. Other Ph.D. ideas include factors that are driving people away from denominations and into networks; a global study about the questions people are […]
When religion and the LGBT collegiate athlete collide: Freedom of religion is an American value. So is freedom from discrimination. These values clash in so-called religious freedom laws in states such as North Carolina and Mississippi. The same tensions in the broader culture are also found in NCAA core values: One promises “an inclusive culture that […]
College Kids Say the Darndest Things: On Identity — Here is the 4 min. Youtube video of person-on-the-campus interviews with college students on gender identity. They are a little confused about whether a 32 year-old, 5’8″ white male can be a 7 year-old Chinese female. While of course the video is edited, it serves as […]
What Christians Have in Common with LGBT Activists: In this 30 min. audio interview, Thomas Berg, a religious liberty scholar at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, shares his thoughts on legislative cultural and legal contexts, the significance of non-discrimination ordinances, why LGBT activists feel especially threatened by much of the recent legislation, and why he […]
Waiting Till the Wedding: Despite decades of statistics that link cohabitation to high rates of divorce and instability, the practice continues to grow and more are viewing it as a precursor to marriage. The majority of couples have now lived with a significant other before they wed. Nearly 7 in 10 teens, and almost half of […]
What Some Demographers are Studying Now: As marriage declines in popularity and other kinds of relationships replace it, a category of couple known as Living Apart Together is the focus of new research in the U.S. These LAT couples, whether opposite-sex or same-sex, say they are in a long-term relationship but do not live together.
Christian Therapists Push Back Against Tennessee Counseling Bill: There is significant opposition from the very group of Christian counselors this state bill aims to protect. Several Christian counseling networks and pastoral counselors in Tennessee claim such protections are unnecessary. Chris O’Rear, president of the Tennessee Association of Pastoral Therapists (TAPT), says he is not personally supportive of […]
