Photo by Olivia BeldaWorship and tradition are tightly bound by the passing of time. Generations have recited the same prayers, sang from the same hymnals and celebrated the same holidays. Tradition, in many ways, is a sacred part of faith and community. But when people spill out of their churches, synagogues and mosques, how can they continue to worship in their day-to-day … [Read more...] about “I’ve Seen God in the Ocean”
Winter 2019: Worship
Faith, Soul and All that Jazz
Photo courtesy of Ray Carr Religion Professor Raymond Carr uses the music of Thelonious Monk to merge the ideas of Karl Barth, a European theologian, with James Cone, the “father of black theology.” Monk’s jazz is crisp, soulful and sudden. In many ways, he differs from the smooth, silky sound that most think of when they think of jazz. Monk’s music plays like a … [Read more...] about Faith, Soul and All that Jazz
Social Action for the Marginalized
Photo courtesy of Veronica Lempert"You can’t be Christian and gay.” This is a phrase sophomore Juan Carlos Hugues hears constantly from his family, from members in the Church of Christ congregation he grew up in and from fellow Christians he interacts with on campus. “It makes me feel very sad because it’s like they’re separating me from the love … [Read more...] about Social Action for the Marginalized
Christ in Adversity: How Trauma Draws Some Closer and Pushes Others Away
Photo courtesy of Ron HallIn the early hours of Nov. 7, freshman Ashley Mowreader and her suitemates were huddling in the lobby of their Debell F Suite next to a police scanner. News of a shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks broke around 11:30 p.m. Their friend and suitemate Alaina Housley was in attendance, and was missing. Restless energy permeated … [Read more...] about Christ in Adversity: How Trauma Draws Some Closer and Pushes Others Away
Exploring the Meaning of Worship
Photos by Milan LoiaconoLeaping into the air with eyes closed, a woman dances alone in the dark. In the chapel, a professor kneels at a pew, words whispered under her breath. A student leans over a phone, scrolling through a beloved celebrity’s latest posts. Inspired by injustice, an advocate sparks conversation with his peers about LGBTQ+ rights. While these actions … [Read more...] about Exploring the Meaning of Worship