Category Archives: Violence

What Are They Supposed to Think?

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Richard Heyduck

What are my black friends supposed to think, with yesterday’s acquittal of Officer Yanez in the shooting of Philando Castile? Blacks may (in theory) have second amendment rights, but if they exercise them they’re more likely to receive an instant … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Current events, Politics, Violence | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The “We Need More Guns” Solution

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Richard Heyduck

The standard response of one side to horrendous shootings is, “We need gun control!” I’m not going to address that now. The standard response from the other side is, “We need more guns. If we had more guns, particularly more … Continue reading →

Posted in Current events, Jesus, Stanley Hauerwas, Violence, War | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Responding to Enemies

Posted on February 24, 2015 by Richard Heyduck

What do we do with our enemies? Many of us in America don’t have any serious enemies. Sure, we have people who annoy us from time to time, maybe even rivals in sports, business, or relationships. But enemies who actively … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, Islam, Jesus, Violence | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Secularism Makes for a Better Islam?

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Richard Heyduck

Sometimes when we westerners look at the world, particularly at chaos in and emanating from the so-called Muslim world, we suggest that they need more secularism. Islam, it is assumed, must be the problem. If they can manage to tone … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Islam, Peace, Secularization, Violence | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Those Other People

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

It is easy for people, whether they be liberal, conservative, or something else, to think they have come to hold the positions they hold because they are smart and good. It may be the case that some of these folks … Continue reading →

Posted in Current events, Violence | Leave a comment

Henotheism for Christians?

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Richard Heyduck

I ask the henotheism question, guessing most Christians would reject polytheism without much thought. The Christian tradition has, in its development of the doctrine of the Trinity, sought to safeguard the monotheistic convictions so clearly proclaimed in the Old Testament. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current events, Friedrich Nietzsche, God, Nihilism, Violence | 1 Comment

Keeping Violence Safe

Posted on October 31, 2007 by Richard Heyduck

A few weeks ago the New York Times ran a story on churches using violent video games to attract youth. Now there’s a story out of Alabama about a lock in sponsored by a First United Methodist Church featuring games … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Ministry, Violence, Youth Ministry | Leave a comment