We Need to Talk About Bruno + Today’s Digest

Our daily rundown of the articles from around the web that we feel our readers would enjoy and appreciate. We hope to highlight the best of what’s around. Public Square Bulletin recommends: How can Vladimir Putin be described as a defender of Christian values? Michael Cook – Mercator Net There is much Christian rhetoric that has come from the Kremlin regarding the war in Ukraine. And the religious elements of the conflict run deep. But some American commentators have started to frame Putin as an ideal Christian. Michael Cook argues that this goes much too far. Along the religion beat: Should ‘mainstream media’ pundits take sides on church disputes? Richard Ostling – Get Religion Richard Ostling responds to a recent article in Real Clear Religion that asks New York Times journalists David Brooks and Ross Douthat to stop writing op-eds on religious issues. Ostling believes there is already too little coverage of religion issues. The Power of Laughter Aleah Ingram – LDS Daily Tomorrow’s “Daily Dose” at LDS Daily appropriately looks at humor for April Fool’s day and looks at the gospel need for joy in our lives. Transitioning from Science to Philosophy Joachim Ostermann – Church Life Journal Biochemist turned Franciscan Friar, Joachim Ostermann, looks at his work in the sciences and examines the philosophical underpinnings that were all too often missing from his understanding. We Need to Talk About Bruno Ryan McDonald – The Gospel Coalition A look at one of the most popular films of the year and it’s gospel themes. McDonald sees in Bruno a type of Jesus Christ. His thoughts should add to the already deep themes of forgiveness and family present in the film.    

Love for Transgender Individuals

I wanted to highlight a trend I’m noticing in discussing the dialogue around trans issues. This morning Adam Russell Taylor wrote for Sojourners an article “God loves Trans Kids. Recent Laws do the Opposite.” In it he says that because God loves trans children, the recent approaches to trans issues in places like Utah, Florida, and Texas are unloving. This reminded me of Sam Brunson’s article on Saturday in By Common Consent called, “Molech, Transgender Children, and the Idol of Politics.” In his article Brunson talks about the idolatrous God Molech which involved the sacrifice of children. Brunson went on to describe Utah’s recent transgender bill as analogous as sacrificing children to Molech. I don’t have any interest myself in staking out a position on these recent laws at the moment, but I do feel like it needs to be said, that those who supported these laws also feel like they’re loving transgender children. And some of them might even believe those who support gender transitioning are metaphorically sacrificing children to Molech. The question isn’t who loves transgender children and who hates them, but rather what is the best way to approach this issue for all involved. And that’s a question on which there are many different positions. And if that’s true, then trying to create a climate where we can truly hear out the competing perspectives on the well-being of children–and try to come to decisions together that can help the most kids, is also a loving thing to do.

More on Strange New Worlds

Carl Trueman’s new book “Strange New World” is among the most important books for individuals of faith to read this year. We were very fortunate to have Carl write an article for us here: https://publicsquaremag.org/sexuality-family/identity/living-in-a-strange-new-world/ And Jeffrey Thayne interviewed him for us as well here: https://publicsquaremag.org/media-education/education/a-conversation-with-carl-r-trueman/ If you haven’t yet, be sure to check those out. But I also wanted to point your way to a couple of podcasts that Crossway, the publishing house behind the book, has released. The first is an interview with Carl where he goes into depth about how he believes churches should respond to the trends of expressive individualism he’s identified. The second is a preview of his book in audio form and is definitely worth a listen.

Identity

A Conversation with Rep. Kera Birkeland

Coverage of Utah HB 11, regarding transgender students in high school sports, has generated more outrage than illumination. We wanted to find out if there was more to the story.

45 New Area Seventies

In the leadership session of General Conference forty-five new area authority seventies have been called. They include senior counsel for the Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty, a forensic psychiatrist, and several from the fields of construction, law, education, and medicine. For the full list visit the Church’s newsroom  

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