Tag Archives: Social Issues

“For the last 25 years, I have spent most of my time researching and documenting the most vile forms of racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, Islamophobia, nativism and other forms of bigotry you could possibly imagine,” Burghart said.

Only 8 percent of adults say they are interested in hearing pastors’ views on issues such as same-sex marriage, LGBT rights, abortion, guns, tax policy, climate change, drug policy or religious freedom, according to the Barna Group’s State of Pastors study, released Thursday (Jan. 26).

Sherman Alexie is a Spokane Indian who has become a poet, novelist and screenplay writer.  His first book, a collection of short stories entitled "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven," became the basis of the Miramax film "Smoke Signals," one of my all-time favorite movies.  On my vacation I found the book in a shop in Dayton and discovered it is, if anything, more wonderful than the movie.

I really do like keeping up on the news, the vital (Syria updates) and not so vital (latest trends in planking.) Whether or not you agree with me, you may have been surprised to learn the extent of the National Security Agency's sharing of our communications, including phone calls, emails and Internet use, with little to none of the protections we thought we were afforded. The recent revelations made by Edward Snowden are nothing if not unnerving, and they keep coming.

Spokane Faith & Values is pleased to welcome a poet to its team of writers.

Christi Ortiz is a licensed marriage and family therapist by profession and a poet by passion, she says.

Blaine Stum, an agnostic atheist, is the news Spokane Faith & Values blogger.

In his blog, "A Geek About Everything," he'll be writing about politics, social issues, science, movies and of course, religion.