KTF Weekly Newsletter: The Sociology of Idolatry, Was Jesus Depressed?, Executive Order 9066

Hi everyone, 

Before we get started, we want to acknowledge the horrific events currently unfolding in Ukraine. Our hearts mourn with the Ukrainian people enduring this unprovoked attack and tragic loss of life. We are praying for peace and protection, particularly for Ukraine’s 7.5 million children whose lives and livelihoods are vulnerable because of the rapidly escalating conflict. Lord, be near.  

We will have more in future newsletters on this conflict as it unfolds. Tomorrow, we are putting out our  monthly bonus podcast for subscribers, and there’s a preview of that below as always. Now, let’s get to it. Here are this week’s highlights. 

Jonathan’s recommendations: 

• “A Conservative View of the Vigilante Right” is an episode of WNYC’s podcast, The United States of Anxiety, that features an interview with journalist Mona Charen from the Bulwark and Seamus Hughes, the Deputy Director of the Program on Extremism at George Washington University. Rarely in my own media intake and political education do I understand clearly what the conservative perspective is. The tensions conservatives feel with their politically progressive counterparts alongside their committed resistance to Trumpism are foreign to me. As a Black American, neither political party is home. We vote for the folks that we think will cause us less harm. So, this conversation for me as a Christ follower shows me how I can intercede, empathize, and partner with people who do not agree with me or share my same vantage points. The guests and callers also help me to humanize and nuance perspectives that I know about but do not often personally encounter.