I have always found the baptism of Jesus, with a dove descending and voice from Heaven, one of the great moments in the Jesus story. This is where Jesus hears the deep call from God. Jay Parini baptismcalldeep Change image and share on social
The U.S. invaded Vietnam because many in our government - Lyndon Johnson's best and brightest - imagined it could impose a government on that country that would provide a buffer against China and stop the supposedly rolling dominos of Communism. Jay Parini brightbufferchina share on social
Within the Christian tradition, fundamentalism arose in the 19th century as an effort to push back against modern' readings of the Bible that suggested everything in the text wasn't true in some literal sense. Jay Parini 19thariseback share on social
Although the story of George and Lennie in 'Of Mice and Men' ends on a depressing note, there is a peculiar aura of human dignity in it, a hint of redemption. Jay Parini auradepressdignity Change image and share on social
In truth, Jesus did not, in his own time, attract much notice. Jay Parini attractjesusnotice Change image and share on social
'Of Mice and Men,' Steinbeck's fifth novel, adheres to a simple dramatic structure, which observes the classic Aristotelian unities of time, place and action. Jay Parini actionadherearistotelian Change image and share on social
For the most part, I think of PC as meaning Plain Civil. You treat people the way you'd like to be treated yourself, and that means not using language that is demeaning. Jay Parini civildemeanlanguage Change image and share on social
Language kills, and inflamed rhetoric of the kind that spews almost daily from the lips of Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee, and others running for public office in this country should be condemned. Jay Parini bencarsoncondemn share on social
I still have deep respect for the evangelical tradition and feel, in many ways, close to the Baptist roots of my childhood, although I've been an Episcopalian throughout my adult life and a regular churchgoer. Jay Parini adultbaptistchildhood share on social
Among the disciples of Jesus, it seems most likely that at least Philip was bilingual in Aramaic and Greek. Jay Parini aramaicbilingualdisciple Change image and share on social
