Religion

She didn’t say a word until just before our group conversation was over. A small group of Christians and non-Christians gathered in Spokane to explore some of the implications of one of my recent Faith and Values columns, “Indifference makes a difference.”

Growing up I never really yearned for the same things my friends did.

On June 14, U.S. Catholic bishops apologized for the mistreatment and trauma caused through the church’s role in Native American boarding schools.

The park ranger set the scene in the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall). She told of the Continental Congress debating whether to declare independence from Britain in 1776.

In a pioneering effort to better understand the LGTBQ+ community, this Pride month marked the launch of the first comprehensive survey of the state’s queer residents.

Life is rarely predictable. It is a journey fraught with threads of joy, sorrow, triumph and defeat. And while we often crave stability and certainty, the truth is that unexpected changes and disappointments are inescapable. They can leave us feeling blindsided, disoriented and emotionally adrift. We may find ourselves reeling from the injustice, hurt and profound sense of loss. Yet, within these hardships, lies the potential for growth and resilience.

Every day, hundreds of motorists pass a unique piece of Spokane history on the corner of Grand Boulevard and 33rd Avenue.

Most people have at least a little experience with disharmony – whether it’s a quarrel with a significant other, an argument with a co-worker, a conflict with family or anything that may cause a fracture in unity. When people find themselves in that vortex of stubborn disagreement, they have a choice: to remain stagnant or choose harmony.

There is much to learn from and praise in Dignitas Infinita (Infinite Dignity), the April 8 Vatican declaration.

Editor’s note: This story contains mentions of the sexual assaults of minors.

Washington State University junior Olivia Bustillos walked onto the Pullman campus Saturday morning to mourn two of her family members: Peanut and Snowball.

“When will you see the truth?”

In March, I lost two longtime friends: one in Arizona, the other in Colorado. Bruce was my boss for several years. We’d remained friends for decades. Pete was a friend for nearly 60 years. The differences between their deaths was striking, partly, I believe, because of how their respective “faiths” may have influenced the way they approached death.

What difference does it make when we’re indifferent? A whole lot! Sometimes that difference is negative, sometimes positive.

The pandemic affirmed my inner hermit.

Black History Month may be over, but the importance of educating ourselves never stops.

As early as this spring, the federal government could allow members of a Spokane religious congregation to lay on the grassy floor of a nondescript building to consume their sacrament – a hallucinogenic tea from South America known as ayahuasca.

A few weeks ago, I started this commentary on a day when the U.S. Senate and House played toxic political games with the lives of people trying to cross the southern borders of our country.

Christian music radio station KEEH-FM has sent a signal from Spokane for 30 years, but a 2016 rebrand as Shine 104.9 has led to both wider audience and expansion. As Shine, the station sought to broaden connections with local churches and nonprofits in sharing events and doing interviews with regional leaders. In recent years, Shine also has steadily climbed toward the top in Nielsen ratings among Spokane-area radio stations.