Religion

Note: This is one of Paul Graves’ occasional letters to his grandchildren.

WASHINGTON – When the House of Representatives convened at the Capitol on Friday, the opening prayer was delivered not by the House chaplain but by a Spokane pastor who prayed for national healing in a divisive time for the United States.

Sometimes we cross paths with souls so pivotal they redefine our existence. For me, my former journalism professor, Patti Dobson, was one of those people.

This month, Sravasti Abbey in Newport, Washington, will be hosting an online series featuring prominent Buddhist scholars to honor the legacy of Jeffrey Hopkins, renowned Tibetologist and former interpreter for the Dalai Lama, who died on July 1.

Before the official start of autumn on Sept. 22 there’s a special season that many Christians – including us at the Center for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St. Gertrude – will be celebrating.

Jesus said this to the followers of John the Baptist: “Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved” (Matthew 9:17, NRSV).

Recently, I wrote about the Religion Reporting Class I launched at Washington State University, offering students a hands-on approach to understanding faith communities. The course combines classroom learning with guest speakers and field trips to local houses of worship, providing aspiring journalists with firsthand experiences of religious practices and traditions.

In a June backyard interfaith discussion, we were trying to decide what topic to take on next when our attention was caught by freshly popped orange-red poppies. “I see God in such a beautiful display,” said one in our group. So, we decided to focus on beauty.

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.