Author: Nancy Werking Poling
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The Christian Agenda
The 2016 primaries have come to the Bible Belt. Already politicians are competing for the evangelical vote. For too long we progressive Christians have allowed evangelicals to be spokespersons for the Gospel. In fact, in the minds of many outside the Christian faith, “Christian” and “conservative” are synonymous. Evangelicals tend to preach against homosexuality and…
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Donald Trump, the Republicans’ idea of a strong leader
Many Republican primary voters think Donald Trump is the strong leader we need at this point of our history (NYTimes, 12/11/15). Here I share my perspective on what makes a strong leader–and it ain’t the likes of Donald Trump.
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Republican debates: for love of a good fight
My daughter’s adolescence gave me two insights into human behavior: we love a good fight, and in our weakest moments we go on the offensive. Both truths were clearly demonstrated in Wednesday evening’s Republican debate.
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Pope Francis and the world beyond our experiences
Until this past week the 2016 campaign had lured many of us into thinking America’s borders, our job growth, our politicians’ emails defined reality. It led us to ignore the rest of the world—except those we fear. Then Pope Francis arrived and called us out of our self-centered thinking.
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When religious belief conflicts with the law
Freedom of religion is not under attack. There have always been conflicts between religious values and what the government expects of its citizens. Like resisters of the past, Kim Davis must be willing to accept the consequences.
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Donald Trump, Archie Bunker in a suit
It’s easy for Trump and other politicians to play into our fears, to resurrect a demagoguery that blames immigrants, the other party, homosexuals, atheists. They would have us believe that their toughness can turn back the calendar, rid the country of threats to our sense of well being.
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Voting laws and racism, or what you can learn doing genealogical research
New laws to curb black voting are nothing new. In 1900 North Carolina passed an amendment to the state constitution with the explicit intent of suppressing “Negro” voting.
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A busy woman’s guide to being informed
The National Women’s Political Caucus invited me to write a guest blog. http://nwpcblog.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-busy-womans-guide-to-being-informed.html
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Hillary Clinton and the advent of email
Before ink erasers or white-out, thought had to accompany most written words. Email has brought a carelessness to our writing. How many of us would want the world to view our messages?