After a year at Patheos, I am moving Approaching Justice to a new home. I am very grateful to the owners and staff at Patheos for the privilege of blogging at their site. I have made a lot of friends, especially with other bloggers at the various Patheos faith channels. I look forward to continuing those relationships. Please read about my new venture at the new Approaching Justice. Read more
Last night, Stephen Colbert bid farewell to Pete Seeger by sharing a clip from Seeger’s last appearance on the Colbert Report. The clip, which had not been previously aired, shows Colbert and Seeger leading the audience in singing “If I Had a Hammer.” Take a look and sing along: Check some of our tributes to Pete Seeger here at Approaching Justice. I need a hammer. Read more
In 1882, led by future state senator Fred T Dubois, the Territory of Idaho enacted a law disenfranchising all Mormons in the territory. This was done because at the time some Mormons practiced Polygamy and polygamy was an official teaching of the Church. This practice violated and offended the “sincerely held beliefs“ and Christian sensibilities of many of the other residents of Idaho. They felt that since they were morally offended by the Mormons way of life that they should... Read more
“Waist Deep in the Big Muddy” was considered so dangerous and politically charges that CBS edited it out of Pete Seeger’s appearance on the Smothers Brother’s show in September of 1967. The Smother’s Brothers fought back and Seeger was invited back to perform the son in February of 1968. Tom Morello called it an “Incendiary performance ” and said that “if one four minute song could be given credit for stopping the Vietnam War it is this performance of Pete’s”.... Read more
The world has lost one of its greatest voices for civil rights and one of its greatest singers and writers of Hymns of Social Justice. If I had to name just one voice that has influenced me to be liberal it would be Seeger. It is impossible to pick just one of his songs that has influenced my life so I will do several Pete Seeger themed posts over the next couple of days. “Where Have All the Flowers Gone”... Read more
I am doing a few guest posts over at Times and Seasons. My first post looks a bit at the idea of defending the faith. Oh, and I talk a little about Hugh Nibley. Here is a glimpse: The thing that most impressed me from that conversation, now over a decade ago, was how much I liked the sound of being a defender of the faith. Today, while I am not an apologist is the sense of FAIR or The... Read more
The Documentary Mitt opens online tomorrow on Netflix. I am planning on watching it. I did not vote for Mitt Romney in 2012 or in any prior caucus or primary. While I am not a Romney supporter or fan, I also have nothing against the guy personally. I disagree with him politically. However, I see no reason or justification for having any negative feelings towards him. I especially feel this way since he lost. Anything he said or did during... Read more
Absolutely. While they are not “mainstream” Mormons, as the Brown family refers to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Christ of Latter-day Saints based in Salt Lake City, they are very much Mormon. The thing that has intrigued me about the Brown family as I have observed them over the years is how mainstream Mormons react to them. The Browns, and other polygamists, make mainstream Mormons uncomfortable. This is partially because most Mormons want to get away from... Read more
It may be blasphemous to highlight a song performance by privileged White performers on Martin Luther King Day, but I love this song and this performance so much I will risk it. Peter, Paul, and Mary were one of several musical acts that performed during the March on Washington on 28 August 1963 (Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and others also performed). The Hymn of Social Justice that they chose to sing was Pete Seeger’s “If I Had a Hammer”. The... Read more
While many mainstream Mormons are uncomfortable being associated with polygamy and polygamists, the Browns of TLC’s Sister Wives similarly do not want to be associated with all polygamists. (The Browns call members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints based in Salt Lake City “mainstream” Mormons) “We were tired of Warren Jeffs being the poster child of plural marriage,” Janelle Brown told me in an interview. Warren Jeffs is the former head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus... Read more
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