Ryan Rodrick Beiler was the Sojourners web editor from 1999 to 2010. He currently works as a freelance photojournalist based in Oslo, Norway. 

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Daily News Digest

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 08-12-2008

The latest news on the Environment, Iraq, Israel and Palestine, the Georgia-Russia conflict, the Elections, Pakistan, North Korea, the Philippines, New Orleans, Privacy, Cuba and Zimbawbwe.

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Georgia-Russia conflict.

Daily News Digest

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 08-11-2008

The latest news on the Georgia-Russia conflict, China, Bolivia, Iraq, Energy, John Edwards, the Election, Commodity prices, Pakistan, North Korea, Zimbabwe, Israel and Palestine, and Isaac Hayes.

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Georgia-Russisa conflict.

Rand: Solution to Terrorism Is Not Military

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 07-30-2008

Some compelling quotes from a recent Rand Corp. study caught my eye in today's Washington Post -- the emphasis is added:

The Bush administration's terrorism-fighting strategy has not significantly undermined al-Qaeda's capabilities, according to a major new study that argues the struggle against terrorism is better waged by law enforcement agencies [...]

Daily News Digest

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 07-03-2008

The latest news on Colombia, Race, Immigration, Israel and Palestine, Katrina trailers, Detainees, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Global Warming, Iraqi oil, Mongolia, Abortion, Same-sex marriage, and Iran.

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Colombia.

Daily News Digest

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 07-02-2008

Afghanistan, Government waste, Privacy, McCain in Colombia, Obama's Faith-Based Plan, Zimbabwe, North Korea, Iraq, Iran, Mexico, China, Hunger, Iraq, Mongolia, Endangered species, Fuel prices, and Israel.

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Afghanistan.

Daily News Digest

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 07-01-2008

The latest news on Detainees, Biofuels, Zimbabwe, North Korea, South Korea, Iraqi oil, Barack Obama, Global evangelicals Intelligence, Peru, Tibet, Afghanistan and Iraq wars, Anglicans, and Israel.

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Detainees.

Daily News Digest

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 06-30-2008

The latest news on Environment, China, Barack Obama, John McCain, Immigration, Iran, Israel, Zimbabwe, Africa, Food crisis, Anglican/Episcopal Churches, Supreme Court, and Iraq.

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Environment.

Feeling the Love on Daily Kos

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 05-29-2008

Jim Wallis and the progressive shift within the evangelical community just got a little shout-out on a Daily Kos diary-which is great:

... this conservative Christian college is showing signs of a real shift in perspective.  Being overtly Christian is no [...]

What Would Ned Flanders Do?

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 05-23-2008

Some fun for your Friday: Mark Pinsky, author of The Gospel According to the Simpsons, has reviewed the newly released

Chiquita Paid for Left- and Right-Wing Terror, and Victims of Both Demand Justice

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 05-16-2008

I posted last November about legal proceedings against Chiquita for protection money paid to Colombian right-wing paramilitary organizations (AUC) that had been designated terrorist organizations by the U.S. government. Two stories this week shed more light on the situation and are worth checking out.

First, last week's 60 Minutes broadcast included a segment called

Video: Shane Claiborne, Chuck Colson, and Greg Boyd

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 04-22-2008

On a recent edition of American Public Media's Speaking of Faith, host Krista Tippett presents a conversation among three generations of evangelical leaders -- Chuck Colson, Greg Boyd, and Shane Claiborne -- about how (or if) Christians should be involved in politics. The event was part of a larger pastor's conference in San Diego sponsored by Zondervan that several Sojourners staff attended; they gave rave reviews of this panel discussion. See for yourself.

You can listen to or [...]

Video: Sojourners Veteran on the Front Lines of L.A. Gang Wars

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 03-12-2008

Jeff Carr was Sojourners' chief operations officer before taking a post as L.A.'s gang czar (anti-gang czar, that is) last summer. He was featured in this report by CBS News, and I'm sure he would appreciate it if you'd join with the Sojourners team in supporting his difficult work with your prayers. Watch it:

Mystery Quote Quiz of the Week

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 02-15-2008

Who said:

"There still persists a macho mentality that ignores the novelty of Christianity, which recognizes and proclaims the equal dignity and responsibility of women with respect to men. There are certain places and cultures where women are discriminated against and undervalued just for the fact that they are women. In the face of such grave and persistent phenomena the commitment of Christians appears all the more urgent, so that they become everywhere the promoters of a [...]

The Worst of the Worst?

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 02-11-2008

Friday morning I posted about Bush legalizing waterboarding. That evening, Bill Moyers' Journal had a compelling and disturbing segment on the use of torture by U.S. forces. It was about the Oscar-nominated [...]

At Least You Know Where He Stands--on Torture

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 02-08-2008

Uncertainty about the consistency of conservative convictions was part of what killed the campaign of Mitt "Double Guantanamo" Romney, and it was coverage of the "suspension" of his campaign that nearly drowned out another important story yesterday.

Super Tuesday Liveblog: Whose Voice Counts?

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 02-06-2008

Looking for parallels to the Dobson versus conservative evangelical rank-and-file phenomenon, I'm struck by the Democratic vote in Massachusetts. Despite endorsements from Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry, Governor Deval Patrick, and The Boston Globe, the state broke for Sen. Hillary Clinton. I find it encouraging that official endorsements don't mean that much to the average voter, and though my sense is that in general Clinton enjoys more support from the Democratic establishment [...]

Super Tuesday Liveblog: What Will (or Won't) Dobson Do?

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 02-06-2008

Back in October, Diana Butler Bass asked on this blog, "What Will Dobson Do?" Back then, Guiliani was the frontrunner and Dobson was threatening to bolt the party if he became the nominee. Today, he sent an alert to Focus on the Family Action lamenting:



I am deeply disappointed the Republican Party seems [...]

Super Tuesday Liveblog: What Will (or Won't) Dobson Do?

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 02-06-2008

Back in October, Diana Butler Bass asked on this blog, "What Will Dobson Do?" Back then, Guiliani was the frontrunner and Dobson was threatening to bolt the party if he became the nominee. Today, he sent an alert to Focus on the Family Action lamenting:



I am deeply disappointed the Republican Party seems [...]

Super Tuesday Liveblog: What Will (or Won't) Dobson Do?

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 02-06-2008

Back in October, Diana Butler Bass asked on this blog, "What Will Dobson Do?" Back then, Guiliani was the frontrunner and Dobson was threatening to bolt the party if he became the nominee. Today, he sent an alert to Focus on the Family Action lamenting:



I am deeply disappointed the Republican Party seems [...]

A Dose of Inaugurated Eschatology

by Ryan Rodrick Beiler 02-01-2008

A comment thread from Jim's "Moral State of the Union" post frustrated me a bit until I was encouraged later in the week by a sermon mp3 by N.T. Wright. (I like to listen to sermon podcasts during my morning hikes in the park.) Here's an initial comment on Monday's post: