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Sojourners Magazine: May 2016

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Conservative pastor Rev. Rob Schenck has spent most of his life as an anti-abortion activist, but after witnessing countless mass shootings here in the United States, Schenck switched his focus to understanding--and challenging--the pro-gun enthusiasm that permeates his evangelical community. In our cover story, read Schenck’s declaration of “a theological emergency” about the idolatry of gun culture. 

Cover Story

Andy Dean Photography / Shutterstock
Why one conservative evangelical is skeptical about pro-gun enthusiasm

Feature

Jon Krause
Jesus shook up his followers with his radical inclusion of children. Perhaps our Sunday worship should do the same. 
Waffle Church at St. Lydia's
A child-centered worship service encourages a sticky faith. 
CristinaMuraca / Shutterstock
How do we help the youngest members of the church understand the gospel's call to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves?
Kubko / Shutterstock
Fostering dialogue with those who disagree with you on firearms. 
Juergen Faelchle / Shutterstock
In the Michigan water crisis, the roots of the problem go a lot deeper than contaminated pipes. 

Commentary

iamshutter / Shutterstock
Why U.S. airstrikes on another Arab country is a very bad idea.
albund / Shutterstock
For 23 hours a day, I was kept in a windowless room smaller than a horse stable. How does this make us safer?
Everett Historical / Shutterstock
The rich and varied roots of black environmental liberation theology.

Culture Watch

Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman shepherds a cable TV journey through the world's faiths. 
Pillars of Cloud and Fire: The Politics of Exodus in African American Biblical Interpretation
Pillars of Cloud and Fire: The Politics of Exodus in African American Biblical Interpretation, by Herbert Robinson Marbury. NYU Press. 
Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism
Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism, by Drew G.I. Hart. Herald Press.
szefei / Shutterstock
Beholden: Religion, Global Health, and Human Rights, by Susan R. Holman. Oxford University Press. 
The Soulmaking Room
From The Soulmaking Room, copyright 2016 by Dee Dee Risher. Published by Upper Rooms Books.
A billboard in Mumbai, India, promotes Facebook's Free Basics initiative.
The well-meaning 21st century colonialist may come in a T-shirt and a hoodie instead of khakis and a pith helmet. 
Hélène Grimaud
Four May culture recommendations from our editors. 
Charlie Chaplin asThe Great Dictator
If comic portrayals of bad leadership are comforting, serious cinematic explorations of bad leadership might help us learn how to avoid it. 

Departments

NATALIA61 / Shutterstock
Preferential Option for the Poor
Everett Historical / Shutterstock
Letters to the Editor from Sojourners readers
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Reflections from the Revised Common Lectionary, Cycle C
Rev. J. Barrett Lee
"We recognize life is messy, so our worship is messy too."

Columns

 Pla2na / Shutterstock
We need faith-inspired courage to stand up to our enemies when they are strong and our friends when they are wrong. 
Alena Kozlova / Shutterstock
Funny Business by Ed Spivey Jr. 
Lauren Simmons / Shutterstock
At many colleges we visited, it was apparent that "success" was defined in mostly monetary terms.