The effort to reduce almost two-thousand years of anti-Judaism in Christian sermons finally is getting a boost where it especially needs it: bit.ly/4eWg2YG

The people who put together lists of biblical texts from which Christian pastors preach is trying to cut down on sermons laden with anti-Judaism. Will it work? I hope so: bit.ly/4eWg2YG

My latest Flatland column takes a look at new efforts to end all the divisions within Christianity. Good luck with that: bit.ly/41X3CZ2

Can "conversion therapy" change someone from being gay to being straight? This author spent years trying that and it was one disaster after another: bit.ly/4tJ2STq

The 38th annual AIDS Walk-KC moved through gorgeous weather this morning and reminded us of the good work the AIDS Service Organization continues to do. It's not too late to donate. Just go here: www.aidswalkkansascity.org/BillTammeus?... (That's the Heartland Men's Chorus of KC singing to us.)

Using "conversion therapy" to try to make someone who's gay turn straight is dangerous, foolish and destructive. Here's someone who knows because he spent years in such therapeutic nonsense: bit.ly/4tJ2STq

Are you shocked that Americans disagree about what's moral and what's immoral? In our current divided culture you shouldn't be: bit.ly/42r1h8M

It turns out that U.S. citizens are a deeply divided lot even when it comes to what's moral and what's immoral. Imagine that: bit.ly/42r1h8M

Although the U.S., unlike Germany and Italy, has never been a fascist nation, there is a history of fascist movements here. The question is whether we're moving again in that direction: bit.ly/4tVEdej

Why, yes. It is National Columnists Day. Here's the story of how it got started: www.columnists.com/2009/04/stor... (I had a little something to do with it.)

Do you know enough about the history of fascist movements in the U.S. to be worried that one such movement might succeed? And sooner rather than later? bit.ly/4tVEdej

Is the U.S. headed toward a fascist government? This author thinks so but contends fascism has a long, dangerous history here: bit.ly/4tVEdej

There is much more that religious congregations could -- and should -- be doing to make children with disabilities feel welcomed and loved. Here are some ideas from an expert: bit.ly/41zMAQE

Protestant reformer John Calvin thought humanity was "totally depraved." And the Tower of London's displays are relentless in proving him right. But isn't there any room for hope? bit.ly/4vvewTx

On my Bill's 'Faith Matters' Blog today I'm writing from London about the famous Tower of London and why its messaging to visitors is so dishearteningly dark: bit.ly/4vvewTx

London -- The famous Tower of London serves up a relentlessly dark (though mostly accurate) view of humanity. But where's the hope? bit.ly/4vvewTx

On July 4 this year the United States will celebrate 250 years of existence. What's worth celebrating about that and what's worth, well, regret? bit.ly/4trvssa

When the U.S. officially turns 250 years of age on July 4, we'll celebrate. But how? And is it dangerous to remember only our nation's brightest moments? bit.ly/4trvssa

London -- As I write this, it's still Easter and although this is the Christian season of life, I'm thinking about something as eternal: death: billtammeus429970.substack.com/p/shadows-on...

When death takes away the ones we love, sometimes all we have left are shadows. And yet those shadows can be quite substantive and even helpful: billtammeus429970.substack.com/p/shadows-on...

What often seems so clear to us (maybe because we're binary thinkers) turns out to be shadows. But shadows aren't nothing: billtammeus429970.substack.com/p/shadows-on...

Does childhood trauma follow people into adulthood? Oh, my, yes. And the author of a new book says churches need to figure out how to help: billtammeus429970.substack.com/p/childhood-...

London -- Churches seem to be missing one of the major cause of adult trauma and trouble -- childhood trauma, a new book claims. And there's lots to listen to here: bit.ly/3ND1IJL

Just what is "progressive Christianity," and is it being true to what Jesus taught and did? Good question: bit.ly/4m4KQIA

KC's Reparations Commission is moving toward its recommendations, but where is the enthusiasm and engagement among our citizens? bit.ly/40XoQpl

Just what is "progressive Christianity"? Does it mean we'd vote for Jesus? Or is it politics disguised as religion? Or neither? billtammeus429970.substack.com/p/is-progres...

Just what is "progressive Christianity?" Is it a way finally to get the faith right or is it one more failed attempt? bit.ly/4m4KQIA

Will there ever be female Catholic priests? A new Vatican report seems to move half a centimeter closer: bit.ly/4rPaVfN

A new report from Vatican officials seems to open the door to more room for female leadership in the church. We'll see: bit.ly/4rPaVfN

What death leaves behind includes, of course, pain and regrets -- but also meaning, and that may be most important: bit.ly/47XfFc4

The recent death of one of my sisters has me thinking about why death is even a part of our lives: bit.ly/47XfFc4

Yes, "Porgy and Bess" is set in the deep South in the 1930s, but it speaks profoundly to all Americans today: bit.ly/4sjdBna

I saw the opera version of "Porgy and Bess" recently and discovered that old work talking right into today's issues: bit.ly/4sjdBna

If we're unaffected by or disinterested in the hideous Jeffrey Epstein scandal, we're not paying attention to what it means for us "normal" people: bit.ly/4rwG5Zc

Is there anything "normal" people (non-billionaires, non-pedophiles) can learn from the sickening Jeffrey Epstein story? Great question: bit.ly/4rwG5Zc

Yet another new book describes someone fed up with evangelical Christianity and why the author left it. It's one more strike against that branch of the church: bit.ly/4sBd0g9

The evangelical wing of American Christianity has been taking some harsh hits recently. Here's another example worth knowing about: bit.ly/4sBd0g9

They're called our ancestors because they're dead and gone. But if we know how to listen, they're still speaking to us: bit.ly/46HVxdB

Our forefathers and foremothers are gone but they still can teach us much if we're paying attention: bit.ly/46HVxdB

Do you know who your ancestors are? They're available to teach and guide you, a new book insists (and my ancestors tell me the author is right): bit.ly/46HVxdB

Some new evidence suggests the Shroud of Turin may really have been Jesus' burial cloth. Does it matter? Maybe sort of: bit.ly/4sozIbs

Is the Shroud of Turin the actual burial cloth of Jesus? New evidence leans that direction. But so what? Good question: bit.ly/4sozIbs

This year's AIDSWalk-KC is on Saturday, April 25. Your contributions to support the AIDS Service Organization can be made here: www.aidswalkkansascity.org/BillTammeus?... And thanks.

Not all authoritarians are repeats of Hitler, and when we say they are, we diminish the extraordinary evil of the Holocaust: bit.ly/3OIRN5m

The way we often so quickly drag Hitler into our arguments dismisses the Holocaust as just another routine evil. Let's stop doing that: bit.ly/3OIRN5m

Evil deeds happens often, but let's be slower to compare them to the Holocaust and to the man behind that, Hitler:: bit.ly/3OIRN5m

If we fail to pay attention to the news -- however sad and disgusting it may be -- we cut ourselves off from knowing how to help our needy neighbors: bit.ly/4qUyFP4

Is the news often painful to follow these days? Oh, yes. But it's a main way we find out who needs our help, so we must keep reading, watching, listening: bit.ly/4qUyFP4

Lots of KC-area faith communities are making plans for when World Cup athletes and fans come here in June, knowing they'll need more than cheers: bit.ly/4kOpAGh

Is the U.S. a better nation in terms of race than it was in 1857 when the U.S. Supreme Court issued its dreadful Dred Scott decision? Oh, yes. But there's still much to fix: bit.ly/4aH39y6