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Contemplating Clouds
March 13, 2023 | Marcos Barrios ES ‘24
How often do you think about clouds? Sure, you may notice them. But when was the last time you looked up and pondered them? Did you recognize them as the "wondrous works" of God?
Peace Without Any Answers
April 13, 2022 | By Yoska Guta TD’25
Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does God allow evil? Where is God in the midst of suffering?
Growing up, my parents always taught me that it was okay, and even good, to ask questions about and of God. And although I wanted to believe them, I was convinced that if I questioned God’s character or His decisions, He would either meet me with wrath or be deeply disappointed. So, I made a subconscious decision to never question.
Praying Paradoxes
March 10, 2022 | By Joseph McDonough H’23
Reading from the book of Job, I can’t help but think of my Uncle Tom. As I write, he is fighting to recover from a serious brain surgery. He is foggy, distant; from what my Aunt Dorie tells us, it is as if he has been half asleep since the surgery. We are all praying for him, none more than my aunt, who has waited at his bedside now for a month. How do you pray at such a time? What do you say to God?
Climate Despair and Our Death Wish
January 20, 2022 | By Sharla Moody BK ‘22
Water surges past the Statue of Liberty’s waist, empties into the crowded rush hour streets of Manhattan. Cars, trucks, and buses surf on the wall of filthy water bearing down on terrified bystanders. The sky erupts with hail the size of basketballs, indiscriminately falling on people frantically running to take shelter. Enormous tornados engulf entire skyscrapers in Los Angeles, spitting rubble down onto screaming bystanders, the carnage raining down beyond any Old Testament judgment.
Making Sense of Destruction
December 31, 2021 | By Justin Ferrugia TD ‘23+1
Affliction plays a complicated role in the Christian worldview. We are naturally predisposed to fear it. Pain, suffering, and danger elicit some of the most profound physiological responses in all animals. Human beings, however, are unique in our ability to reason with, deeply understand, and rationally attempt to avoid affliction in our lives. The gift we possess to relate rationally to the world around us magnifies our ability to deeply understand and be impacted by our afflictions.
Wondering When You’d Rather Not
Sept 15, 2020 | Shayley Martin DC ‘22
You can wonder at something—stand in awe of it, find yourself unable to explain it—and you can wonder about something—examine it, ask questions about it. Human beings can do both at the same time, which is why toddlers go through the “asking 400 questions a day” phase. Say a little kid loves pulling carrots. The way they grow underground is so mind-blowing to her that she yanks them up too early, just to marvel at them. She also asks constant questions: Why are they orange? How do the roots grow if they can’t see the sun?
Upcoming Events:
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Weekly Meetings
THURSDAYS 5-7PM, Branford College Trumbull Room
Discuss with us what it means to think Christianly and write for our publication.
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Philosophy of Everyday Life Seminar
THURSDAY SEPT 11TH 6:15-7:45PM, Elm Institute
Join us at the Elm Institute for a private version of the Elm’s popular seminar “The Philosophy of Everyday Life”. Readings will be focused on Friendship. No prior reading required. Food provided.
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Divinity School Private Archival Tour
THURSDAY SEPT 18th, 9AM, Yale Divinity School
We will be looking at the Yale Divinity School’s missionary collection, specifically focusing on letters from international ecumenical movements from America to China. We will be looking at how these relate to our theme of freidnship in a more nuanced way. We will be walking up from cross-campus at 8:30 am, but you can also meet at the YDS gates at 9 am.
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William Blake Private Exhibition Tour
THURSDAY OCT 2ND, TIME TBA
Peter Wicks of the Elm Institute will guide us through the traveling exhibition ‘William Blake: Burning Bright’ at Yale Center for British Art. No previous experience with art or William Blake required.