Being Human in the Midst of Global Crises
Events unfolding in Iran — or anywhere in the world, really — don’t just stay “over there.” They reach into our homes, our neighborhoods, and our hearts. For many, these headlines aren’t distant. They stir up old trauma, trigger fresh fear, and leave people feeling vulnerable or alone. At Paths to Understanding, we’ve seen this…
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A ‘Whole of Society’ Response
We’ve all felt it. It’s not just in our heads—researcher Robert Putnam has been tracking this disconnection for decades. His work shows what many of us already know: since the 1960s, Americans have become more isolated, less trusting, and less engaged in community life. This loss of connection makes everything harder—raising kids, solving local problems,…
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Walking and Chewing Gum at the Same Time
We’re living in a time of deep urgency. We see real threats to democracy, rising violence, and growing division. People are tired, angry, and worried about what’s coming next. It’s tempting to focus only on the most urgent crises. And to be honest, sometimes we have to. When there’s a fire, you put it out.…
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Making Us Visible to Us
On May 8, around 130 people gathered at the Lincoln Theater in Mount Vernon, WA, for the third Let’s Go Together event of this year. It was a truly inspiring evening. Eight speakers from diverse traditions, cultures, economic backgrounds, ages, and identities answered one central question: What were you taught by your tradition(s), culture(s), or…
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Theory of Growth
Over the past ten years, I’ve been in conversations with people from nearly every ideology. I’ve spoken to III Percenters and progressive activists. My goal has been to reduce bias and bigotry and help people see each other as human beings. Along the way, I’ve learned a lot—including the limits of my own understanding. Nearly…
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Christian Nationalism – Project 2025 and More
This is the fourth in a series of articles to reflect on Christian Nationalism. For more on this topic, you can read my book, Go and Do Likewise: Following Jesus into Our Common Humanity. If you’re Christian: Take some time to think about your own faith tradition. How does it invite you to respect, build relationships,…
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Christian Nationalism – Roots in History
This is the third in a series of articles to reflect on Christian Nationalism. For more on this topic, you can read my book, Go and Do Likewise: Following Jesus into Our Common Humanity. If you’re Christian: Take some time to think about your own faith tradition. How does it invite you to respect, build relationships,…
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Christian Nationalism – Exclusive In-Grouping
This is the second in a series of articles to reflect on Christian Nationalism. For more on this topic, you can read my book, Go and Do Likewise: Following Jesus into Our Common Humanity. If you’re Christian: Take some time to think about your own faith tradition. How does it invite you to respect, build relationships,…
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