Scripture Study
It's hard to ask biblical texts the modern question, "when does human life begin?" because the Bible has a very different understanding of human reproduction.
It should be no surprise that biblical scholars run in all shapes, sizes, colors and denominations. What would surprise many people, though, is this one fact: many of us have our roots in fundamentalist and evangelical Christianity.
Prophet Lord Krishna was a noble, righteous, beloved one of God. Far from theological division, he is a source of unity and accord between Hindus and Muslims.
John the Baptist gave meaning to the word courage in his unswerving commitment to his mission of truth and promise. Herod Antipas gave meaning to the word fear in his commitment to self-preservation.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
It is a tale within a tale. It begins with a desperate father, a leader of the synagogue, pleading with Jesus to come heal his critically ill daughter. It is no laughing matter.
Mark 4:35-41 has good news for those preoccupied with their own spiritual inadequacy. Life does not depend on whether we have enough faith or not. For many of us, that's a very good thing.
Can only certain kinds of families reflect or promote God's will, as Jesus articulated it in terms of mercy, love, justice, protection, holiness and well-being? Can only certain families express the belonging and solidarity that God desires to share with humanity?
Christians have often hoped for a time when our racial and economic differences would cease, when in Christ we would all be indistinguishable. Such impulses are earnest but fundamentally misguided.
Politics is supposed to serve the common good. These biblical texts remind us that good politics -- that is, faithful politics -- are rooted in love.
It didn't take long for others to add new endings, endings where Jesus did appear to Mary Magdalene and finally to the 11 disciples. Those endings are usually printed in italics or in brackets in most Bibles.