At the turn of the last century, many reform-minded religious leaders advanced the social gospel as a means of responding to the often-exploitative transition of a largely agricultural economy to a largely industrial economy.  We have been for the past couple decades going through similar times of great transition.  We have, slowly but quite inevitably moved from the industrial to the information age; as with any change, we are caught between competing theories and overwhelmingly paralyzed by factionalism.            

John McCain referred to this dynamic in part today while he spoke in Florida.  While addressing the major leaders of that swing state's press, he proposed clear-cut specifics, which have been famously lacking in Obama's rhetorical flourishes.  It was a shrewd, smart tactical move:  much of the personable, off-the-cuff charm of the moderate McCain of eight years ago was clearly evident.  One wonders how Obama will respond to this in his own speeches.

My conception of Quakerism has always placed a premium on the tenet of the Ministry of all Friends.  

I'm old school, I suppose.  I have seen firsthand the problems created when one central leader proposes to speak on behalf of all church members and gathered believers.  

When it comes time to select a leader, any leader, particularly in a congregational setting, often no one gets exactly the minister they'd like.  There's a rough kind of compromise often hollowed out between members and the demands often placed upon any leader in a such proceeding.    

So it is that today I wanted to comment a bit about this dynamic, as we see it heavily in play in the Democratic primary for President.  

I've been doing some thinking recently.

Here in the blogosphere, I can, if I so choose, get a Greek chorus at all times of everything wrong with the world.  It doesn't matter what site I access or where I set down my words on the internet.  If I want to be reminded of the awful side of human conduct, it will always be there for me.  

As a member of Generation X, when I speak to my contemporaries, I can always find fear, distrust, and anger no matter where I go.  I hate to think this is our legacy.  I would rather be inclined more to borrow from my little sister's generation, which has embraced a new spirit of idealism and the ethos of live-and-let-live.    

A particular passage of scripture speaks to me this morning.  When one takes into account the John Hagee/John McCain controversy of the past week, I am reminded that the pure ideal of Christianity or, for that matter, any spiritual movement can easily be co-opted and corrupted by human hands.

I've held back telling this story for five years, but now seems the appropriate time.  Those who choose to read this, kindly come with me to Southern Ontario, Canada, in August of 2003.  

To an extent, the Reverend Wright controversy was inevitable.  It was only a matter of time.  I saw this coming, though the package it arrived in took me greatly by surprise.      

Many of us have been agonizing over the impact of Jeremiah Wright's controversial comments and today's public repudiation by Senator Obama himself.  

I borrow from F. Scott Fitzgerald's revealing memoir the title of my first post back from hospitalization.

The timing of the Papal visit strikes me as nothing less than damage control.  This post-modern conundrum transpires at the same time that the first true election for the modern era rages forwards - or rather sputters towards the finish line.

Beyond Silly Season. Can there be reason in the campaign?

I recite this passage by Bob Dylan in my head.  It's the young Dylan speaking, the Dylan who wanted to say everything in his head, who wanted to be heard, who was at the beginning of his fame as a folky.  The Dylan who had yet to plug in and be called Judas.  

It serves as comfort to me, right alongside the best Bible verses.  This inspirational text was written by a human being.  It is called "Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie"

As an American History teacher, I make a point to let my student know that historical is not cyclical, as many might believe. That is a historical fallacy to think that we will necessarily repeat the past. But it is not a fallacy to suggest that human nature, which is driven by money, greed, sex, and power will fall into the same predictable patterns so long as human being are driven by those four traits.

It is in that spirit that I post more of C. Vann Woodward's treatise written in 1968, but applicable to today.