As scholars, we train rigorously in our fields, and learn to communicate with each other, but not the people most impacted by our work. How can we learn to do better? The world and the Church need us. I’m an academic, but I spend more time writing for lay audiences than scholarly ones. I’ve done my share of academic writing, from undergraduate essays, to grant proposals, science articles, and poster presentations. I even teach students how to do this. As a science communicator, I’ve realized that there is a … [Read more...] about Five Tips for Academics on Communicating to Lay Audiences
Christian Thought and Practice
Call For Articles: Your Dreams for Academia
"Tell them about the dream, Martin." Martin Luther King, Jr. was the last speaker of the day at the March on Washington in 1963. He was preceded by his good friend, singer Mahalia Jackson, who sang and then introduced him. At a critical point in his prepared remarks, Jackson recalled a previous speech of King's that she felt was what the crowd of 250,000 needed and called out, "Tell them about the dream, Martin." Laying aside his remarks, King listened to his friend, gathered himself and began again, "I have a … [Read more...] about Call For Articles: Your Dreams for Academia
Lenten Humility: Falling to the Ground Before the Cross
We are delighted that Bobby Gross, author of Living the Christian Year and who has contributed previous series during Lent and Advent, has agreed to write this new series of Lenten reflections on the theme of humility. These weeks of Lent have brought us to Good Friday and the foot of the cross, where Jesus hangs in bleeding torment, where he cries out in uncomprehending desolation, where he finally exhales his final breath. Jesus experiences this utter humiliation because he had chosen to humble himself utterly … [Read more...] about Lenten Humility: Falling to the Ground Before the Cross
Lenten Humility: Accepting our World-changing Inability
We are delighted that Bobby Gross, author of Living the Christian Year and who has contributed previous series during Lent and Advent, has agreed to write a new series of Lenten reflections on the theme of humility. Most of us are just trying to live our lives, do our jobs, love our family and friends, and be good neighbors in the world as it is, with all of its beauty and brokenness, possibility and precarity, hope and heartache. We do our best to navigate the cross-currents with God’s help. Sometimes, we sail … [Read more...] about Lenten Humility: Accepting our World-changing Inability
Lenten Humility: Acknowledging Our Intellectual Fallibility
We are delighted that Bobby Gross, author of Living the Christian Year and who has contributed previous series during Lent and Advent, has agreed to write a new series of Lenten reflections on the theme of humility. “I could be wrong.” These are the words of someone with humility about what they think and how they think. To say them is to acknowledge that we are fallible in our intellectual faculties and that we cannot be fully certain that what we know to be true and right is true and right. We might do well to … [Read more...] about Lenten Humility: Acknowledging Our Intellectual Fallibility