The blog of the Rev’d David O. Browder, Rector of St. Thomas’. Law and gospel, grace, pop culture, links to interesting articles and videos.
by David Browder There is a deep and inherent disconnect in the human condition that is the source of much tension and consternation. We desire complete and unfettered personal autonomy and, at the same time, we long for divine justice. Personal autonomy is located in the subjective: to be autonomous is, literally, to be “a…
by David Browder People who might not be as well-off financially often have certain preconceptions about those who are: sometimes they even believe them to be of an almost entirely different species. We humans feel compelled to break ourselves into tribes based on our shared characteristics. This compulsion is so pervasive that, in seminary, our…
There are a lot of really smart people in this world. Very smart and very creative. Just think of all the movies, music, stories, shows, and books that have come out of the minds of these smart, talented people. I was thinking the other day about the sheer variety and quality of the many things…
by David Browder Self-righteousness is the greatest problem we face. I really have come to believe that as I’ve studied and thought through the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector over this past week. I believe that if you think about it, you’ll find this is a no-brainer, too. Another unspeakable tragedy happened…
It has been quite a sight seeing the old Lower School and Scottish Arts buildings come down. People with deep ties to our community have watched with sadness and hope as these buildings that hold so many memories have come down. The Middle School is next. That era of life is infused with the powerful…
And they haven’t been for some time. A few years ago, I brought in The National Center for the Development of Boys (which is headquartered at The McCallie School for Boys in Chattanooga, TN) to speak to us at St. Thomas’. The audience almost filled the church — and they were mostly moms of boys.…
by Michelle Graves Six months ago I searched on Google Maps for “Rafiki Foundation Kenya,” after reading about a Christian orphanage and classical school there. You can see on the map the sharp turn in the road there and a photo of the solid steel gate topped with silhouettes of grownups reaching down to hold…
When Geoff Simpson and I led a week of summer camp at Camp Allen, we introduced our campers to science fiction movies from the 1950s. This genre has long been an enthusiasm of mine. Particularly striking, as I consider it, is the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers from 1956. In the movie, malevolent aliens…
“Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.” Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America The Fourth…
On the last day of school, I had a little fun with our students and their parents. People who attend high-achieving private schools tend to have Type A personalities. I can relate to that because I tend more towards the Type A personality myself. We Type As are very competitive, with lots of self-criticism and…
