EthicsDaily.com

What's the definition of an authentic follower of Jesus? A conservative or a liberal? A revolutionary for change or a reactionary against it? Mark's Gospel suggests an intriguing answer.

Can we bring about change for the common good when the situation seems hopeless? It's always possible. Here are five more truths about making things better.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who urged German Christians to stand against Nazi tyranny and violence, joined in a plot to assassinate Hitler – one of the more problematic elements of his life.

A lot of us seek the approval of others while living with the anxiety that we don't measure up. But there are steps we can take to end the exhausting life of being the center of our own universe.

Vandals spray-painted threats to Arabs and Christians on a school and a monastery in Jerusalem. For the school, which has Arab and Jewish students, it was an opportunity to draw closer together.

Even when everything around us seems to be disappointing, there's always hope that situations can change. Here are the first five of 10 truths about making things better.

Not all electoral outcomes, legislative acts or judicial decisions in the U.S. are going to satisfy the consciences of all conscientious people – religious or not.

The "us versus them" attitude adopted by the Egyptians that led to their unjust oppression of the Hebrews is a prevailing influence on immigration discussions today

The global community's diet is unbalanced. Millions face daily hunger; millions of others who struggle with obesity are eating themselves to death. How will we respond to this imbalance?

Churches and organizations don't always get in trouble for doing the wrong thing. Often, they'll lose their way when they try to do too many good things.

We often make great plans about how we want to serve God – and then expect God to show up and bless them. Instead, we need to show up for God's plan.

Arizona schools that are largely comprised of Mexican-Americans are eliminating ethnic-studies programs to avoid "biased, political and emotionally charged" teaching.

A group of Christians is working to change a Tennessee law so students can use their religious beliefs to bully homosexual students. How can they be so far from Jesus' core teachings?

How often do we miss what God is doing because we keep chanting the mantra of our particular group, unwilling to consider how God may be at work in other communities and faith traditions?

Political conservatives and Catholic leaders criticized Mitt Romney's statement of disinterest in the well-being of America's poor, but few Christian conservatives voiced concern.

"The Artist" tells the tale of a silent movie star who refuses to change when talkies become all the rage. How many churches today are doomed to fail because they won't change?

The line between responsible Christian citizenship and political partisanship isn't hard to define. People of faith need to bring their beliefs to bear on all matters of public life without violating church-state separation.

A Baptist church in Great Britain is partnering with other churches to open their doors to provide the homeless a place to sleep instead of spending the night outside in the freezing winter.

Most of us in church prefer to go with the flow. Who will help us ditch the cozy comforts of church-going in favor of the anxiety inducing adventure of following Jesus? Bring on the creative folk.

GOP lawmakers in Tennessee have filed some 30 anti-immigration bills during the current legislative session, including one described as a copycat of Alabama's harsh bill.