SimonMary Asese Aihiokhai, PhD, is full professor of theology (systematics) and religious studies, and affiliate faculty of ethnic studies at the University of Portland.
The Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Survey 2024 revealed a major decline in public contentment with democratic systems among the 26 countries that were surveyed.[1] With this information in mind, one observes an increase in violent uprisings around the world, most of which have been led by the Gen Z population. Most of those discontent with the status quo are…
If you are like me, you would want to have some friends who belong to the Orthodox Christian Traditions so that the festivities surrounding the birth of Jesus and his epiphany can continue for a longer period. While the Latin Church tends to traditionally put emphasis on the birth of Jesus Christ, which is celebrated on Christmas Day, the Orthodox…
For many Christians around the world, the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God- Theotokos in Greek (God bearer)—may not be well known because of the secular focus on the celebrations surrounding the New Year. In fact, during the many years I lived in my home country, Nigeria, we always celebrated the New Year beginning with a vigil Mass and then the Mass of…
If one were to pose the following question to Christians around the world, what is the place of ambition in the Christian understanding of the incarnation? I can bet you that the response would be the same. Their typical responses would be that ambition is a negative thing and cannot be used to speak of the gift of the incarnation.…
As I read the texts for Christmas Mass, I am drawn to pay attention to two important motifs; one has to do with the motif of mountains and its ethical summons. The other has to do with the incarnation as an event that summons us to embody an ethics of neighborliness. In this brief reflection, I will weave these two…
The readings for the fourth Sunday of Advent are saturated with important pastoral and theological themes that can benefit our contemporary world and church as well. In this short reflection, I focus solely on the Matthean pericope (1:18-24). That said, most churchgoers would not consider Saint Joseph to be the one they ponder the mystery of Advent. After all, the…
Living with a Siberian Husky, one is forced to study its behavior. Among its many eccentric ways of communicating and showing that it is attentive to its surroundings is its vivid way of trying to focus on what stimulates its senses. Its head and eyes move from one object to another as though it has an existential obligation to grasp…
Too often, we hear religious and secular leaders appeal to the virtue of hope as a form of magical solution to an experience that brings about total desolation. Sometimes, these inspiring narratives serve as a psychological medicine for those who lament social and structural injustices that have come to define their lives. Also, these narratives can become a strategic attempt…
Growing up in Nigeria, I am familiar with the rituals of staying awake and keeping a vigil in preparation for a grand celebration the next day. Socializing, listening to tales and stories from friends, praying, reading, dancing, and just looking up into the skies are all part of the rituals of staying awake and keeping a vigil. Yet, in the…
Recently, members of the LGBTQIA+ communities and their families made a pilgrimage to Rome to participate in the Jubilee Year. Around 1400 members of this community and their families walked through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica with joy and reverence. This jubilee was approved by Pope Francis before his death. To culminate this sacred gathering of members of…