Author: Jerica Barkley

Opinion

Is it ever appropriate to morally judge another’s culture?

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Thanks to the powers of imperialism and colonialism in Western society, its history is littered with racist descriptions, depictions and attitudes towards what modern anthropology would call the “cultural other.” This has led to both the excessive stereotyping and belittling of the global East and South. Those of white European origin look upon them with dehumanizing interest and as much respect as one affords to a child. With this in mind, is it ever appropriate to make moral judgments about human cultures and societies apart from one’s own?

ukraine
News

Discrimination in Ukrainian Refugee Crisis

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In the month and a half since the beginning of the war in Ukraine on Feb 24, the Operational Data Portal estimates a total of 4,244,595 refugees have fled Ukraine, causing the largest European refugee crisis since World War II. Despite the terror and fear pervading Eastern Europe, the continent has expressed unrelenting support for Ukraine and its people.

private christian education
Opinion

Count it all joy, brothers… but discount any sorrow

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If I were a visitor to one of my local evangelical churches, knowing nothing about Christians or their faith, I would be likely to conclude that this group of the population does not experience the all-too-frequent emotion of sadness. There is no hint of it anywhere. Everyone arrives in their nicest clothes with their happiest faces, presenting the best version of themselves. Greetings are all smiles, pleasantries are exchanged, laughter ensues and donuts are consumed. Within the sanctuary, lights flash a variety of bright colors, and the worship band plays music that hardly stays in a minor key for more than two measures. They praise God in light-hearted and repetitive song, then listen to a sermon which, depending on the congregation, will end with nothing but warm feelings. Regardless of the genocide discussed in that Biblical passage, God is still good, and you should feel that way too!

Opinions- POC Jesus
Opinion

Yeshua, not Josh: Why Americans need a Jesus of color

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What’s wrong with “white Jesus,” you might ask? Christianity is a global religion! Is it not best expressed in an artistic sense through a multicultural lens? In fact, if you were to step into the office of John Brown University’s intercultural studies professor, you might see on her walls art representing Bible stories in a Picasso-esque style with a Chinese flair. This is the work of He Qi, a Chinese artist and theologian who has sought to combine his culture with his training and understanding of Scripture. For generations, as formerly colonized countries have come forth in claiming Christianity as their very own, their artists have similarly taken ownership of Biblical narratives by portraying them as appropriate to their cultural contexts. As early as the 1970s, Christian artistry has arisen from Malawi, Puerto Rico, native New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, portraying the Madonna and Child, Nativity scenes, Adoration of the Magi and more.

Opinion

The 21st century diet: A choice, or a condition?

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In my biology class, we have finally reached the “nutrition” unit. Like a pastor unto his pulpit, my professor stands at the front of the laboratory, preaching to us poor pagans trapped in the culture of obesity about the saving grace of healthy eating. We are enslaved to the sin of processed foods, wasting away through our carbs and sugars. But the newfound knowledge of the human body has now provided us with the choice to leave the chains of our unhealthy eating habits for the life-giving qualities of raw food, which will allow our cells to function at their fullest capacity and enable us to change our lives for the better. Without fail, my professor has painted the picture of eating habits as a dualistic choice: to eat processed foods or unprocessed. However, as a college student with a meal plan and limited money to spend on her own, I couldn’t help but wonder whether the choice was really so black and white.

News

Student expresses rising frustration, says accommodations office falls short

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Editor’s note (2/7/2022): The headline of the article was changed to reflect a student’s experience with JBU’s Disability and Testing Services. With pandemic fatigue, political and social unrest, and continuing issues with the economy, the number of Americans with mental health issues is higher than ever. The number of adolescents […]

marcos gutierrez
Local

JBU admissions counselor and alumnus earns his U.S. citizenship

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At John Brown University’s admissions building, in the office to the left, a handmade banner is draped across one of the desks. Its string is what looks to be yarn, and a series of paper squares containing the phrase “Congratulations, Marcos!” were hole-punched and tied together. The congratulations were earned […]