Today (July 10) is the 501st birthday of the great Protestant reformer (and my alma mater’s namesake) John Calvin.
Granted, I’m a bit late to the party, since last year was the big celebration of his 500th.
But, it’s still worth celebrating, especially since his ideas and doctrines are getting more popular. (I hesitate to call it a “comeback,” though, as the Christian Science Monitor did earlier this year. To paraphrase LL Cool J, “Don’t call it a comeback - Calvinism’s been here for years!”)

And, even though I grew up and was educated in the Reformed/Calvinist tradition, I’m finally starting to learn and understand what it means to be a Calvinist.
It’s kind of counterintuitive that Calvinism is resurgent. It’s certainly not an appealing doctrine to a lot of people, particularly individualistic, positive-thinking Americans, with its emphasis on total depravity (the idea that all people are born in corruption and original sin because of the Fall of Adam and Eve and are incapable of any good on their own), predestination (the idea that God has already decided who will be saved and who won’t be) and the ultimate sovereignty of God.

Yet, I find a lot about Calvinism - and Calvin - to like. G.K. Chesterton said that

“… original sin … is the only part of Christian theology which can really be proved.”

Being a journalist, I see evidence of original sin and total depravity every day, in stories like this, and this.

Being a Calvinist helps me keep it in perspective. And, it reminds me that as good as I think I am, I’m capable of the same evil as anyone - and that it’s really impossible to earn my salvation.

Sufjan Stevens put this beautifully in his song “John Wayne Gacy Jr.,” about the serial killer:

And in my best behavior
I am really just like him
Look beneath the floorboards
For the secrets I have hid.

But, it’s not all bad news. Calvinism also promises grace, forgiveness and perseverance in faith for those who believe - and even some benefits for those who don’t.
In fact, some people think Calvin deserves a better reputation. The Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Marilynne Robinson says he valued individual conscience and the goodness that remains in God’s creation despite the Fall. This leads to one of my favorite doctrines: common grace , the idea that all people, regardless of their religious beliefs, share in God’s blessings, have something positive to contribute to culture and point out truth.

Plus, Calvinism lends itself to intellectual rigor (which I like - I have little tolerance for Christians who refuse to use the brains God gave them), and a lot of great humor.

So anyway, here’s to you, Calvin, for all your contributions to Western civilization.

And thanks for the motto you gave, not only to my college, but to all who seek to know God better:

“My heart I offer to you, Lord, promptly and sincerely.”

I’ve been thinking a lot in the past year about financial issues - not just because of the recession (which is showing inconsistent signs of improving), but because I’ve been forced to take stock of my own life and the way I manage money.

As someone who, according to some demographers, is part of the Millennial Generation (although others would call me a Gen-Xer), I’ve supposedly never known hardship up until the current economic malaise, since my baby boomer parents made sure I had everything I could possibly want, and that gave me a false sense of entitlement that carries over into the classroom and the workplace.

(That sound you just heard was my parents, professors and bosses laughing hysterically.)

The reality, of course, is very different. My parents gave me a lot of wonderful gifts and opportunities - but they also instilled a good Protestant work ethic and taught me that the world does not owe me anything.

Those lessons have served me well. But the recession has also taught me that working hard isn’t enough. You also have to work smart and take control of your money and your career in order to thrive and weather whatever storm comes along. (I hope other people in my age group are learning this, seeing as we’re increasingly being laid off or unable to find jobs while trying to pay back huge student loans.)

And, I’ve noticed that your financial health affects myriad other parts of your life - including your emotional health, physical health and relationships.
To alleviate some of the stress that finances can bring, I’ve started budgeting and following a plan to get out of debt. My main inspiration is Dave Ramsey, the Christian personal-finance guru, radio host and author, although plenty of secular experts have similar plans - and it’s really just “common sense for your dollars and cents,” as he likes to say. (The title of this post is another one of his Southern-fried pearls of wisdom.)

In fact, I like Dave so much that I wrote an article last year about churches that teach his concepts.

No matter what happens on Wall Street, getting control of your money and “telling it where to go, instead of wondering where it went” is a must for everyone. And it may be even more important for people with mental illnesses and learning disabilities, such as bipolar disorder and ADD/ADHD, since those conditions often express themselves in irresponsible financial behavior. And, people with very severe illnesses may not be able to work much or may face large medical costs, so learning how to live on a tight budget is even more critical.

So, as we get ready to celebrate Independence Day this weekend, think about how you can work toward financial independence - and financial health and peace. It may not make economists (who want us to spend and borrow more) happy, but you’ll be better off.

As you’ve probably guessed, I love to read. (In fact, I get paid to do it.)

And summer is traditionally a time when people make an effort to read more, either for school assignments or just for pleasure.

Lately, I’ve been reading mostly nonfiction, particularly books pertaining to religion in America (both academic-type books and more personal, memoir-type books).

If you’re interested in this subject, these are the ones I really liked:

• “Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church” by Michael Horton. My church did a Lenten series on this book, but I just got around to reading it now, and I love Horton’s take-no-prisoners style. He argues that modern American Christians (whether evangelical or liberal, Catholic or Protestant, or any other label you want to use) are abandoning the gospel message for something wishy-washy, neo-Pelagian and neo-Gnostic (if you don’t know what that means, look it up) that “turns the good news into good advice” and actually hurts people. You may or may not agree, but it was a good course corrective for me, and maybe it will be for you. I also like Horton because, unlike a lot of Christian authors/pastors I’m familiar with, he actually likes journalists and journalism. (What a concept!)
• “Sin Boldly: A Field Guide for Grace” by Cathleen Falsani. I was fortunate enough to meet Falsani (like me, a Medill grad) at the Festival of Faith and Writing two years ago, and her honesty, personality and sense of humor really shine through in this book, some of it based on her experiences covering religion for the Chicago Sun-Times. No matter where she travels or who she meets, she manages to see grace and encourages readers to look for it, too.
•  “Mormon America: The Power and the Promise” by Richard Ostling and Joan K. Ostling. Richard Ostling (yet another Medill grad!) is one of the greatest religion journalists ever, in my opinion, and this book, which he wrote with his wife, Joan, shows why. If you’re looking for some kind of screed on why Mormons aren’t really Christians, this is not the book for you. But if you want to objectively learn more about a uniquely American religion, its history and how it influences culture and politics (especially as Mitt Romney might be gearing up for another presidential run next year), you’ll enjoy this. I found it a little dull in the beginning, but as I got more into it, I was fascinated.

On my list for the rest of the summer is Stephen Prothero’s latest, “God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World - And Why Their Differences Matter.” I’m especially giddy after reading an excerpt in the Christian Science Monitor and seeing him on “The Colbert Report.”

What’s on your summer reading list?

Hey, readers!

Yes, I am still alive. It’s just that some technical difficulties have kept me from posting for the past … six months (oy!).

But, they seem to be resolved, so I’m back!

And, yet again, I promise to revamp this site, someday.

For now, though, allow me to catch up on some important things from the first half of 2010:

• Belated congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks on their Stanley Cup win! I got to meet the team president, John McDonough, for my Sports and Society class at Medill (taught by the awesome Lester Munson), and I was so impressed I became a fan. I’m also glad Duncan Keith knows some good dentists.
• Speaking of hockey, goalie Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres won my heart with his performance on Team USA at the Vancouver Olympics. Silver’s nothing to be ashamed of!
• Like many longtime “Lost” fans, I was sad to see the show end - but unlike some, I actually enjoyed the finale and thought it was a fitting wrap-up. My esteemed former Times Herald-Record colleague Germain Lussier agrees.
• Speaking of my favorite TV shows, I tried out for “Jeopardy!” in New York City back in April. It was quite fun. The last (and first) time I tried out was 10 years ago for the college tournament. If I don’t make it on this time, I hope I don’t have to wait another 10 years.
• RIP, Manute Bol, a great athlete, and even more importantly, a great humanitarian (and Christian!). He truly lived out Luke 12:48:

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

That’s all she wrote for now - well, besides the fact that my beloved Orioles are causing me all kinds of stress and anxiety with their suck-tastic season (this is a mental-health blog, after all!). As much as I hate to say it, my money’s on the Nationals this weekend.

Stay tuned - I’ve got lots to say, and lots of time.

My friends over at UrbanFaith.com have published a Christmas article I wrote about the children’s book “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and what the church can learn from those awful Herdman kids.

Check it out, and if you’ve found my Web site through that story, please leave a comment and let me know.

Merry Christmas, and in the words of Gladys Herdman,

“Hey! Unto you a child is born!”

Only 9 days left until Christmas! (and only three nights left of Hanukkah!)

Happy holidays to one and all, from your very lazy blogger.

I promise that this site will undergo a major revamp in the new decade.

But until then, let’s take some time to talk about how the winter holidays relate to mental illness.
It’s not as strange a topic as you might think. The Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/New Year’s season emphasizes happiness and joy, but many people don’t feel that way - especially this year, with a recession, unemployment, swine flu, two wars and tons of other bad news.

Even in a good year, the holidays can conjure up feelings of grief and sadness, as people mourn lost loved ones who are no longer around, or other tough circumstances in their lives, such as a divorce.

And of course, many old family conflicts resurface this time of year, as people spend time with relatives they may not like or who present them with unresolved issues.

For those facing a “stable Christmas” this year, instead of a “star Christmas” (as my parents’ pastor memorably put it in one of his Christmas Eve sermons), there are some options.

Many churches have started offering “Blue Christmas,” “Christmas Mourning” or “Longest Night” services to give people who need to a chance to grieve.

And to fight the overriding commercialism of the holidays, another movement that’s gaining ground is the Advent Conspiracy. Advent is the four-week penitential season on the church calendar that precedes Christmas and emphasizes preparing not just for the celebration of Christ’s birth, but for his second coming. (Think of it as a shorter, slightly happier version of Lent.) To reclaim the season, the Advent Conspiracy urges people to “give more and spend less” and focus on worship and giving to those who are really in need.

As Time magazine reports,

(Portland, Ore., pastor Rick) McKinley likes to point out that a fraction of the money Americans spend at retailers in the month of December could supply the entire world with clean water. If more Christians changed how they thought about giving at Christmas, he says, the holiday could be transformative in a religious and practical sense.

Whatever you celebrate this month, I hope you find a way to give to those who can’t give back. (And who knows? If you’re dealing with sadness, helping others just might make you feel better.)

And for my fellow Christians,

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15, NIV)

A belated Happy Easter and Happy Passover!

As the U.S. (in fact, the whole world) continues to struggle through the economic downturn, a lot of people are stressed. Financial industry workers are seeking help in greater numbers for depression and alcoholism, as the Times of London reports:

You’re supposed to be a master of the universe, you’re supposed to be on top of everything,” said one financial services executive who began alcohol rehab in August. “There’s not a lot of sensitivity training or meetings where you sit around and ask how everyone is feeling. No one walks around saying: ‘I feel your pain.’”

And regular folks are suffering, too. Even if they haven’t lost a job, they may know someone who has, and the continuous string of bad news adds to the worry. (As a journalist, I know I’m not immune from this, either.)

Dennis Friedman, medical director for in-patient psychiatry at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Arizona, tells the Arizona Republic, “Nationwide, calls to crisis prevention lines, psychiatric lines are up about 30 percent.”

So what can we do to cope while we wait for the market to rebound?
First, look out for the people around you. If there’s any upside to this mess, I think it’s that it’s forcing people to think about those in need, rather than striving to be like the rich and powerful.
Second, don’t be afraid to ask for help. According to the Republic, the U.S. government has published “A Guide to Getting Through Tough Economic Times” as a clearinghouse for information.

Even though I’m fortunate to have a job, I’ve been worried about my friends who’ve been laid off, as well as the future of my industry.
Some Bible passages, prayers and songs have helped me cope. Your mileage may vary, of course.

First, the prophet Habakkuk was able to rejoice in God, even when it seemed like the ancient Israelites had lost everything in exile:

Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.

Secondly, the writer of Proverbs 30 has a very healthy attitude toward money:

“Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD ?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.

Lastly, Jesus had some pretty good things to say about not worrying (from Luke 12):

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Also, the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer has a good prayer for the unemployed — and the rest of us:

Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

And, as the recession forces us to rethink our attitudes toward money, consumerism and work, I recommend two songs by one of my favorite bands, Switchfoot: an oldie but a goodie, “Company Car,” and, a newer song, “American Dream.”

A final thought from the latter song:

Maybe we’ve been caught singing red, white, blue and green,
But that ain’t my America; that ain’t my American dream.

Hello, folks!

Since it’s already March 2009 (and almost my 28th birthday!), I figured I should post a quick update on my post-Medill life.

I’m back in the great state of New York and back on the copy desk, working at the Times Herald-Record in Middletown (in Orange County in the Hudson Valley, about 90 minutes from New York City). I’ve been here since December, and so far, so good.

Before that, I completed my Master of Science in Journalism degree in August and then did a freelance project for a few months related to the election, funded by a grant from the Lilly Foundation. I looked at the role of Christian colleges in the election and students’ attitudes toward voting and the candidates. I got to visit a bunch of campuses and had a great time interviewing students and faculty.

You can read the stories here
A version of the story on diversity was also published by UrbanFaith.com, a great new Web site that you should check out.

Lastly, just as I promised, I am finally reading Kathleen Norris’ book on acedia, and it is even more awesome than I expected.
I’ll have more thoughts on that later, I hope!

Peace to all of you.

Happy summer!

This will be the end of Millennial Mind in its current version, I’ve decided.

I’m a little more than two months away from finishing my master’s degree and am taking some intense classes this summer, plus looking for a job, so I likely won’t have much time to write (or delete spam).

But, before I go, here’s three great Top 10 lists to summarize some of my favorite topics:

- Mental Floss magazine shares “10 Mind-Boggling Psychiatric Treatments.” Let’s all be glad lobotomy and phrenology have fallen out of favor!
- World of Psychology has the “Top 10 Myths of Mental Illness.”
My favorite is No. 4: “Therapists don’t care about you – they only pretend to care because you pay them.”
- And, author Daniel Radosh, a self-described secular Jew, lists “10 great Christian rock songs,” topped by none other than the late, great Larry Norman.

(Thanks to Christianity Today for alerting me to Radosh and his book! If it’s anything like “The Year of Living Biblically” by A.J. Jacobs or “Body Piercing Saved My Life” by Andrew Beaujon, I’m sure I’ll love it.)

Until my next blog, thanks for reading!

I’m back from the FFW, which was fabulous, as always. (Getting to hear Cathleen Falsani describe interviewing Hugh Hefner at the Playboy Mansion was enough to justify all the money I spent on gas - although my carpool buddies were kind and chipped in.)

But two lectures in particular struck a mental-health nerve. One was by Alan Jacobs, an English professor at Wheaton College near Chicago, who spoke on original sin. You may not think that would be a popular topic in this day and age, but this was Calvin, so he got a good turnout. I learned a lot about the history of the concept and the role it plays not only in theology, but in pop culture (think of those cartoons where you see an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other).

What bothered me, though, was a question from an audience member on whether people use modern psychiatry to cover up the notion of sin. To his credit, Jacobs said he knew a lot of people who had benefited from taking antidepressants. However, they were able to see a purpose in their suffering in that it forced them to turn to God and probably leave some bad behaviors behind.

As I’ve said before, I think it’s crucial that religious people not judge the mentally ill in their midst. Just because people have clinical depression - or any other condition - doesn’t mean that they think they can get away with everything and feel no moral responsibility for their actions. That may be true for some extreme cases, but certainly not everyone.

Thankfully, Kathleen Norris seems to agree. She gave a great lecture on the little-known sin of “acedia,” which can be defined as spiritual sloth, or an indifference to life and humanity. I see this in my own life sometimes, when I wonder why I bother going to work or class or even spending time with my friends. But Norris challenged us to move beyond that dangerous boredom and find purpose in our everyday tasks, namely through prayer. She also made a clear distinction between acedia and depression (and gave numerous shout-outs to her copy editor, which, as a proud copy-desk denizen, I greatly appreciated).

If I ever get some free time in the upcoming months, I will make a point of reading the latest books from Norris, Jacobs and Falsani, and I encourage you to do the same.