Author Archives: wallwritings

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About wallwritings

From 1972 through 1999, James M. Wall was editor and publisher of the Christian Century magazine, based in Chicago, lllinois. He was a Contributing Editor of the Century from 1999 until July, 2017. He has written this blog, wall writings.me, since it was launched April 27, 2008. If you would like to receive Wall Writings alerts when new postings are added to this site, send a note, saying, Please Add Me, to jameswall8@gmail.com Biography: Journalism was Jim's undergraduate college major at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. He has earned two MA degrees, one from Emory, and one from the University of Chicago, both in religion. He is an ordained United Methodist clergy person. He served for two years in the US Air Force, and three additional years in the USAF reserve. While serving on active duty with the Alaskan Command, he reached the rank of first lieutenant. He has worked as a sports writer for both the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, was editor of the United Methodist magazine, Christian Advocate for ten years, and editor and publisher of the Christian Century magazine for 27 years. James M Wall died March 22, 2021 at age 92. His family appreciates all of his readers, even those who may have disagreed with his well-informed writings.

Niebuhr, Carter and Obama Understand History as “a larger realm of Mystery”

by James M. Wall       Reinhold Niebuhr’s influence on former President Jimmy Carter has been evident throughout Carter’s political career. That influence is even more pronounced in Carter’s post-presidency. Carter is a political realist who understands, and acts on, … Continue reading

Posted in Religion and politics | 1 Comment

Rick Warren To Pray at Obama’s Inaugural? Was Otis Moss III Already Booked?

by James M. Wall                     When word came that Barack Obama had selected Rick Warren to give the opening prayer at his inauguration, you had to wonder, was Otis Moss III … Continue reading

Posted in Religion and politics, Religious Faith | 10 Comments

George Bush’s Legacy: A Deadly Manichean Mindset

By James M. Wall Bill Moyers’ Journal interview with Salon blogger Glenn Greenwald, provides a valuable insight into the Bush legacy that is both wise and frightening. What Bush leaves behind, as Greenwald documents, is best described as a Manichean mindset, … Continue reading

Posted in Media, Religion and politics | 2 Comments

Obama Knows the Gaza Siege is Immoral Yet He Remains Silent

by James M. Wall For more than a month, Israel has imposed a tightened  blockade over Gaza’s one million and a half residents. Outside aid is forbidden which is why, on Monday, December 1, the Israeli navy blocked a Libyan ship carrying … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East, Middle East Politics, Religion and politics | 1 Comment

Were Bloggers Wrong to Block Brennan for CIA?

by James M. Wall  When President-elect Obama rolled out his national security team at a press conference in Chicago Monday, there was no CIA director on stage.  Until November 24, Barack Obama had John Brennan on a short list to become … Continue reading

Posted in Politics and Elections | 1 Comment

Father Greeley, Century, Georgia Run Off

Wayne Holst, a Canadian colleague, has a list serve he sends out weekly with information and reprints, Recently, he included an update on the condition of Chicago’s Father Andrew Greeley, the Catholic priest and novelist, who has been in a coma … Continue reading

Posted in The Human Condition | Leave a comment

007 is Back With a New Enemy: US Imperialism

by James M. Wall The latest James Bond film, The Quantum of Solace, has a vision so different from previous incarnations, that few, if any, film critics noticed the change.   Why?  Because the critics for mass culture outlets focused on the film’s … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East Politics, Movies, Politics and Elections | 1 Comment

Thanksgiving With The Obamas

by James M. Wall The Obama family visited a Chicago south side Food Center at the St. Columbanus Catholic Church, where they handed out packets of food.  Huffington Post ran the story on Thanksgiving Eve, complete with a slide show and a … Continue reading

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Columnist: Have Bush/Cheney Resign; Let Pelosi Take Over

by James M. Wall I know, I know, it sounds like a West Wing episode. (It was, once; Speaker John Goodman took over, briefly.) But it could work and it’s constitutional. New York Times columnist Gail Collins says she is serious. … Continue reading

Posted in Politics and Elections | 1 Comment

Obama Good on Appointments But Bad on Afghanistan

by James M. Wall President-elect Barack Obama wants the next eight years to be an era of audacious, not cosmetic changes. Do his early appointments reflect audacity or is he giving away too much to the cosmeticians? And what about Afghanistan?  Is … Continue reading

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