Author: Deanna A. Thompson

Deanna A. Thompson is Martin E. Marty Regents Chair in Religion and the Academy and Director of the Lutheran Center for Faith, Values, and Community at St. Olaf College. She is the author of five books, including The Virtual Body of Christ in a Suffering World (Abingdon, 2016) and Glimpsing Resurrection: Trauma, Cancer and Ministry (Westminster John Knox, 2018).

Bouquet of Humanity: Vocation, Deep Sadness, and Hope in a Virtual Real World

Bouquet of Humanity [1] Just minutes after Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd, I logged on to Zoom with a small group of St. Olaf staff and faculty convened by Dr. María Pabón, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion. The purpose of the meeting—scheduled before anyone knew when the verdict would be announced—was […]

Virtually There: Martin Marty, Cyberspace, and Cultures of Trust in the 21st Century

[ 1] At the university where I teach, opportunities exist for students to receive funding to collaborate with faculty on summer research projects. This summer, one student working with me is investigating social forms beyond religion that provide non-religiously affiliated people (the “nones”) with meaningful community-based social ties and opportunities for civic engagement. To set […]

Virtually There: Martin Marty, Cyberspace, and Cultures of Trust in the 21st Century

[1] At the university where I teach, opportunities exist for students to receive funding to collaborate with faculty on summer research projects. This summer, one student working with me is investigating social forms beyond religion that provide non-religiously affiliated people (the “nones”) with meaningful community-based social ties and opportunities for civic engagement. To set the […]