Author Archives: Rick D. Williams

About Rick D. Williams

Teaching and writing have been my life's work for over two decades as a journalist and educator. My degrees in History were earned at Illinois State University, and I've done additional graduate work at Lincoln Christian Seminary and Urbana Theological Seminary. Over the years I’ve led conference workshops and authored articles and book chapters on topics ranging from religious education and international student ministry to state and local history.

Before Captain America: Young Steve Rogers

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

Steve Rogers, the boy who would become Captain America, was born in New York on July 4, 1917 the only child of Joseph and Sarah Rogers. His parents are described as immigrants living on New York’s Lower East Side who … Continue reading →

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The Discarded Image

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

The Question of God, Part 5 (Freud Segment, “Human Mythology“; Lewis Segment, “From Spirits to God“; Panel Discussion, “Miracles“) Freud was determined in his research and writing to demonstrate that religious sentiments could be traced to historical, cultural, and psychological … Continue reading →

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True Statesmanship

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

This particular piece has been on my mind for some time and far too long neglected.  In response to one of my earlier “Civics” posts, written in response to last November’s elections, a former colleague of mine asked, “Where are … Continue reading →

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Return to Me

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

The Question of God, Part 4 (C.S. Lewis segment, “A Leap in the Dark”; Panel Discussion, “Why Believe?”) C. S. Lewis seemed a reluctant atheist, keeping God at bay through intellectual pride and accusations of injustice and infidelity.  Yet the … Continue reading →

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The Odyssey of Captain America

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

From my mid-20s until my early 40s, I walked away from my adolescent comic-book habit.  I sold off my original collection (large tears now welling up . . .) and was relatively ignorant of the goings-on in the Marvel Universe.  … Continue reading →

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New Year, Wonderful Name

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

  Yesterday most of the world celebrated New Year’s Day as January 1st “arrived” around the globe.  For much of the history of the Christian West, however, this date may or may not have marked the actual “beginning of the … Continue reading →

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On Comics and Life

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Rick D. Williams

I read the comics every day and have done so for as long as I can remember.  One of the things I really miss from my days in the classroom is having a bulletin board on which to proudly display … Continue reading →

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The Measure of Man

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Rick D. Williams

Part 3 of The Question of God So far we’ve examined the role that imagination (part 1) and senses/reason (part 2) play in human efforts to answer “the big questions of life.”  Using the former, we find answers through stories … Continue reading →

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From Darkness to Light

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Rick D. Williams

I have worked in academic or ministry settings for more than 20 years.  Everyone whose vocation places them in this world experiences the familiar rhythm of an annual cycle. Our years are marked in quarters and semesters, by “ordinary” time … Continue reading →

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The Metaphorical Gospel

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Rick D. Williams

I have, on numerous occasions, stood before a class of high school seniors and asserted, “Reading the Lord of the Rings changed my life.  It gave me my first glimpse of the Gospel and started me down the path on … Continue reading →

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