I disagree with plenty of Catholic theology—especially on LGBTQ and women’s issues. So why should I care? The answer is simple: Chicago.

One of the most pivotal turns in my religious life didn’t come from a priest. It came from a section in our AP European History textbook, taught by an atheist, Darlene Pang.

My ancestors were told that their gods, their rituals, their ways of relating to the land were evil—and they were punished for honoring them.

Two of my favorite paintings are by Carl Bloch and Frans Schwartz of the same subject.