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Walter Hesford

Walter Hesford, born and educated in New England, gradually made his way West. For many years he was a professor of English at the University of Idaho, save for stints teaching in China and France. At Idaho, he taught American Literature, World Literature and the Bible as Literature. He currently coordinates an interfaith discussion group and is a member of the Latah County Human Rights Task Force and Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Moscow. He and his wife Elinor enjoy visiting with family and friends and hunting for wild flowers.
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Lent calls Christians to repentance — not doubling down

A Lent reflection contrasts repentance with “doubling down,” urging humility, care for others and reflection in a turbulent political moment involving Trump.
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Lunar New Year, Lincoln and long noodles guide my journey into ‘great elderliness’

A reflection on Lunar New Year traditions in China, ancestor rituals and turning 80 — exploring memory, aging and the meaning of going home.
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As Trump targets Greenland, history warns us about empire in familiar disguise

A forgotten hymn exposes the legacy of religious imperialism as Trump’s Greenland ambitions revive old questions about empire, power and moral responsibility.
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We Shall Overcome: Finding hope in protest amid political turmoil

From a cold January protest to biblical hope, “We Shall Overcome,” explores faith, justice, and the enduring struggle to turn someday into today.
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What Martin Luther King Jr. can teach us about intelligence that AI cannot

A reflection on artificial intelligence, real intelligence, and whether AI can nurture moral, creative, or spiritual growth in education and society.
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The lion’s roar: What Hebrew prophets and Buddha share about justice and compassion

A reflection on the biblical image of God as a roaring lion and the Buddha’s “lion’s roar,” exploring justice, compassion and shared moral urgency.
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Idaho vs. Washington religion rankings ignore what really matters

A critique of Pew’s Religious Landscape Study questions how religiosity is measured and whether Idahoans or Washingtonians are truly “more religious.”
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