Recent Articles
April 16, 2024
‘Monkey Man’ Attempts to Reclaim Hinduism for the Underdog; Americans are Not Evenly Divided on Culture Wars, Robert Jones Explains in BNG Webinar; FBI Director Speaks at Birmingham Civil Rights Conference (and more)
Intergenerational Faith on Display at American Baptist Home Missions Societies’ Space for Grace & Spiritual Caregivers Conference
The American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) hosted their biennial gathering, Space for Grace & Spiritual Caregivers Conference, in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania on April 9-11. A hybrid event, this year’s theme is “Engaging Intergenerational Faith, Listen. Learn. Live.”
Inflation and Immigration Remain Top Concerns for Americans
The March 2024 CAPS-Harris poll revealed that inflation and immigration remain Americans’ most pressing personal concerns. The survey, conducted between March 20 and 21, asked 2,111 registered voters which issues were most important to them personally.
Movie Review | Monkey Man
Though this movie is from a Hindu point of view, it spoke to me about the problems we encounter when we meld religion and politics.
April 15, 2024
6 in 10 Catholics in Favor of Abortion Rights, Pew Research Report Finds; Polish Opponents of Abortion March Against Recent Steps to Liberalize Strict Law; Jelly Roll Took Country Thunder Arizona to Church in Inspiring Set: ‘Everything I Dreamed’ (and more)
An Eclipse Encounter
I completely understand how problematic it is to attribute fortunate or unfortunate weather circumstances to God. One person’s “The tornado turned left just before it hit my house, thank God!” is another person’s “Oh my God, the tornado destroyed my house!”
The Southern Baptist Convention Continues to Face Decline, Losing More Than 1,200 Churches
A new Lifeway Research analysis finds the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) lost more than 1,200 churches in 2022.
April 12, 2024
As Trump Hawks Bible, Debate Over ‘Christian America’ Spreads Outside Church; Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Pushes Pastors to Run for Political Office; A Dramatic Schism Over Social Issues? The United Methodist Church Has Been Here Before; Louisiana Lawmakers Want Ten Commandments in All Public School Classrooms (and more)
States’ Rights: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
The current states’ rights argument is yet another attempt by a small group of citizens to circumvent the Constitution and force their own will on others.
Walking Each Other Home
Jesus showed up. That was what all the disciples needed to transform the pain, fear and doubt of the previous weeks into a conviction that would fuel the future they would build.
Nearly One in Three Americans Say Neither Biden nor Trump Would Be a Good President
A new Gallup report finds that nearly one in three Americans believes neither Joseph Biden nor Donald Trump would be a good president.
Why I Don’t Eat Hamburgers
What we eat is an ethical and moral imperative.
New Survey Finds Americans’ Enthusiasm for Voting Is “Average”
A new Gallup survey finds slightly more than half of U.S. adults (54%) express enthusiasm about voting this year than in previous elections. Forty-one percent of respondents are less enthusiastic.
Baptist Bill is Still Baptist Bill
I became more moderate in my religion while becoming quite liberal in my views of science, particularly the controversial topic of evolution.
April 11, 2024
If A.I. Takes Our Jobs, Will it Also Take Our Purpose?; Plans to Turn Cambridge Church Tower into Climbing Facility (BBC)
Photos Challenge Misconceptions About What it Means to be an American Muslim (and more)
April 10, 2024
Poll: Muslims Most Discriminated Group in US, But Jews Not Far Behind; Arizona Supreme Court Rules that a Near Total Abortion Ban from 1864 is Enforceable; In 1934, an Opera Was Composed at a Concentration Camp. Now, it’s a Graphic Novel. (and more)
What We Say We Believe About Abortion
A lot of digital ink and emotional energy has been spent lamenting how Trump supporters mindlessly follow him, regardless of what he does. What doesn’t get talked about enough is what an expert follower Trump is.
An Increasing Number of Americans Say Jews and Muslims Face Discrimination
The percentage of U.S. adults who believe Jews and Muslims face a lot of discrimination has increased, according to a Pew Research Report released on April 2.
Seeing Through the Gossamer Veil: Experiencing Transfiguration Every Day
Transfiguration Day isn’t just one Sunday in the liturgical year, but every day if you have eyes to see.
April 9, 2024
How Putin’s Christian Nationalism Seduced the American Right; Yes, We’re Divided. But New AP-NORC Poll Shows Most Americans Still Agree on Core American Values; North Texas Groups Will Host a 3-Day Event to Raise Environmental Awareness (and more)
Mysticism and the Raceless Gospel
The raceless gospel delivered me from white supremacy. Before receiving this message, I questioned my relationship with Jesus, given the history of Christianity in North America. Namely, American slavery and the belief that people racialized as white have supreme control over people racialized as black.
Medical Aid in Dying
Opposition to HB 1283 and the Medical Aid in Dying movement has arisen from various corners of the ideological spectrum. These include conservative religious groups with classic “right to life” arguments as well as disability advocates. The latter express concern for the potential abuse of the mentally ill, disabled and older adults.
Waiting in Line for Communion
For most of us, bread is a mystery. We buy it at the grocery store in loaves that come in plastic bags. If, on occasion, we bake it at home, we often use a bread machine, which feels like cheating.
April 8, 2024
What Americans Lost When They Stopped Going to Church; Zakaria: How Trump Fills a Void in an Increasingly Secular America; The Strange World of Catholic ‘Integralism’ – Christian Nationalism (and more)
Who Is Really in Church Leadership?
No matter how hard a church might try, they can never control the call of God.
Easter Still Draws the Largest Crowd for Many Churches
Easter, Christmas and Mother’s Day are the three most attended Sundays in U.S. churches. According to a recent Lifeway Research report, Easter has the highest attendance of them all.
Nurturing Faith Journal Preview: “Up to God, Out to All”
Across the centuries, institutional Christianity has made Jesus primarily about a problem–condemnation, and a solution–atonement. But the Jesus of the four gospels was primarily concerned with life, how to live it, and love and how to give it.
April 5, 2024
Preaching Spiritual Coexistence During Ramadan as a Palestinian-Israeli Imam; Uganda’s Constitutional Court Rejects Petition Against Anti-Gay Law; The New Science of Death: ‘There’s Something Happening in the Brain that Makes No Sense’ (and more)
Listening to Voices While Packing Boxes
As we prepare for the move, we’ve unpacked and repacked two decades of boxes filled with remarkable memories. With each box, it’s hard not to hear all the voices echoing throughout our lives.
The Inaugural Global Flourishing Survey Shows a Link Between Religious Observances and Human Flourishing
The Global Flourishing Study’s (GFS) first survey results show a connection between spiritual and religious beliefs and practices and human flourishing, according to a new Gallup report.