Latest Articles
A tale of two rich folks
As a lectionary preacher, I’ve journeyed through the Gospel of Luke for over 25 years. But this year I noticed something new....
Who are you talking about, Jesus?
About whom exactly is Jesus talking here? That’s a tricky question. Luke tells us that he speaks against “some” who trust in themselves because they are righteous. But we want names....
Consequences: The lasting effects of 9/11
On the sixth anniversary of 9/11 I joined a spokesperson for the American Muslim community on a panel focusing on the lasting effects of 9/11 on “faith, media and society.” The presentation by Imam...
Extraordinary measures: The Vatican, feeding tubes and human dignity
The Vatican declared last month that it is morally wrong to remove feeding tubes from patients who are in a permanent vegetative state....
Century Marks
Disaster capitalism: Blackwater USA, which the Iraqi government now wants to throw out of Iraq for killing innocent civilians, was hired to protect FEMA operations at the cost of $950 a day per guard. Blackwater has used revenue from these government contracts to build up its own paramilitary infrastructure.
Fitness fixation: Why health is not a civic virtue
"Those who are well have no need of a physician,” Jesus said. We now know, however, that they do have need of a wellness coach....
Syrian sabbaths: A history of interfaith tolerance
The streets of Damascus are empty. No horns blare, no cars crawl through the narrow streets or crowd the intersections....
Occupational hazard: Theology can be dangerous
It was the last concert of the season. From my seat I could see the hands of the young Israeli pianist as she played Edvard Grieg’s piano concerto. The guest conductor was a Norwegian (like Grieg himself). The rest of the orchestra included Asians, African Americans and Anglos. Ah, I thought, music does bring people together!Then I was struck by another thought: my own field, theology, tends to drive people apart. In fact, it’s mostly intended to divide people. What is wrong with this picture? What is wrong is that in the apparently innocent effort to arrive at truth, theology inculcates pride, the very vice that Christians claim is the consummate sin.
Episcopal bishops hold fast against demands: An answer to the Anglican Communion
Expressing their “passionate desire” to remain a full partner in the worldwide Anglican Communion, U.S....
'Episcopalian' McCain says he's Baptist: Asserts Constitution made U.S. Christian nation
GOP presidential candidate John McCain has raised questions about his religious affiliation with a comment he made last month at a campaign stop in heavily Baptist South Carolina. ...
All Saints challenges IRS 'vagueness' IRS won't say how sermon violated rules: IRS won't say how sermon violated rules
The large and liberal All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California—after squirming on the hook for two years as the Internal Revenue Service examined the content of a preelection sermon—has ...
Dobson disparages Fred Thompson as candidate: Consternation among social conservatives
One of the most powerful leaders in conservative evangelical Christianity has discouraged his colleagues from supporting Fred Thompson as a presidential candidate....
'Too many mosques' remark draws fire to Giuliani campaign: Comment by top Giuliani homeland security adviser
Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani has rejected calls to fire one of his top homeland security advisers, Representative Peter King, after the Long Island Republican said there are “too many mosqu...
Prison bureau relents on purging books, will return most religion texts: Bureau was "swatting a fly with a sledgehammer"
Yielding to pressure from religious leaders and members of Congress, the federal Bureau of Prisons has ended a purge at prison libraries of “nonapproved” religious books and materials....
Insurer rejects church because of 'risk' of its gay stance: Brotherhood Mutual turns down business
A United Church of Christ congregation’s pro-gay stance puts it “at a higher risk” of litigation and property damage, a leading U.S....
New 'ex-gay' study lauded by right but faulted on methods: Assessment of "reparative therapy"
A new study suggesting that religiously motivated conversion from homosexual orientation is possible and not harmful has been hailed by social conservatives, but others are questioning the study’s ...
Pentagon closes book on Muslim chaplain: Captain James Yee
The Pentagon’s inspector general has concluded a review of the case of a former Muslim chaplain who was detained and later cleared of espionage charges, saying the Department of Defense acted prope...
Rex Humbard, pioneer TV evangelist, dies: Cathedral of Tomorrow preacher
Rex Humbard, an early and successful televangelist, whose Cathedral of Tomorrow services were carried by as many as 2,000 stations in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, died September 21 in a South...
Briefly noted
New Jersey state officials have revoked the tax-exempt status of a Methodist-run seaside pavilion that church officials have said is off-limits to gay and lesbian civil union services....