Latest Articles
Us, them and the Crusades
When Pope Benedict XVI recently quoted a 14th-century emperor who claimed that Islam’s singular contribution to the world was the doctrin...
Mysteries of the Middle Ages
At the beginning of the third section of Mysteries of the Middle Ages...
Slow Man/Philosophy Made Simple
How do two agnostic men—unsure of the existence of God and with no religious affiliation—deal with the coming of old age, disab...
Grand parenting: Grandchildren and the holy hope of Christmas
The excerpt from Wendell Berry’s latest book was for me a Christmas gift to savor. It stirred memories and reflections about grandfathers....
Critical and faithful: Magnanimity rooted in the gospel
When asked where the new members of liberal churches will come from, David Jenkins, former Anglican bishop of Durham, replied: “Where they have always come from—the evangelicals.” This is only part...
Century Marks
Wages of war: No one can predict the long-term consequences of war, but not until last summer did the U.S. stop collecting a 3 percent tax on long-distance telephone calls that was begun in 1898 to help pay for the Spanish-American War—a war that lasted only several months (Vital Speeches of the Day, December).
God’s covenant: What it means to be church
The idea of “covenant” comes up frequently in proposed solutions to mainline crises....
Bearing witness: A challenge to Christian Zionism
While visiting friends in east Texas my wife saw a message on the sign of the Assemblies of God church in which she had grown up....
Religious newcomers on Capitol Hill: First Muslims and Buddhists in Congress
When it reconvenes, Congress will for the first time include a Muslim, two Buddhists, more Jews than Episcopalians, and the highest-ranking Mormon in congressional history....
Episcopal division widens in Virginia: Historic parishes vote to leave
Conservative Episcopalians’ steady exodus from the Episcopal Church accelerated before Christmas as eight Virginia congregations—including two large, historic parishes—voted to leave the national b...
Graham family in dispute over burial site: Billy Graham Library or The Cove are considered
Evangelist Franklin Graham said last month that the decision about where his parents will be buried is “personal” and he does not intend to enter a public debate about it....
Christmas wars enrich some advocacy groups: Merchandise sales support conservative organizations
For conservative Christan groups, the hot gift last month was a weapon for fighting back in the “War on Christmas”—be it a button, a bumper sticker or a legal memo with information on the topic....
Is bottled water a moral issue? Religious groups launch campaign: Religious groups launch campaign
Thou shalt not murder. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife. Thou shalt not . . . drink bottled water?...
New Jersey lawmakers OK gay civil unions: Follow state Supreme Court ruling
State lawmakers voted in mid-December to make New Jersey the third state in the nation to allow gay couples to form civil unions with all the rights and responsibilities of married couples....
United Nations court jails Rwandan priest, frees Adventist pastor: Roman Catholic convicted of role in genocide
The United Nations war-crimes court for Rwanda has convicted a Roman Catholic priest of genocide and sentenced him to 15 years for his role in the 1994 mass killings in the central African country....
High court to hear faith-based case: Bush's attempts to expand government role at issue
For the first time, the Supreme Court will hear a case directly related to President Bush’s faith-based initiative, his attempt to expand the government’s ability to fund social services through ch...
Briefly noted
The Amish community, which inspired the world with acts of forgiveness after a Pennsylvania schoolhouse shooting, has been named the newsmaker of the year by the Religion Newswriters Associa...