Latest Articles
Data bite: Best sellers
A new survey of 10,000 book consumers via the Internet found that 18 percent bought religious or spiritual books last year....
Canadian Anglicans affirm 'sanctity' of same-sex couples: A conciliatory message
One day after deferring a decision on whether to bless gay relationships, Canadian Anglicans approved a statement that “affirms the integrity and sanctity of committed adult same-sex relationships”...
Marriage amendment not right, leaders say: From three mainline denominations
Leaders from three mainline Protestant churches deeply divided over homosexuality have opposed a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, telling Congress that it would force all chur...
Briefly noted
Los Angeles County supervisors, faced with a lawsuit to remove a tiny gold cross from the county seal, have voted to remove it, but the Roman goddess Pomona will stay....
Doubting theology: Conversations that count
How do Christians understand their faith in light of insights gained from history, social science, natural science and other modes of inquiry?...
Doubting theology: A faith worthy of doubt
How do Christians understand their faith in light of insights gained from history, social science, natural science and other modes of inquiry?...
Doubting theology: James M. Gustafson replies
How do Christians understand their faith in light of insights gained from history, social science, natural science and other modes of inquiry?...
Bike paths: A sojourn in Portugal
Last summer, my big adventure was a bicycle trip through northern Portugal, where church bells still ring the hours and homeowners value grape arbors more highly than garages....
Friends like these: Friendship can mislead us
When the New York Times admitted that its reporting on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction came from unsupported allegations, it did so not on page one, where all the dire predictions about W...
Lights out: Churches closing
When Christians in one body instinctively mourn with the mourners in another, or rejoice with the rejoicers, we see the ecumenical spirit at work....
Doubting theology: Wisdom—divine and human
How do Christians understand their faith in light of insights gained from history, social science, natural science and other modes of inquiry?...
The Jericho affair: Luke 10:25-37
Imagine that Congress has set up a committee to report on the disquieting events on the Jerusalem-Jericho road and their aftermath. Here are some excerpts from its findings: “The Inquiry is satisfied that the priest acted in a thoroughly professional manner. We are aware that he is a man of high profile in Jerusalem society, and that his first priority is to conduct his temple duties in a proper manner. Getting involved in self-indulgent gestures of solidarity is not recommended: such projects are invariably underresourced, nonstrategic and open to media misinterpretation."
Jail break: Meditation as a subversive activity
A few years ago I had the opportunity to work for a semester as a chaplain at a Boston jail. My primary work was helping to lead a group of inmates in the practice of silent prayer....
Dog tales: Galatians 6:7-16
We were at the lake, my daily walking spot. I had brought a friend who needed to talk. Her head was down as if she were searching for meaning, hope and traces of God’s ways in the ruts of the muddy path. My head was down too, in silent solidarity. We walked. Suddenly I missed a familiar pitter-patter—my dog was nowhere to be seen.
Out in front
A good biography, expertly researched and finely crafted, conveys not just the trajectory of someone’s life but also a feeling for th...
Beyond the River: The Untold Story of the Heroes of the Underground Railroad
What was life like for Kentucky slaves who lived so close to the Ohio River that they could see freed...