Latest Articles
California court reverses, backs home schools: "Home schools may constitute private schools"
A California court has reversed its previous ruling and decided that most forms of homeschooling are legal—a decision called a “tremendous victory” for conservative Christians critical of public sc...
Christian broadcasters nervous about talk of reviving Fairness Doctrine: Most say doctrine unlikely to be reinstated
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been making Christian broadcasters nervous....
'Ugly' Washington church files suit to challenge its historic designation status: Third Church of Christ, Scientist
A Christian Science church that some have called the ugliest church in Washington, D.C., has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the historic landmark designation on the windowless 37-year-old buil...
Democrats' addition to abortion stance lauded by some faith leaders: New provisions aimed at reducing the number of abortions
Progressive evangelical and Catholic leaders voiced their support for the Democratic Party’s platform plank on abortion, citing new provisions aimed at reducing the number of abortions by improving...
Too much faith talk? Religion accounted for 10 percent of news coverage during primaries: Religion accounted for 10 percent of news coverage during primaries
In the presidential primaries, religion was the key topic in 10 percent of the news coverage, nearly equaling the amount of coverage (11 percent of stories) given to race and gender, according to P...
Warren’s forum aims for ‘civility’ Obama nuanced, McCain crisp: Obama nuanced, McCain crisp
With a California megachurch as the setting for their first joint campaign appearance, Republican John McCain gave crisp, campaign-tested responses, and Democrat Barack Obama offered nuanced replie...
Relationship smarts: A curriculum on dating and marriage
I’m in a high school classroom talking to “Lisa.” Her hair is dyed black and purple, and the piercing in her lower lip bounces as she talks. “I broke up with my boyfriend because of this class,” she says. The class is Introduction to Psychology, and the teacher is Char Kamper, who developed a curriculum called Connections to teach students about dating, relationships and marriage. “When did you break up with him?” I ask. “Three days ago,” Lisa says, and then she looks me straight in the eye. “I realized he only called me when he wanted one thing.”
Three resources for Christian formation: DVDs, online resources, books
"You pays your money and you takes your choice.” Several generations of students at Duke Divinity School have heard James “Mickey” Efird use those carnivalesque words to conclude debates over the m...
Monkey business: Unwanted lessons
In Transforming Church, Kevin Ford tells the story of a scientific experiment involving four monkeys and some bananas at the top of a pole in their cage....
The Aladura churches of Nigeria: Stunning geographical reach
Not long ago I was taking a cab from O’Hare Airport to downtown Chicago, and my friendly driver proved to be a Nigerian from the Yoruba people....
Power line: Learning to pray
Prayer serves many functions: it brings our attention to the fact that God is present. It makes the spot of ground on which we stand holy ground. It quiets and focuses the mind, clarifies intention and awakens the imagination, opening up the heart and lungs as we breathe more deeply and relax into this most intimate of encounters. As a communal practice, praying creates consensus and convergence of focus, teaching us how to be the body of Christ, and how to speak with one voice and one hope.
Prayer lab: We need living models
Prayer can be taught. Indeed, learning to pray is the quintessential means of learning how to be Christ’s disciples....
The last first: Matthew 20:1-16
All day long a landowner has been going into the marketplace to hire workers for his vineyard and now only one group remains....
Known by our love: Romans 14:1-12
We cannot choose who God will call into Christ’s body in baptism.
The Beautiful Soul of John Woolman, Apostle of Abolition
In the years preceding the American Revolution, the New Jersey tailor John Woolman (1720-1772) opposed many of the evils ...
Cities of God: The Real Story of How Christianity Became an Urban Movement and Conquered Rome
This book is part of the saga begun in Stark’s provocative The Rise of Christiani...
Islam and the Secular State: Negotiating the Future of Shari'a
The Muslim world is not a monolith....
The Life of Messiaen
There can be little doubt that Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) is the most profoundly theological composer of the 20th century....