G. Jeffrey MacDonald
Swell of clergy rallies around Ga. death row inmate
(RNS) As a federal appeals court in Denver considers whether Oklahoma
voters had the right to ban Islamic law in state courts, a coalition of
...
Student of leadership tapped to take reins at Gordon College
For the past decade, sociologist D. Michael Lindsay has been living
the very phenomenon he's studied: evangelicals climbing the ranks of
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Pawlenty’s pastor avoids politics in the pulpit
When GOP presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty goes to church, he knows
he'll hear a 27-minute sermon—never longer, never shorter. But whether
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Feds rule against a second Catholic college
(RNS) For the second time this year, a federal regulator has rejected
the First Amendment arguments of a Catholic college and cleared the way
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Christians shatter taboos on talking about money
No sooner had 29-year-old Graham Messier joined a small group at his
church earlier this year than he found himself breaking an American
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TSA, airlines tread carefully on religious expression
(RNS) Air travelers want to feel safe, and federal security officials
want to make sure they actually are safe. If only it were that simple.
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Adventists grow as other churches decline
(RNS) Rest on the Sabbath. Heed Old Testament dietary codes. And be
ready for Jesus to return at any moment.
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Age-old Lent gets a 21st-century makeover
(RNS) For Janis Galvin fasting for Lent has long meant saying no to
candy for the 40 days before Easter. But when the season begins this
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Budget cuts hurt poor, say religious groups
Get ready for more undernourished infants, dangerously cold homes and
disease-stricken communities in developing countries if proposed
federal budget cuts become law.
Labor ruling has ‘religious’ colleges shaking
A small Catholic college in Riverdale, New York, recently got some
news that sent shivers through many religious schools: part-time faculty
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U.S. judge rules against Lutheran retirees’ claims
In a blow to retirees of a major Lutheran publishing house, a
federal judge has ruled that the now-dissolved pension plan of Augsburg
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Scientists probe brief brushes with the afterlife
(RNS) Wanda Colie vividly remembers what she saw in 1984 when, at age
28, a condition that produced blood in her lungs nearly killed her. The
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Pope denies appeal of Boston parish closings
(RNS) After a lengthy appeals process, the Vatican has ruled that
nine Boston-area Catholic parishes should be closed despite six-year
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Atheists' diversity woes have no black-and-white answers
(RNS) Alix Jules is an atheist, but for years he felt uncomfortable at
gatherings of nonbelievers. The reason: he's black.
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Shaky economy imperils church pensions
Religious denominations have long provided retired clergy and staff
with secure pension payments--more secure, in some cases, than corporate
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Harvard scholar holds the threads to social fabric
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (RNS) Harvard University scholar Robert Putnam has
earned a reputation as an expert on the threads that hold America's
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Churches leaving ELCA evaluate the cost
South Dakota pastor Julius Badigo has long known that Christian discipleship is costly. For him, that cost is increasingly measured in dollars—to the tune of thousands per month.
...Jesus seminar to mark 25 years of questions
(RNS) Since 1985, scholars affiliated with the Jesus Seminar have been
casting doubt on the authenticity of sayings attributed to Jesus and
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Pension fight stirs moral issues for ELCA, publisher
As the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America fights to stay out of a legal battle over unpaid pension benefits, all sides agree on at least one point: more is at stake than millions of dollars owe...
Ex-senator Danforth slams harsh rhetoric: Hefty cost of using religion to fuel political agenda
As a three-term U.S....