Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
A Selfish, Shabby Substitute for Religious Freedom
When many people talk about "freedom of religion," they mean they want government to allow them to freely exercise their religion, but they don't care about others' religion. This has been the "Protestant privilege"...
November 14, 2017
Russian Bots and White Evangelicals are Supporting Accused Child Molester Roy Moore (Newsweek) 50 Pastors Sign Letter of Support for Roy Moore (AL.com) Roy Moore Allegations Prompt Reflections on Fundamentalist Culture...
#EthicsDailyLocal Encourages Support of Justice Initiatives
The Baptist Center for Ethics and EthicsDaily.com want to challenge each of you to help your neighbor by supporting a local social agency in your community during this season of Thanksgiving. To that end, we're...
Reciting Pledges While Not Living By Their Words
Once upon a time, Vacation Bible School (VBS) lasted a week, took place in the morning and featured a highly structured opening assembly. During the assembly, the pianist would play a "stand-up chord" (a major lift)...
Most ‘Spiritual, Not Religious’ Align with Faith Tradition
A strong majority (64 percent) of U.S. adults who self-identify "spiritual but not religious" remain affiliated with a religious tradition, according to a Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) analysis released on...
November 13, 2017
‘We Choose Life,’ Pastor Says as Texas Church Holds First Service After Shooting (Los Angeles Times) How Donald Trump Taught Conservatives to Defend Roy Moore (The New Yorker) Allegations Against Roy Moore Roil U.S...
Answering The Call For Help
By: Ginger Hughes The sun’s warmth, combined with the gentlest of breezes, made for a perfect day to be outdoors. We shimmied our way between young and old alike to find the best spot for bear watching. We were...
When does it become a different religion?
By John D. Pierce The religious faith I affirm and practice is not the same as many who use the same brand name along with some common rituals and language. It is simply too different to be called the same religion....
Books blog part 2: Making more
By John D. Pierce This follows yesterday's blog about giving away most of my personal library recently. Sometimes when asked what I do for a living my first response is, “I make up stuff.” Most writers don’t use such a...
Prioritizing Religious Freedom Thwarts Radicalization
Religious freedom should become a political priority for the United Kingdom and other governments, not only for the benefits of adherents under pressure but also in the battle against radicalization. These were among...
‘Blade Runner 2049’
Sometimes, it takes more than one viewing to truly appreciate and understand a movie. You have to sit through more than one showing and see things you did not see before. It also allows you to come away with a greater...
In Shooting Aftermath, How Can Faith Infuse Our Daily Lives?
I heard the devastating news of the shooting at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, when I returned home from church. The horror of that incident is almost too much to comprehend. How can a single...
November 10, 2017
Woman Says Roy Moore Initiated Sexual Encounter With Her When She Was 14, He Was 32 (Washington Post) Alabama State Official Defends Moore, Citing Joseph and Mary: ‘They Became Parents of Jesus’ (Washington Post) Why...
Books blog part 1: Making room
By John D. Pierce Assembling an impressive personal library was a sign of taking knowledge (or at least the perception of knowledge) seriously for my generation of seminarians and up-start minister types. Filling...
Profiles in Goodwill: Phyllis Boozer
Phyllis Boozer is coordinator of the Baptist Fellowship of the Northeast. 1. Where did you grow up? Jacksonville, Alabama. 2. What is your favorite verse, book or story in the Bible? Why? Matthew 25:31-46. It speaks to...
State Baptist Group Rejects Church Led by Woman Pastor
The messengers from First Baptist Church, Jefferson City, Tennessee, will not be seated at the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention because they have called a woman as "senior pastor." According to the...
Making the World Better One Small Act of Love at a Time
Sutherland Springs, Texas. Thornton, Colorado. Las Vegas, Nevada. Charlottesville, Virginia. This past weekend's shooting at a small Texas Baptist congregation is just the latest of many violent tragedies our country...
November 9, 2017
Undeterred, First Baptist Church Sutherland Springs Will Hold Services Sunday (CNN) Jefferson City Baptist Church Hires Female Pastor, May Lose Voting Rights at Southern Baptist Affiliated State Baptist Convention...
Join BCE As We Keep God’s Light at Forefront of Our Work
The Baptist Center for Ethics (BCE) has been informing Baptists about ethical and social justice issues for more than 25 years. When the founder and previous executive director, Robert Parham, established BCE, he...
4 Common Myths About Christian Veterans – Busted
I am one of 22 million veterans who comprise 1.3 percent of the population of the United States. Most of us have served in times of war. Today, the largest number of living veterans served in Vietnam, followed closely...
So When Did You Last Hear a Sermon on Racism?
Racism and prophetic protests against racism are part of the biblical message. I wonder why we hear so few sermons in our churches about this moral issue. Perhaps Glen Stassen and David Gushee ("Kingdom Ethics:...