Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Jewish Group Gives Passover Cheer for Beck’s Exit
(RNS) A Jewish organization is celebrating Passover two weeks early, proclaiming freedom from Glenn Beck’s television show. Jewish Funds for Justice, a social advocacy nonprofit, has taken credit for the polarizing...
Vatican Paper Praises Fertility Ethics of Films
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The official Vatican newspaper has praised two recent Hollywood movies for showing the ethical downsides of sperm donation. In the lead article in the Saturday (April 9) edition of L’Osservatore...
Report: Ambassador Spends too Much Time on Religion
WASHINGTON (RNS) The U.S. ambassador to Malta, who helped rally Catholic support for President Obama’s 2008 campaign, has spent “considerable time” writing on topics beyond the mission of his office, particularly about...
Faith Leaders Divided over Government Shutdown
Congressional leaders averted a shutdown of the federal government at almost midnight on April 8 after prolonged and contentious negotiations, agreeing to $37.8 billion in cuts from the current year's budget that runs...
How God Answers Our Question About Death
The earthquake and tsunami in Japan have not only shaken the world, they've shaken a lot of people's faith. "How could a good and loving God allow such a thing to happen?" they ask. It's the oldest question in the...
How Some Christians Fight Human Trafficking
Jesus treated women with dignity and respect. He shared living water with the woman at the well. He saved the physical life of the woman caught in adultery. After his resurrection, he appeared first to the women. His...
The letters of your address
So, how many e-mails have you gotten the last couple of weeks from companies with whom you've done business, alerting you that their security has been breached and that your name and e-mail address may have been...
Evangelicals Most Likely to Support Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON (RNS) A slim majority of evangelicals favor government shutdown over a budget compromise, according to new research by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. The U.S. government will shutter...
Skeletons in the Catholic Church’s Closet
(RNS) In its new Sunday night series, “The Borgias,” Showtime has found the magic combination for ultimate crowd appeal in a scintillating soap opera about a bad-boy pope. “The Borgias” follows the quasi-historic story...
Obama, Karzai Blast Florida Quran Burning
WASHINGTON (RNS) President Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai blasted the recent burning of a Quran at a Florida church and the deadly riots that followed during a video teleconference meeting on Wednesday (April...
The “Christ-Haunted” Music of Kate Campbell
Kate Campbell is a country singer with a soulful voice and distinctly Baptist theology. She has lent her talents to many worthy causes, and I have been pleased to be with her on many occasions. She brings a sort of...
“Source Code”
You awaken on a train. You don't know where you are or how you got there. Sitting in front of you is a young woman who seems to know you. You try and get your bearings. When you see your reflection, you don't look...
Does Regular Church Attendance Contribute to Obesity?
If you go to church regularly as a young adult, you will more likely than not become obese by middle age. Full-stop. What? Pray, eat, gain too much weight! Well, that's a broadly interpreted word about a medical...
God, Blindness, and Faith
A sermon delivered by Wendell Griffen, Pastor, New Millennium Church, Little Rock, Ark., on April 3, 2011. 1 Samuel 16:1-13; John 9:1-41 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Samuel Anoints David 16The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will...
Everybody Needs a Shepherd
A sermon delivered by Keith Herron, Pastor, Holmeswood Baptist Church, Kansas City, Mo., on April 3, 2011. Psalm 23 My first memorable encounter with the Shepherd’s Psalm didn’t come at a funeral where it’s often read...
Content in Context
The Christian faith is about more than gaining biblical knowledge. Jesus didn't tell his disciples to "learn this stuff" — but rather to "follow me." Knowledge is important. However, the “content for learning” must...
British Astrophysicist Wins Templeton Prize
(RNS) A British theoretical astrophysicist who has achieved renown for his study of the cosmos and for sounding warnings about the future of humanity has won the $1.6 million 2011 Templeton Prize. Martin J. Rees of...
Court Rules for Pharmacists on Morning-After Pill
(RNS) Pharmacists with religious objections to “morning-after” emergency contraceptives cannot be compelled to sell the product, an Illinois Circuit Judge ruled Tuesday (April 5). The Illinois Health Care Right of...
Embattled Religious Freedom Envoy the New Iron Lady
WASHINGTON (RNS) The Obama administration’s embattled nominee for religious freedom ambassador is comparing herself to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as she tries for a second time to land the post....
How Many Minimum-Wage Workers Equal a CEO?
In 1981 I bought 100 shares of Exxon stock. It has been the best long-term investment of my life. The company itself (now known as ExxonMobil) is one of the largest and most influential companies in the world. Because...
What CNN’s Special on Muslims Didn’t Tell You
CNN has been broadcasting a "news" special titled "Unwelcome: The Muslims Next Door" recently. With Soledad O'Brien as reporter, the program recounts the negative response on the part of some citizens to the building...