Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
For Year’s Top Religion Stories, a Major Case of Deja Vu
(RNS) The calendar may have said 2010, but for Pope Benedict XVI and much of his global flock, it looked and felt a lot like 2002. For the second time in a decade, damning charges of child molestation at the hands of...
New York Mosque Named Top Religion Story of 2010
(RNS) The protracted and contentious debate over plans to build an Islamic community center near Ground Zero in New York was the top religion story of 2010, according to a survey of religion journalists. The imam...
Lutheran Leader Seeks Communion Agreement with Pope
ROME (RNS/ENInews) The president of the Lutheran World Federation is calling on Lutherans and Catholics to issue a common statement on Holy Communion to mark the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017....
Pope Calls Lack of Religious Freedom a Threat to Security and Peace
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday (Dec. 16) called limits on religious freedom a “threat to security and peace,” and said Christians are persecuted more than any other faith group. The pope, in his...
Christian and atheist Groups in Race to Raise Money for Charity
(RNS)Christians and atheists are fighting again—this time over who can raise more money for charity. The Christian and atheist communities on the online forum Reddit are in a battle to raise the most money for their...
Religious Leaders Join White House in Dream Act Push
WASHINGTON (RNS) Religious leaders joined White House officials Thursday (Dec. 16) in urging the Senate to pass the DREAM Act, calling it a moral solution to help students hurt by the country’s immigration system. The...
Why ‘E Pluribus Unum’ Is a Better National Motto
President Obama is under fire from members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus for remarks he made during a recent speech in Indonesia. Apparently the president said that "E Pluribus Unum" is a good summary of the...
Thousands of Years Later, We Still Favor the Rich
I think I have a decent theory on why the committee choosing lectionary texts for Advent in Year A of the reading cycle chose a passage from James. It goes something like this: Because the Advent season promotes the...
Fragmentary Notes from a Mission Trip to Tanzania
When I entered the hotel lobby on the first morning of a Muslim-Baptist mission trip to Tanzania for the distribution of mosquito-repellent nets, I heard the sound system playing "Silent Night" by an American artist...
Christmas … and salvation
In some Advent traditions, the fourth Sunday of Advent focuses on love. In others, it centers on salvation. The two themes are not incompatible. It is because of God's love that our salvation is possible. It is because...
Diversification Gone Wild
By John Pierce A few years ago I pulled over my car and shot this photo — somewhere in West Central Georgia, I believe. Perhaps the signs help explain the concept of “general” stores. Being more of a generalist than a...
Now That I Believe: I Spread Joy
A sermon delivered by Joel Snider, First Baptist Church, Rome, Ga., on December 12, 2010. Luke 2:1-20 Morning Prayer: O God, author of all that is good, pure, and just, we have sought the moods promised by this season...
Mary’s Story ¦Our Story
A sermon delivered by Robert Browning, Pastor, Smoke Rise Baptist Church, Stone Mountain, Ga., on December 12, 2010. Luke 1:26-38 What part of Mary’s story attracts your attention this year? When we read a familiar...
Enduring Hope
A sermon delivered by David Hughes, First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, Nc., on December 5, 2010. Romans 15:1-13 This week I had the privilege of conducting Kathleen Sauve’s funeral. As I prepared the meditation for...
From the Hand to the Heart
A sermon delivered by Howard Batson, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Tx., on December 5, 2010. Matthew 1:18-25 Have you ever been afraid of doing the right thing for the wrong reason? Put another way, your...
British Group Withdraws Invite to Fla. Pastor
LONDON (RNS) A right-wing political group that had asked a controversial Florida pastor to appear at an anti-Islam demonstration next year now says it has withdrawn the invitation because “he is not the right candidate...
Swiss Urged to Continue to Allow Mormon Missionaries
WASHINGTON (RNS) Thirteen members of Congress are urging Swiss authorities to allow Mormon missionaries to continue serving beyond 2012, when a new rule would forbid non-European Union citizens from serving as...
Republicans Join FRC in Ad Countering Hate Group Listing
WASHINGTON (RNS) The Family Research Council, joined by prominent Republican allies, is mounting an aggressive defense to a decision by the Southern Poverty Law Center to designate the powerful conservative lobby as a...
What You Can Learn from the Church Troublemaker
On my second Sunday as pastor of the church, Oscar said to me, "Well, you have been here two Sundays and you haven't come to see me yet." Though going by to see Oscar was on my list, after his comment I decided to wait...
Pastor’s Website Lists Naughty, Nice Businesses
Best Buy, Kirkland's and Alaska Airlines all made the nice list, but Nordstrom, Macy's and Barnes & Noble had better watch out. They've been tagged on the naughty side of Christmas. But don't blame Santa; he's not...
House GOP Appointments Are Bad News for Hispanics
Yes, elections do have consequences – and for Hispanics, those consequences are negative. The House going Republican is devastating for Latino and Latina constituents. The recent announcement of committee chairs for...