Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Biblical Baby Names Still Popular
Names from the Bible remain popular as American parents consider their options for naming both boys and girls. Jacob was the most popular baby boy name in 2007, according to the Social Security Administration, which...
Seven Touchstones for Reclaiming the Rightful Role of Faith in Politics
Last Thursday, I spoke at the annual meeting of the South Carolina Christian Action Council held at Zion Canaan Baptist Church in Columbia. I significantly condensed that lengthy presentation and repackage it as an...
Power, Not Prejudice, Keeps Churches Segregated, Author Will Campbell Says
The church remains the last bastion of segregation in America not primarily due to prejudice but because of power, says civil-rights advocate and author Will Campbell. "Integration in religion is going to be the last...
Myanmar finally admitting Baptist aid (update)
The military regime that runs Myanmar has finally granted visas to members of Baptist World Aid Rescue24, according to a press release from the Baptist World Alliance. Baptist World Aid (BWAid) is the relief and...
“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”
It's been two and a half years since "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" from Disney and Walden Media appeared in theaters. The second installment in the adaptation of C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia series,...
Christian Right Leaders Push Back Against Concern for Global Warming
group of conservative religious leaders and politicians on Thursday unveiled a new campaign aimed at getting 1 million supporters behind a so-called "biblical" view of the environment that downplays concerns about...
The Fragmenting Christian Right
It appears that the Religious Right is coming undone. Having played a dominant role in national politics since the 1980s, it now appears that the key players will be sidelined during the upcoming presidential campaign....
Lost in Space
This week Religion News Service carried on article (I also heard about it on CNN) concerning extraterrestrial evangelism — or the lack of a need for it.According to information in the official Vatican newspaper...
“Iron Man”
Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) has the world by the tail. He is a billionaire with a genius IQ. Stark Industries, his company, is a top weapons producer for the Department of Defense. Women fall into his bed with...
‘Morning Meetings With Jesus’
Every morning, all across our country, in big cities and small towns, students come trudging through the doors of our schools. Some come eagerly, anticipating each day; some come reluctantly, overwhelmed by challenges...
Baptists Show Solidarity With Palestinians
A British Baptist leader joined a reported 15,000 people last Saturday in a march in central London showing solidarity with Palestinians. "I took part in this march because Palestinians today are suffering unjust...
They’re “mad,” and they’re proud
A friend pointed me to a new phenomenon that's gotten little publicity before now: growing numbers of people with mental illnesses -- or "extreme mental states," as some prefer to call them -- have chosen to become...
How to Save the Planet Without Busting Your Budget
Magazines and other media often paint environmentalism as a more expensive lifestyle choice. Often they use the "green" mantra to promote companies who pay for advertising. Every product that is manufactured (even if...
Suffering Raises Questions About God’s Justice
I was sitting on my porch this past week reading the Monday edition of our local newspaper, enjoying very much an article about a married couple who spent their lives traveling the U.S. driving trucks. It truly is a...
Lawyer Group Recruiting Churches to Disobey Tax Law
A legal advocacy group founded by Religious Right broadcasters is recruiting pastors for an act of civil disobedience by preaching about political candidates in violation of rules against politicking for non-profit...
On the defensive
Southwestern Baptist Seminary President Paige Patterson, one of the architects of the fundamentalist takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention, got downright defensive about reports showing the SBC in decline and...
If the Bible is So Important, Why Don’t We Take Jesus More Seriously?
A friend of mine was telling me of his latest adventure of faith. The church he pastors has a sign on the main road of their small town. They posted this message: "The Sum of Christianity is Love God, Love Your...
Baptist Conscience Awakening About Creation Care, Baptist Leader Says
Baptists have throughout history largely lagged behind other Christians in theological and practical discussion concerning the environment, but there are signs the Baptist conscience is awakening to the issue of...
Baptists Waiting to Deliver Aid to Myanmar
The idea behind Baptist World Aid's "Rescue 24" is to put an emergency team on the ground within 24 hours of any disaster anywhere in the world. When it comes to getting into cyclone-ravaged Myanmar, it might be closer...
Pomp and personhood
After three straight days of graduation-related exercises, I've about had my fill of both pomp and circumstance.In the academic world, we dress up for formal occasions -- and everyone has to wear a dress. I know...
Recognizing the Moral Stewardship of Communication Technology
Accra's National Arts Centre had everything an American could want as a souvenir--wood carvings, talking drums, colorful clothing, leather goods, glass jewelry and masks. I wanted a Ghanaian mask to add to my...