Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Blogger Denounces Execution of Saddam Hussein
A Baptist blogger and peace activist says Christians should speak out against the execution of condemned former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. "We worship One executed by a brutal tyranny on false charges," Michael...
Baptists and Alcohol
Every year, as the result of misusing alcoholic beverages, many Baptists die in accidents; batter their spouses and children; abandon their marriages and families; experience mental, emotional, and physical sickness;...
Buying Sermons Short-Changes Congregations
A recent front-page article in "The Wall Street Journal" introduced pastors who use the sermons of other ministers. A photo of Ed Young Jr. was sketched to the side, with information that this pastor sells his sermons...
Race Denial Is a River in the Heart of America
A column in the Tennessean generated 70 negative e-mails from the race-denying residents of Tennessee. The Nashville newspaper carried a statement about the defeat of Democratic senatorial candidate Harold Ford, in...
BCE-BWA Announce Free, Online Lent Curriculum for 2007
The Baptist Center for Ethics and the Baptist World Alliance are partnering to produce a free Lenten Bible study curriculum unit to help global Baptists on their 40-day walk toward Easter. "Lent is a time for...
A Modest Christmas Proposal
With Thanksgiving Day behind us, we now enter the Christmas season at full gallop. Of course, Christmas has been peeking out here and there since Halloween, but now it's official. It's all here--the shopping, the...
China’s Journey Only Beginning
An economist I am not. I barely got through sixth grade arithmetic at Coggin Ward grade school. And my only exposure to any kind of economics was in T. R. Havins' Economic History of the U.S. That was a long time ago....
Increasing Minimum Wage is Moral, Smart
It's hard to argue with a businessman over the best way to run a business. Especially when that businessman possesses the credentials that Dan Haskell does: chairman of the Tennessee Jobs Coalition and a respected...
‘Casino Royale’
The saying "familiarity breeds contempt" doesn't hold true for James Bond. With six different actors playing Bond across 21 films, it might seem that we would grow weary of 007. Not so in "Casino Royale," now playing....
Conference Urges Reconciliation Between ‘Messianic,’ Palestinian Christians
An international gathering of Christian leaders at a Baptist seminary in the Czech Republic explored ways for Israeli and Palestinian believers to build bridges between their communities. Delegates from more than 20...
Georgia Baptist Legislator Seeks Constitutional Amendment to Require Voter IDs
After twice sponsoring laws requiring picture IDs in order to vote only to have them ruled unconstitutional by courts, a Georgia lawmaker with moderate Baptist ties now wants to amend the state's constitution to stop...
A Season of Change in Washington
I look toward the 110th Congress with great hope and anxious anticipation, emotions I share with a great majority of the American people. Two weeks ago Americans voted to take this country in a new direction. They have...
Thanksgiving Trumps Christmas, Orange Is the Color for the Common Good
Thanksgiving trumps Christmas. Cultural fundamentalists and sentimental Christians may read that statement as heresy. The former may read it as another salvo in the mislabeled war being waged against Christians via the...
Righteous, Humble Joseph Stands Out in ‘Nativity’
Joseph is barely a supporting player in most people's version of the nativity. He's often "the creepy-looking guy in the back behind the sheep," according to actor Oscar Isaac. But that's not the case in the upcoming...
Second State Baptist Group Ponders Wal-Mart Boycott
The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention joined Missouri Baptists in setting the stage for a possible boycott of Wal-Mart over policies friendly toward gays. Unlike an earlier Missouri Baptist Convention resolution,...
Baptist Autonomy Ignored in Investigating Gays, But Not Clergy Child Molesters
Over and over again, the words "congregational autonomy" have been flung in my face to explain why Southern Baptist leaders cannot take action against ministers reported for sexually molesting kids. "Each entity in...
Pastor Reportedly Settles Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Abuse of Minor
A Baptist pastor in Texas will apparently remain in the pulpit after reportedly settling a lawsuit claiming sexual abuse of a minor. Sources familiar with the case told EthicsDaily.com settlement in principle was...
Rick Warren Criticized for Comments Quoted in Syrian Press
Southern Baptist mega-church pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren disputed reports in Arab media that he praised Syria and took sides against U.S. policy in the Middle East. Syria's official news agency gave...
Baptists Build Bridges Between Muslims, Christians in Lebanon
Arab and American Christians have a role in improving relations between the Muslim world and the United States, say Baptist leaders on both sides. "As Christians we are called to make a difference," Nabil Costa,...
Americans View Iraq as Nation’s Biggest Problem
More than one third of Americans say the situation in Iraq is the most important problem facing the country, according to a new Gallup Poll. Asked to name in their own words the "most important problem facing this...
An Open Letter to the Governor of Alabama
Dear Gov. Riley: Congratulations on your re-election. Your 58 percent margin is the largest since 1982, when Alabama governor races started being competitive. For my part, I'm glad you won. You have demonstrated...