Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Moderate Baptist Publisher Dropping Preschool, Children’s Lines
The unofficial publisher of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is discontinuing Sunday school curriculum for children and preschoolers, saying not enough churches use the material to justify what it costs to produce...
‘The Secret Message of Jesus’
No one articulates the emerging pattern of Christian thought, attitude and practice for the 21st century better than Brian McLaren, and "The Secret Message of Jesus" is by far his best effort to date. McLaren sets out...
Tax Dollars for Pregnancy Centers Raise Church-State Questions
A decision last year by the Texas Legislature to divert $5 million from family-planning services to programs that promote childbirth over abortion is raising questions of whether tax dollars are being used to fund a...
Democratic Leader Hopes to Advance Faith Agenda
The third-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives plans to use the influence of his new position to help quell the misperception that the initials GOP stand for God's Only Party. Rep. James E. Clyburn, 65,...
If or When the Wall Comes Down
The confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court seems a virtual certainty. Even if Senate Democrats stage a filibuster, which at this point seems unlikely, they cannot ultimately stop the confirmation....
‘End of the Spear’
In 1956, Waodani tribesmen in Ecuador speared to death five American missionaries. The incident immediately made the cover of Life magazine. Later one of the widows penned a popular book. An excellent documentary...
Teachers’ Union Fights Back at ’20/20′ Report
The head of the nation's largest teachers' union has asked ABC News for equal time to rebut last Friday's "20/20" program, which portrayed public schools as a government-run monopoly that is cheating kids out of a...
Schools that Teach How to Cheat the System
How can a high school exist without paid teachers? That's a very good question, but apparently it's not a real concern for Michael R. Kinney. New York Times writer Duff Wilson has reported that the owner of University...
Bank Robber/Artist Finds Calling in Prison
A preacher's kid turned bank robber is finding redemption behind bars through his art. A self-taught artist, Isaac "Ike" Moody, 29, doodled and took a couple of art classes at Georgetown College in Kentucky, a...
‘The Last Disciple’ Replies to ‘Left Behind’ Novels
Tyndale House, publisher of Tim LaHaye's "Left Behind" novels, in 2004 published "The Last Disciple" by Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer, a novel giving another view of the world's last days. It is a view I learned...
Christians Are Not a Persecuted Minority
Nothing has become more tiresome in recent years than the incessant claim by many conservative Christians that they are being persecuted. Every time a church/state issue comes to the fore, a gaggle of Christian...
Stop Blaming God for Disasters, Ethicist Says
Public figures should stop blaming God for hurricanes and claiming divine approval for their political agendas, Robert Parham of the Baptist Center for Ethics said Tuesday. Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson drew...
Trustee’s Supporters Predict Showdown in Greensboro
This year's Southern Baptist Convention might be the most important in a quarter century, say bloggers supportive of an International Mission Board trustee recommended for removal at the annual meeting scheduled June...
Right to Work–For Less
Times are tough, and every community is desperate for new jobs--and new ideas to bring new jobs. In Kentucky, Gov. Ernie Fletcher has resurrected a tired, old idea: right-to-work-for-less. Despite the "Jobs! Jobs!...
Baptist Bloggers and Democracy
On the evening of Jan. 10 it was announced that the People's Choice Award for best movie was "Star Wars: Episode III--Revenge of the Sith." The following morning, the trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's...
A Hammer, A Bell and A Song
I was in Phoenix on Friday, Jan. 6, attending the annual Society of Christian Ethics meeting, when Foy Valentine called. When he learned I would be in Dallas on Tuesday, he said, "Let's get together." We planned to....
Letter from the Birmingham Jail
April 16, 1963 My Dear Fellow Clergymen: While confined here in the Birmingham City Jail, I came across your recent statement calling our present activities "unwise and untimely." Seldom, if ever, do I pause to answer...
‘Last Holiday’ Principals Discuss Faith, Religion
It's probably not often that someone preaches at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. But that's what happened when rap artist LL Cool J met with religion writers recently to discuss his new movie. "I am...
Too Many Southern Governors Wrong on Religion, Weak on Science in Public Schools
Two Republican governors expressed support for the teaching of neo-creationism—intelligent design—in public schools in the past two weeks. "What is wrong with teaching 'intelligent design' in our schools?" asked Gov....
Baptist Roots Run Deep for Controversial IMB Trustee
Wade Burleson, whose fellow members of the Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board are seeking his removal as a trustee, is a new member of the board, elected in 2005. But his roots in Southern Baptist...
Robertson’s Comment Threatens Theme Park Deal
Israel's Tourism Ministry is reportedly pulling out of a business deal with evangelical leader Pat Robertson to build a $50 million Christian heritage center beside the Sea of Galilee over the religious broadcaster's...