Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Children Misrepresented in Local Newscasts
A recent study by Children NOW found that local television news broadcasts "under-represent the presence of children in society, distort the level of crime committed by and against children and rarely focus on public...
“Worldview” is Culture Conflict’s Battle Cry, Book of Genesis Cited as Foundational
The word "worldview" has emerged as a leading rally cry in America's religious conflict, competing with the word "inerrancy." Fundamentalists are sponsoring a series of "worldview weekends" across the nation. A...
Historical Review: Baptists and Genesis
Nineteenth century Southern Baptists debated many issues--missions, the church, slavery, even Baptist history--yet simple biblical faith helped them avoid heated confrontations over the Bible which would come in the...
Firefighters Rank No. 1 When It Comes Honesty and Ethics
Not surprisingly since the Sept. 11 attacks, firefighters, nurses and the military ranked among the top three professions reflecting the highest marks for honesty and ethics. The annual CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll,...
Remembering What Is Ultimate
The first generation of Christians had a difficult time negotiating their world. They embraced the good news Jesus proclaimed, "The Kingdom of God is at hand!" Embracing that good news put Jesus' followers at odds with...
Harry Potter Hysteria Unwarranted
Forgive me for being a bit jaded by this controversy, but most Harry Potter opponents belong to the same crowd that claims dressing up for Halloween is serving the devil. Me? I always did it for the candy. With our...
Who is the real Santa Claus?
The American view of Santa Claus is a far cry from the true inspiration for this merry, generous, magical character. The Orthodox Christian Church and the Roman Catholic Church commemorate the death of the real Saint...
Robertson Resigns from Christian Coalition
Pat Robertson, the foremost leader of the religious right, resigned yesterday as president of the Christian Coalition, some two months after he and Jerry Falwell blamed certain Americans for the Sept. 11 terrorist...
Baptists Were Right to Reject Commandments Resolution
It was a strange and confusing spectacle. An angry young man stood before news cameras and chided Alabama Baptists for being soft on the Bible. Baptists? Soft on the Bible? What's going on here? That angry man was Dean...
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”
Director: Chris Columbus Cast: Daniel Radcliff (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Richard Harris (Professor Dumbledore), Maggie Smith (Professor...
American Muslim Population Lower than Originally Thought
Contrary to earlier claims by American Islamic organizations that the number of American Muslims totaled 7 million, two new studies indicate the numbers are actually much lower. One study, The American Religious...
Embarking On Your Advent Journey
The green wreath contains four purple candles surrounding one large white candle. The day is Dec. 2. Only one purple candle is lit this day: the candle of peace. This marks the beginning of Advent. What is Advent? When...
Faith Communities Must Accept the Challenge of Substance Abuse
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse recently released important research about substance abuse and spirituality. In the study entitled So Help Me God: Substance Abuse, Religion and Spirituality, CASA...
Church Rush Following Sept. 11 Diminishes
New faces may have crowded into neighborhood churches following the Sept. 11 attacks, but few have stuck around. Gary Fenton, pastor at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., told BCE that there was...
Street Preachers Defending Free Speech
Street preachers are turning to courts in defense of their First Amendment rights. The Oregon Court of Appeals recently ruled that the Eugene, Ore., police wrongly used a disorderly conduct ordinance two years ago to...
The Ebb and Flow of Religious Freedom
In Afghanistan these days, people are cutting their beards, lifting their veils and playing music. It is all part of the "wild and worldly" celebration that broke out as the Taliban was run out of town. It demonstrated...
Franklin Graham Stands by Comments Calling Islam
No apology, no explanation and no backpedaling for Franklin Graham following a controversial interview where he called Islam "evil" and "wicked." Graham, son of well-known evangelist Billy Graham, made the remarks in...
American Jewish Committee Publishes Haggadah for Thanksgiving
The American Jewish Committee has published a collection of prayers and teachings for Thanksgiving to help Americans express grief over terrorism and hope for the future. "This year will be painfully different from...
Interfaith Prayer Meetings Face Opposition; Some Religious Leaders Fear Pluralism
Southern Baptist and Lutheran fundamentalists expressed opposition to interfaith prayer meetings last week, according to news reports in the Orlando Sentinel and Religion News Service. Interfaith dialogues and worship...
Christians Urged to Honor Ramadan
Christians are being urged to honor Ramadan through praying, fasting and calling for a halt to bombing in Afghanistan. Ramadan is a Muslim holy month of fasting that begins Friday, Nov. 16 and ends Dec. 17. "I'm going...
Millions of Americans Must Choose Between Food and Medical Needs, Housing and Heat
At the end of one of the longest periods of economic growth in history, more Americans find themselves in need of food assistance. Hunger in America 2001, a new study by America's Second Harvest, revealed that 23.3...