Imagine, if you will, an enormous wooden horse encamped outside the Southern Baptist Convention headquarters. Downtown Nashville’s bachelorettes, bar hoppers and backup singers stop and stare at the giant horse with “Center for Baptist Leadership” emblazoned on its barrel. William…
In England and Wales, a ‘quiet revival’ is boosting faith
In 1800, 15-year-old Mary Jones hiked 26 miles across the harsh terrain of Northern Wales to purchase a Welsh Bible. Her journey inspired William Wilberforce and his band of social reformers to create what would become the Bible Society, a…
On 80th anniversary of VE Day, Europeans have concerns about the future
Time stood still in the UK May 8 as residents of “this scepter’d isle” paused on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day to remember the shared sacrifice of those who fought and died, those who survived wounded in…
The ancient and modern politics behind choosing a pope
In the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square, not far from the free medical clinic and showers for the homeless and undocumented migrants opened by Pope Francis in 2018, sits a man on a bench. From behind, his clothes are rough…
Aaron Renn’s Three Worlds and the Negative World of conservatives’ own making
There are two sides to every breakup. This includes the split between Christianity and American culture. Conservative commentator Aaron Renn has created a taxonomy for understanding the country’s transition from what he terms Positive World, where being a Christian was…
Here’s why the assault on Section 504 accommodations matters
Most Americans only encounter Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if their child is one of the 8.5 million public school children with a 504 Plan. Whether they are dyslexic, have cerebral palsy or a temporarily broken leg,…
Turns out, we have partisan brains — but there’s hope
It’s no secret politics divides America. The growing hostility between Republicans who support Donald Trump and the Democrats who oppose him is fracturing friendships, families and churches. Each side wonders at the rationale of the other: “How can they possibly…
Delivering the nation’s health care into the hands of anti-vaxxers is the wrong decision
When I was pregnant with our twins, I read stacks of books on “what to expect when you’re expecting.” (I’ve since discovered, with twins always expect the unexpected.) One well-marked book in my stack was about childhood vaccinations. It was…
Maybe this is why Trump wants to reboot American imperialism in Greenland
From the Smurfs to Superman, 2025 will be the year of the reboot in movie theaters across America. It’s common, during times of economic crisis and social upheaval, for Hollywood to trot out familiar favorites, playing on nostalgia for a…
Who will be the next archbishop of Canterbury?
The Christmas Day sermon by the archbishop of Canterbury is the centerpiece of the Church of England’s seasonal celebrations. However, with the resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby, Anglicans will have to make do with a homily from the bishop of…
The Baptist Bonhoeffer
Political party leaders around the globe, including Donald Trump, are openly flirting with fascism to consolidate power by exploiting economic and cultural conflicts. When considering how to respond to these troubling developments, many Christians rightly turn to the example of…
Before you pack up and leave the US, consider this
Here in the UK, members of the Facebook group American Women Living in Scotland help one another navigate issues of immigrant life, like how to wrangle a mammogram out of the NHS if you’re under age 50, which grocers are…