As if a high-stakes presidential election isn’t enough for the first week of November, the U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 4 will take up a case that goes to the heart of the culture wars fought by the Religious Right…
400 faith leaders ask Trump to end immigrant family separations
More than 400 faith leaders from diverse backgrounds have signed a letter asking the Trump administration and Republican National Convention to change their policy of separating families and putting immigrant children in detention camps. The letter was organized by New…
MacArthur says Trump called to support his defiance of COVID orders
John MacArthur, the California pastor who continues to defy a public health order limiting public gatherings due to the coronavirus threat, says he has received encouragement from President Donald Trump and can’t imagine why any thinking Christian could vote for…
Standoff continues between John MacArthur and Los Angeles County
A California judge has declined again to grant Los Angeles County a temporary restraining order against John MacArthur and his Grace Community Church for defying a county public health order related to the coronavirus pandemic. However, despite the court also…
Your friendly neighbor epidemiologist has an important message for you
Your friendly neighbor epidemiologist wants you to know that when it comes to understanding COVID-19, faith and science do not have to be in conflict. “Friendly neighbor epidemiologist” is the title Emily Smith has given to a Facebook page and…
How you view police killings, racism and monuments influenced by faith and party
Religious beliefs combined with racial identity continue to fuel dramatic differences in the way Americans view police killings of unarmed Black men, the prevalence of “reverse racism” and thinking of the Confederate flag and monuments to Confederate leaders as about…
Let’s stop covering up the enablers of racism in America
Back during the heated battle for control of the Southern Baptist Convention, Ed Young once chided the denominational press for seeking information about a fundamentalist leader who had done something untoward. I can’t remember who had committed the sin or…
LA County pursues contempt of court case against MacArthur
Los Angeles County has asked that Pastor John MacArthur and his Grace Community Church be held in contempt of court for violating a court order not to hold indoor worship services on Sunday, Aug. 16. A hearing is set on…
MacArthur defies late-night court order against indoor worship
Pastor John MacArthur on Sunday, Aug. 16, defied the mandate of the California Court of Appeal by holding an indoor worship service — further escalating a nationally watched fight over COVID-19 restrictions. MacArthur, a prominent Calvinist preacher and author, has…