The white evangelical church remains “the most powerful force” in hindering work for racial justice and reconciliation in America, according to religion researcher Robert P. Jones. In a Nov. 16 opinion piece written for NBC News, Jones made an explicit…
The first thing you think when you get COVID-19
Here’s the first thing you think when you get COVID-19: “I wish I could turn back time.” If only I hadn’t gone … or stayed … or passed by … or did whatever it was that caused me to catch…
Russell Moore on civil discourse: ‘Let’s find a better way’
His name never was mentioned, but a Nov. 17 panel discussion on how to restore civility in public discourse drew a portrait of Donald Trump and his disciples as examples of what must be overcome. And both speakers were conservative…
Baptists in Virginia get two new theological education options
The rapidly changing landscape of theological education for moderate and progressive Baptists will take yet another new turn next fall with a focus on Virginia. Less than two years after the closure of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, two new…
Panelists debate how to ‘normalize’ immigration after ill effects of Trumpism
The incoming Biden administration has an opportunity to “normalize” immigration policy but may face opposition to some common-sense actions by Republican leaders who still fear Donald Trump’s supporters, according to a bipartisan panel of presenters at the National Immigration Forum….
What will happen in public education with a Biden administration?
With the impending change of administrations in Washington, public education advocates across the country have taken to social media to express their joy in the inevitable departure of Betsy DeVos as secretary of education. As one of the most consistently…
Americans United proposes 10 ways for Biden administration to reset church-state separation
As a new administration comes to Washington, a fundamental restatement of church-state separation should become a top priority, according to officials with Americans United for Separation of Church and State. “The Trump administration’s misuse of religious freedom to harm others…
COVID-19 creating exponential increase in global poverty
The effect of coronavirus on global poverty is getting significantly worse, according to new data from the World Bank. COVID-19 is “likely to push between 88 and 115 million people into extreme poverty — those living under $1.90 a day…
2020 vote shows religious identity held steady with slight change among Catholics and Mormons
Religious identity trends appear to have held fairly steady in the 2020 presidential election, based on a combination of exit polling and pre-election surveys. Because of the enormous number of Americans who voted by mail or in advance this year,…