Imagine you’re a big-shot Hollywood producer, and you’re making a movie about the life of iconic Baptist preacher/pastor/professor Joel Gregory. You bet the film on casting character actor Paul Giamatti, who is 95 percent perfect to play Gregory. Giamatti mirrors…
Let’s do something about race in America
By Marv Knox The most delusional moment of my life occurred Nov. 4, 2008. For an hour or so after Barack Obama won the U.S. presidential election, I believed the worst of America’s racism had subsided. America elected a black…
What are we going to do about all those children?
By Marv Knox The crisis on our southern border is complicated. Except when it’s not. Surely you know the story: Since last fall, 52,000 unaccompanied Latin American children have flooded the U.S. border with Mexico, most of them along the lower…
Hobby Lobby decision protects free exercise of religion but could boomerang
By Marv Knox Hailed by conservative Christians as a victory for religious liberty, the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision provides points to ponder, as well as occasion for both celebration and concern: • Since the court previously ruled corporations may…
Baylor’s alumni association plans defense in lawsuit filed by university
By Marv Knox The Baylor Alumni Association plans to “resolutely — not defiantly” defend itself against a lawsuit filed by Baylor University June 6. The university filed the lawsuit about five months after its lead attorney called on the Baylor…
How do we respond to slumping church attendance?
By Marv Knox Americans are kidding themselves — or maybe kidding each other — about church. The Public Religion Research Institute asked Americans how often they attend church. Is it “weekly or more,” “occasionally” or “seldom or never”? The answer…
So, what about preaching and plagiarism?
By Marv Knox Pastoral plagiarism is back in the news. Actually, pulpit pilfering happens so often, it never goes completely away. But it made headlines again this month, when Religion News Service published an article asking, “Is pulpit plagiarism on the…
When ideology trumps theology
By Marv Knox Sometimes, life is so upside-down you couldn’t make it up. For example, Paige Patterson has emerged as an ecumenical leader among Baptists. You may remember Patterson. He’s the president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In the past…
Texas Baptists, Baylor agree to sale of Baptist Building in Dallas
By Marv Knox and Ken Camp The governing boards of Baylor University and the Baptist General Convention of Texas have approved the sale of the convention’s Baptist Building in Dallas to the university. Baylor regents affirmed the sale May 16,…