A Virginia judge ruled on Dec. 19 that three parcels of land belong to parishes that have broken away from the Episcopal Church, handing conservatives an important, if tentative, legal win. An 1867 state law, passed as Virginia congregations separated…
EDITORIAL: Will we blow out the candles or let them burn?
For the most part, I love parties. I'm not talking about political parties. I'd rather not think about those for a while. No, I'm talking about the kind of parties that feature ice cream and cake. And presents. That's why…
SECOND OPINION: Is your church an open door?
The church my family and I attended in my early childhood was always unlocked. In fact, I don't think they even had a key to the door! In this country setting where everyone knew everyone else within several miles of…
OUT LOUD
“We have one suggestion for Baptist Christians — that they avoid words to describe evangelism (or telling the gospel story) which appear threatening to others, such as ‘evangelistic crusades.' Nor is it necessary to be critical of another faith in…
RIGHT or WRONG: Should I pray for a president I didn’t vote for?
The United States has elected a new president, but my candidate did not win. My Sunday school teacher observed that the Apostle Paul said we should pray for the king. I fail to see the application of that Scripture to…
Move over, bumper-sticker religion. Make way for license-plate faith
WASHINGTON (RNS) — In South Carolina, a district court temporarily has halted production of state-sponsored license plates that declare “I Believe” and feature an illustration of a cross, superimposed on a stained-glass window. In Vermont, an appeals court is mulling…
No evidence recession pulls people into pews
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Economic recession has not led to increased attendance at U.S. houses of worship, according to Gallup pollsters. Despite anecdotal evidence cited in high-profile media outlets, Americans' worship patterns held steady in 2008, the Gallup Poll reported. Since…
Most Americans believe in multiple paths to salvation, survey reveals
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Most American Christians believe at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life, a new survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life reveals. Even among evangelicals, who profess belief that an individual must…
Poll: Americans see religious influence waning
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Two-thirds of Americans think religion is losing its influence on U.S. life, a sharp jump from just three years ago when Americans were nearly evenly split on the question, according to a new Gallup Poll. Sixty-seven percent…
Religious abuse continues in Iraq, commission says
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Iraq should be designated as a “country of particular concern” because its government tolerates the abuse of religious communities, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The federal commission said many Iraqi religious minorities —…
Tebow’s faith takes center stage in bowl
MIAMI (BP) — With “John 3:16” written on top of his eye black, Tim Tebow led his Florida Gators to victory Jan. 8 against the Oklahoma Sooners in a 24-14 win in the BCS National Championship. Replacing his trademark “Phil…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Disturbing articles
I wonder if anyone else found it disturbing that there were two brief articles, one above the other, on page 7 of the Nov. 20 Religious Herald — one announcing that in our nation's capital ads will appear on buses…