More and more, when I treat people as I believe a Christian should, other people dismiss my actions by saying something like, “That's so PC” — politically correct. Even Christians seem to reject Jesus' statement, “Love one another.” How should…
Supreme Court to revisit decency standards
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The U.S. Supreme Court announced it will revisit limits on on-air vulgarity in the court's first case on unsavory speech in almost 30 years. After Cher and Nicole Richie used expletives during the 2002 and 2003 Billboard…
Fundamentalists of all stripes want to turn back the clock
Despite all their theological and cultural differences, fundamentalists of every faith share at least one common characteristic — resistance to modernity. That's the assessment of scholars and firsthand observers who have evaluated the varieties of religious expression. “Fundamentalism worldwide is…
Beliefs alone not to blame when faith turns violent, scholars say
ATLANTA (ABP) — Every faith group has its extremists, but not all extremists turn violent. What makes the difference? While most religious violence follows common patterns, faith seldom turns violent except in response to social oppression, say experts who study…
Fundamentalist now applies to ‘other groups that scare us’
Were the 9/11 terrorists who flew airplanes into the Twin Towers fundamentalists? Technically, no. Practically, yes. “Fundamentalism” specifically refers to a conservative movement within U.S. Protestant Christianity that began about a century ago, scholars agree. But they concede the term…
Top 100 churches in total Cooperative Missions giving in 2007 listed
First Baptist Church in Alexandria led churches affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia last year in contributions to the Cooperative Missions. Rounding out the top 10 churches in total CM gifts were Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond,…
Will Baptists be counted in the ‘evangelical center’?
If an “evangelical center” emerges from the current shake-up in American politics, will moderate Baptists be part of it? It depends on how comfortable moderate Baptists are with being considered “evangelicals” in the first place. Moderate and progressive Baptists certainly…
EDITORIAL: How far should understanding go?
If you are like me, you have grown weary of hearing the comments of Barack Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. Still, something about his comments and the story are so compelling that I can't leave them alone. I understand that…
Freedom of the Spirit
Next week, on Friday, April 11, the University of Richmond inaugurates its ninth president, Edward Ayers, who is an historian by profession. Ever since its humble yet hopeful beginnings, the University of Richmond (as academy, seminary, college and, since 1920,…
SECOND OPINION: Can we at least talk about it?
I'm one of the few leaders in Baptist life with the freedom to talk openly and honestly about the complex theological, moral, pastoral, and public policy issues raised by homosexuality without destroying myself professionally. Because I hold a tenured professorship…
OUT LOUD
“Sen. Richard Lugar … is [a] member of our congregation, and I would hope that he would never be held accountable for everything I have said in the last 15 years. Why is there any assumption that a person in…
When the preacher loses his cool, should church members take a hike?
The now-familiar images of Jeremiah Wright, former pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, calling down God's wrath on America raise questions for Christians: What place does rage have in the pulpit? And when should worshippers show their…