WASHINGTON (RNS)—Want to be almost certain you’ll have religious neighbors? Move to Mississippi. Prefer the least religious state? Venture to Vermont. The importance of religion in people's lives varies from state to state. A recent Gallup Poll, based on more…
When it comes to religious fervor, it’s a small world after all, research shows
WASHINGTON (RNS)—Baptists in Tuscaloosa and Muslims in Tehran might not seem to have much in common, but Alabama and Iran agree on one thing—the importance of religion. Nearly identical percentages of people in both locations—82 percent of Alabamians and 83…
Faith Digest
Pope condemns Holocaust denial. In his first meeting with Jewish leaders since his controversial readmission of a Holocaust-denying bishop, Pope Benedict XVI condemned the “denial or minimization” of the Holocaust as “intolerable and altogether unacceptable.” The long-scheduled Vatican meeting took…
The challenge of the new urbanism
Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond is an established church transitioning to meet the New Urban challenges of its very popular in-town neighborhood, the Fan. Lights are strung throughout the sanctuary during Ephiphany. Lights strung from a sanctuary’s ceiling at Epiphany….
RIGHT or WRONG: Poverty
More and more people are talking about dealing with global poverty through “micro-enterprises.” Is there any merit to these ideas for alleviating poverty? Helping the poor is not an option for Christians. It is a biblical mandate. The Hebrew Scriptures…
The City of God: Upsurge of urban ‘creative class’ poses challenges to evangelicals
Busboys and Poets offers affordable gourmet meals and a performance venue to edgy artists, sells books on political topics and provides a chic meeting space for activist groups. WASHINGTON (ABP)—If ever there were an archetypal hangout for what author and…
Religious freedom panel says: Confront China about weapons flowing to Sudan
WASHINGTON (RNS)—A federal religious freedom watchdog panel is urging President Obama to step up efforts to maintain the fragile peace between northern and southern Sudan. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom asked the White House to appoint a Special…
Baptist pastor convicted in Azerbaijan
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — A Baptist pastor in the South Caucasus country of Azerbaijan has been found guilty of what supporters say are bogus weapons charges and given "a two-year corrective labor sentence," according to a worldwide Baptist group. The Virginia-based…
Eye-catching, eco-friendly church structure turns heads in North Carolina city
RALEIGH, N.C. (ABP) —Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, which celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2009, is turning heads with a new eco-friendly building addition that eases overcrowding, allows for expanded missions and establishes a strong architectural presence along a prominent business…