Christians often have been reminded that some of their forebears supported slavery, but many do not know Christians ended slavery in the United States. Southern Baptists, in particular, frequently are reminded their convention began amid the defense of slavery. Yet…
Matthew Vines sets off a debate over what it means to be ‘queer’
One of the leading apologists for gay Christians has created a firestorm of controversy among Christians in the LGBTQ community with a column published in The New York Times June 30. Matthew Vines is the author of the op-ed headlined,…
There is no safe space in John Piper’s cruel theology
Jesus orchestrated the brutal murder of your teenage friend and her mom. So says John Piper in a recent “Ask Pastor John” podcast episode titled, “Sovereignty and My Murdered Friend.” The podcast begins by acknowledging it’s a “very heavy episode” before…
At this VBS, a skit simulates a violent execution
“Take him out! Blow him up! Take him out! Blow him up!” the children chant during a vacation Bible school program at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Lexington, Ky. With eerie music looming over the scene, the viral TikTok video…
Toy Story 5 brings the tech debate home, but it underplays the risks
The most improbable fantasy moment in Toy Story 5, Pixar’s latest entry in its unavoidable animated film franchise and likely one of the year’s biggest box-office hits, comes at an unexpected juncture in the story. (Some light spoilers follow.) It…
The end of white liberal Christian optimism
When Donald Trump was elected president a second time, something in me broke and has stayed broken. I now realize what broke was the version of white liberal Christian optimism I had unconsciously imbibed from my teachers and milieu. It’s…
Social media and rallies drive growth of Christian nationalism in UK
Christian nationalism is not only an insidious force in the far-right policies of the United States but is gaining influence across Europe. In the U.S. and abroad, Christian nationalism grows by spreading polarizing, sensational rhetoric through social media and public…
What Disclosure Day reveals about evangelicals’ fears
While the Trump administration and their voters seem increasingly hostile to releasing the Epstein Files, they’re continuing to release UFO files. The images, videos and written testimony have led to a constant stream of speculation and questions over the past…
How can we protect vulnerable members from cyberfraud?
“They stole $77,000. And that was all of my savings.” Her voice was so soft I (Doug) had to lean in to hear her. “I’ve talked with the local police, the FBI and the Federal Trade Commission. The money is…
6 ways the Reflecting Pool boondoggle mirrors Trump and MAGA
It was supposed to be a simple restoration project. A $1.5 million maintenance project on a prominent national landmark that would take about two weeks to complete. A proverbial drop in the bucket of the Department of the Interior’s budget….
Who is the domestic terrorist?
In the wake of the violence of January 6, 2021, some observers wondered why the insurrectionists at the U.S. Capitol weren’t charged with domestic terrorism. The reason is simple: There is no standalone federal crime on the books for domestic…
Why Gen Z is losing faith in America
As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, our latest report, “Competing Visions of America at 250: Politics, Religion, and Identity,” surfaces a troubling signal for the future of our democracy — and it centers on the nation’s youngest citizens. Generation…