Too often, when I hear or read political pundits, both conservative and liberal, refer to the United States as a “democracy,” I want to scream, “We are a constitutional republic, not a democracy!” and a few choice other words directed…
Our own personal Jesus
For $1.99 per minute, you can speak directly with Jesus Christ — or, at least, an imagined AI approximation. Just Like Me, the brainchild of Chris Breed, bills itself as a “groundbreaking AI platform that lets anyone talk face-to-face with…
What it means: SBC membership shrinks as US population grows
Although the Southern Baptist Convention remains the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, only about 3.6% of the 342 million Americans were members of SBC churches in 2025. Not only has membership in SBC churches been on the decline…
Newsboys lawsuit exposes underlying finances of CCM business
In the summer of 2001, I risked getting expelled by Bob Jones University for the chance to watch Michael W. Smith in concert at a Franklin Graham crusade at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. This was just one year removed…
The answer to who should control Palestine was obvious
“I hate Mr. Balfour’s pronouncement. … To my mind it’s a wholly artificial scheme divorced from all relation to facts, and I wish it the ill success that it deserves.” — Gertrude Bell One of the many entirely valid…
United Methodism two years after 25% of churches disaffiliated
The United Methodist Church’s experience with the disaffiliations of a number of its congregations has received widespread coverage in church media and in some secular media outlets. Because the polity of the UMC differs from that of many other denominations,…
How bad theology has set us up for sexualized AI deepfakes
Given the research I conduct for writing, the ads my algorithm sends me can be all over the map. Nothing ever surprises me. But after looking into the recent story about 62 million visits to a website that contained instructions…
In new book, Oord makes theology about God’s love
When I hear the words “systematic theology,” I can’t help but think of Wayne Grudem — an altogether unpleasant association. Maybe a different systematic theology book comes to mind for you, but Iʼd bet it has the same driving force:…
How American religion inspired Cole Allen’s violence
During the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last Saturday, Cole Allen breached a Secret Service checkpoint and fired shots at agents in an attempt to assassinate the president of the United States and other high-ranking officials. About 10 minutes prior, from…
With Adam Hamilton eyeing Senate race, Kansas GOP suddenly cares about church-state separation
Kansas Republicans suddenly care about separation of church and state now that Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton is weighing a U.S. Senate bid. The state GOP has a long track record of supporting the MAGA version of religious liberty that seeks…
Nazi ideals reimagined as ‘remigration’ politics
The journey of the word “remigration” from secretive meetings of Europe’s fascist fringe to President Donald Trump’s social media posts reflects the growing influence of white nationalist Martin Sellner on the administration’s immigration policy. Sellner, a native Austrian and rising…
Remaking the UMC brings ‘aura of hope’
When The United Methodist Church was formed in 1968, eminent theologian Albert C. Outler preached an opening sermon in which he extolled “an aura of hope” for the new denomination despite its challenges. Facing new challenges today, United Methodist leaders…