It’s been nearly forty years but once upon a time, I was called by a congregation to serve as its associate minister, with a focus on helping to develop their young adult ministry. I was twenty-eight at the time and…
New book explores research on how to flourish after being ‘done’ with religion
Americans are leaving organized religion in staggering numbers. In the newly released book “Done: How to Flourish After Leaving Religion,” Hope College psychology professor Daryl Van Tongeren offers ways to navigate the “grief, loss, pain, and longing” that often accompany such…
‘I’m An Evangelical, But I Rarely Go to Church’
In the last couple of months, I have been doing several speaking engagements around the country. I talk about some of my previous work in The Nones, but also some of the analysis that I have been putting together for…
This is No Ordinary Anti-Blackness — The Racist History of the Pet-Eating Conspiracy
By now readers are likely familiar with the claim that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are eating peoples’ pets. It goes without saying that these claims are, as the Springfield City Manager put it, “baseless.” A week after vice presidential…
There’s Always Been ‘Extra Stuff’ in the Bible
Every Bible includes some non-Bible parts. There are chapter and verse breaks, maps in the back, and dedication pages at the beginning. No one thinks those things are divinely inspired. But they’re in there.
Pope Francis suggests Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon are disproportionate and immoral
Pope Francis suggested Sunday that Israel’s attacks in Gaza and Lebanon have been “immoral” and disproportionate, saying its military domination has gone beyond the rules of war.
It’s a ‘very difficult time’ for U.S. Jews as High Holy Days and Oct. 7 anniversary coincide
Known as “The Days of Awe,” Judaism’s High Holy Days — which begin on Wednesday — annually provide an emotional mix of celebration, introspection and atonement for Jews around the world.
Voters without kids are in the political spotlight – but they’re not all the same
In the 2024 election cycle, voters without children are under the microscope.
The Overwhelming Whiteness and Increasing Maleness of U.S. Churches isn’t an Accident — It’s a Selling Point
In a recent front-page article, New York Times religion reporter Ruth Graham explores a historic gendered shift in church attendance. As the data show: survey after survey reveals a marked increase in young men’s church attendance, while young women’s church attendance continues to…