WASHINGTON (RNS)—Science and faith often may clash, but a new survey suggests most American doctors believe religion and spirituality can help patients. Published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the survey found 90 percent of physicians are satisfied with spiritual…
Another Great Awakening?
Some observers of religion assert a socially transforming spiritual movement is sweeping the globe, resulting in 82,000 conversions to Christianity a day. But only 6,000 of them are in Europe and North America. "I believe we are in the midst…
Biblical principles should guide Christian involvement in social change
Evangelical progressive activist Jim Wallis believes the United States is ripe for another socially transforming spiritual awakening. But as Christians become energized to change the world, they need to avoid the temptation to politicize the gospel, he warns. No caption…
FAITH DIGEST
Lutherans ask Anabaptists’ forgiveness. Lutheran World Federation leaders plan to apologize for their ancestors’ 16th-century persecution of Anabaptists, religious reformers whose direct successors include Mennonites and the Amish and who influenced Baptists. The apology unanimously adopted by the federation council…
Some Christians unplug from social networking
WASHINGTON (RNS)—In the world of faith-based social networking, evangelical Christian leader Mark Oestreicher commanded a huge chunk of cyberspace. Known as “Marko,” the technological hipster amassed 4,000 Facebook friends, 1,500 Twitter followers and 2,000 daily readers of his blog. But…
RIGHT or WRONG?
Younger generations in our church don’t seem to connect with stories of Baptist heroes who dealt with the moral crises of their day. So, how can we communicate the values upon which our forebears stood? My education, training and experience…
ABP offers new, revamped e-mail products and content via Facebook, Twitter feeds
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Associated Baptist Press, the nation’s first and only independent news service created by and for Baptists, is set to offer content through several new formats, its leaders announced Nov. 5. The organization — based in Jacksonville,…
Russian Baptists alarmed by proposed changes to religion law
MOSCOW (ABP) — Russian Baptist leaders have raised concerns about proposed revisions to the nation's religion law — changes they contend would greatly curtail religious freedom in Russia. Yuri Sipko Yuri Sipko, president of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists…
Analysis: Off-year elections produce mixed bag for religious conservatives
WASHINGTON (ABP) — While results of the Nov. 3 off-year state elections suggest that reports of the Religious Right’s demise are greatly exaggerated, the movement’s influence on election outcomes throughout the country was rather mixed. Religious Right-backed candidates won Virginia’s…
Russian Baptists alarmed by proposed changes to religion law
MOSCOW (ABP) — Russian Baptist leaders have raised concerns about proposed revisions to the nation's religion law — changes they contend would greatly curtail religious freedom in Russia. Yuri Sipko, president of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists wrote Russian…
BMS World Mission writes prime minister about global warming
DIDCOT, England (ABP) — The urgent need for action on global climate change has caused a 217-year-old British Baptist missionary-sending organization to write what its leaders believe to be the group's first-ever open letter to a prime minister. BMS World…
Christians called to theology of creation care
MACON, Ga. (ABP) — American Christians must move beyond a theology of “me” to a theology of “we” in order to play a meaningful role in creation care, according to speakers at a two-day conference recently held Oct. 29-31 on…