LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — In his 2006 best-selling nonfiction book, The God Delusion, British biologist Richard Dawkins said he is hostile toward religion because of what it did to Kurt Wise. Wise, a Harvard graduate who studied under paleontologist Stephen…
Prayer mats and yarmulkes in workplace
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Com-plaints of religious discrimination in the workplace are on the rise, but civil rights advocates say that may not be such a bad thing. That's because a likely reason for a steady rise in reported incidents has…
Evolution Sunday says dichotomy between faith and science is false
INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) — While many Christians view evolution as a threat to religion, a growing number of churches view Charles Darwin's 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of his seminal work The Origin of Species as something to celebrate. More…
FAITH DIGEST
Church closes for a month to save money. Many Americans are giving up something in this dire economy. But Sharon Dawson will go without something unusual: her church. To save money, First Unitarian Church in Portland, Ore., has decided to…
Columbia Church challenges members to ‘Spend Yourself’
Although many pastors would be content if their churches met in three different congregations with 14 separate services using seven different languages, Jim Baucom, pastor of Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, challenged the church leaders to “take it to…
Obama rearranges faith-based office, vows to maintain church-state wall
WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Obama announced a revamped version of his predecessor's office on faith-based charities Feb. 5, restructuring it with a broad advisory council and vowing to pay close attention to church-state concerns. “The goal of this office will…
FIRST PERSON: The price of coffee
FALLS CHURCH — “$2.19,” the cashier says after I place my order for a small iced coffee. I'm tempted to order an iced latte instead, but that would bump up the price by a dollar. I choose to stick with…
Senate rejects aid for religious buildings
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The U.S. Senate defeated 54-43 an amendment to the economic stimulus bill Feb. 5 that would have allowed federal funding for renovations at college buildings that are used for religious activity. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., proposed the…
Kay Warren: Following Christ means being ‘seriously disturbed’
WACO, Texas—Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ means being willing to say “yes” unconditionally to God, knowing he likely will lead his followers into uncomfortable places, Kay Warren told a group at Baptist-affiliated Baylor University. For Warren, it meant becoming…
Wayland senior defines future, call with semester in Africa
PLAINVIEW – Jessica Riemersma has believed since she was a young girl that she would one day visit Africa. She just didn’t know exactly when that would be. So, when Wayland Baptist University afforded her the opportunity to spend a…
It takes a village to renew community and build healthy society
WACO—On a corner lot in Shreveport, La., where dealers once sold drugs, flowers bloom and vegetables grow in a community garden. More significantly, a sense of community has blossomed in the Allendale neighborhood after neighbors recaptured an ancient idea—the village….
Assyrian Christians appeal to White House for autonomy in Iraq
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A Middle Eastern ethnic umbrella organization has written President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden asking them to push for an autonomous region for Assyrian Christians in Iraq. The Assyrian Universal Alliance released letters Feb. 10 appealing to…