Years attending and later working at Christian summer camps left Cara Meredith feeling somewhat ambivalent about letting her own children experience what is essentially an evangelical rite of passage. So perplexing was the question that it helped inspire her new…
This week on BNG podcasts
After a several-months break, Benjamin Cole and Mark Wingfield are back with a new episode of “Stuck in the Middle with You.” This week’s new episode is one of two recorded in anticipation of the June Southern Baptist Convention annual…
Here’s the back story on the 26 people Trump named to Religious Liberty Commission advisory boards
A Southern Baptist megachurch pastor and a controversial Baylor University professor are among 26 people named by President Donald Trump to serve on three advisory boards of his Religious Liberty Commission. Two weeks ago, Trump named members of the main…
PRRI: Growth of the religiously unaffiliated is slowing
The growth of the “nones” may have decelerated but has not stopped, according to a new study by Public Religion Research Institute. While the share of religiously unaffiliated in the U.S. has been widely reported to have plateaued, the PRRI…
For this Atlanta church, being on mission means a real estate deal
Before there were megachurches, Wieuca Road Baptist Church stood on a prestigious corner of Atlanta as one of the most prominent tall-steeple Baptist churches in the American South. Its longtime and legendary pastor Bill Self urged everyone to show up…
On 80th anniversary of VE Day, Europeans have concerns about the future
Time stood still in the UK May 8 as residents of “this scepter’d isle” paused on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day to remember the shared sacrifice of those who fought and died, those who survived wounded in…
Texas Senate committee unanimously approves ‘Trey’s Law’ after testimony
Yesterday, the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee unanimously voted for SB-835, also known as “Trey’s Law,” adopting the preferred language of witnesses in favor of the bill. The hearing included two versions of “Trey’s Law” — the Senate version focused solely on…
Trump tilts America’s media landscape to alt-news influencers
The second time around, President Donald Trump is upending established news media conventions. Representatives of right-wing outlets are called on to ask questions at White House briefings while mainstream reporters Trump has called the “enemy of the American people” are…
While denying refuge to Black Africans, Trump welcomes white South Africans
Refugee resettlement has resumed in the U.S., but only for white South Africans President Donald Trump considers to be victims of the country’s post-apartheid government. The first group of 49 Afrikaners landed at Washington Dulles International Airport May 12, The…
High-profile TheoBro confesses to creating fake social media accounts
A prominent figure among Southern Baptist Calvinists has been accused of creating fake social media accounts, email addresses and Substack platforms to attack the very people who he allegedly associated with. On May 12, the conservative ministry G3 released a…
50 NGOs protest Israel’s restrictions on aid to Palestinians
More than 50 nongovernmental organizations are protesting new Israeli regulations they contend will further degrade humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and place already endangered relief workers at even greater risk. The international NGOs issued a statement May 6 imploring the world…
ICE escalates conflict with Congress over immigration practices
Tensions are rising in New Jersey after Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested outside a federal immigration detention center and three members of Congress were threatened with criminal action after inspecting the facility. The incident occurred May 9 outside Delaney…