Nearly 200 years after religious zeal prompted a young convert named Joseph Smith to found a movement called the Latter-day Saints, the once-despised minority “cult” increasingly is going mainstream. With a Mormon running for president, a hit Broadway musical titled…
WINN RECOMMENDS
Ecclesiastes, Peter Enns (Eerdmans) Enns has proven to be a provocative and thoughtful theologian, particularly from within Evangelical circles. In this new commentary on Ecclesiastes, Enns seeks to pay careful attention both to the exegetical arguments of the text and…
OPINION: Hidden gems
A friend told me about a phenomenon called “Hidden Gems,” an online community for people who regularly watch “Dancing with the Stars.” Every week as people tune in to watch the show they are entertained not only by the dancing…
Will candidates’ Mormon faith repel or attract voters?
WASHINGTON (RNS)—As the first Mormon selected by a major political party as its presidential candidate, will Mitt Romney’s barrier-breaking faith be a boon or bane to his White House campaign? Two studies on the question come to contradictory conclusions. In…
For Mormons, missions are like a ‘refiner’s fire’
WASHINGTON (RNS)—At age 19, Mitt Romney was a typical college student, schmoozing about politics, pulling pranks and sneaking away to see his girlfriend. Then he went on a 30-month Mormon mission in France. He returned to the United States in…
HeraldBeat: Tracking Baptists across the Mid-Atlantic
Transitions ON THE MOVE Matt Cook, to First Baptist Church, Wilmington, N.C., as pastor. Michael Khol, to Mulberry Grove Baptist Church, Buckingham, Va., as pastor. Ron Cava, to First Baptist Church, Henderson, N.C., as pastor, effective Sept. 9. Tom Doubt,…
Will candidates’ Mormon faith repel or attract voters?
WASHINGTON (RNS)—As the first Mormon selected by a major political party as its presidential candidate, will Mitt Romney’s barrier-breaking faith be a boon or bane to his White House campaign? Two studies on the question come to contradictory conclusions. In…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Blessed are the church leaders who make peace in their own congregations: Part 3
Church leaders have a responsibility not only to effectively manage conflict when it arises, but to promote peace and good congregational health. Stated one way, church leaders seek to prevent conflict. Stated more positively and forcefully, however, church leaders need…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Churchgoers believe in sharing faith, but most never do
When it comes to discipleship, churchgoers struggle most with sharing Christ with non-Christians, according to a recent study of church-going American Protestants by LifeWay Research, a unit of LifeWay Resources of the SBC. The study found 80 percent of those…
TRENDING: The future of creativity, part 3: Plussing
Jonah Lehrer’s book, Imagine: How Creativity Works, is a “popular science” approach to how we foster imaginative environments for complicated problem-solving. One, use groups—you need the friction of a variety of perspectives. But two, don’t brainstorm with a goofy, positive, “every-idea-is-great”…
Challenge to clergy tax break clears hurdle
By Bob Allen A Wisconsin judge has given a green light to a lawsuit challenging a federal law that exempts clergy from paying income taxes on the fair rental value of their homes. U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled Aug….
The Mormon moment
By Bob Allen Nearly 200 years after religious zeal prompted a young convert named Joseph Smith to found a movement called the Latter-day Saints, the once-despised minority “cult” increasingly is going mainstream. With a Mormon running for president, a hit…