By David Gushee As a scholar, I have long recognized the Holocaust for the grotesque and epochal evil that it was. Before I went to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories this summer, however, I had little idea how much…
Is your church making you healthy or sick?
By Bill Wilson In talking with the doctors and nurses during his procedure, I learned that one dose of immunoglobulin is derived from the donated blood of more than 1,000 blood donors. This collection of antibodies from the donated blood…
Rural ministry, the land of the forgotten
By Dwight Duhon Next Sunday morning the sun will rise; the smell of coffee, toast and bacon will fill the kitchens of many. And some 56 million Americans will get ready to attend one of 300,000 churches dotting the landscape…
Harry Potter holds lesson on facing fear
By Amy Butler I finally went to see a Harry Potter movie. I liked the books, just like everyone else, but may be a function of my age that I just can’t keep the story straight. Or maybe it’s the…
Living through grief online
By Natalie Aho Theories, both good and bad, abound about what this online community means for our society. I chart through these waters as a representative of churches and organizations like ABP. Recently, I learned how this online life enriches…
Religion should build up, not destroy
By Zachary Bailes No words, no labels and no blame can provide solace for the lives lost and families tragically affected by the bombing and shooting in Norway. For Norway there remain only prayers to be sent up and hopes…
Forgiving a murderer
By Jim Denison Mark Stroman watched 208 people walk past him to be executed. On July 20 his turn came when he was put to death by lethal injection. What makes his case unique is the fact that a man…
‘Master Plan’ more bad news for urban poor
By Angela Fields Attention! There is an open house for new luxury downtown loft apartments in Atlanta. The lofts are specially designed to provide a magnificent living space. Apartments are equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto large balconies offering…
Continued reflection on a Baptist future
By Bill Leonard The quest for Baptist identity continues. The American Baptist Churches USA augmented their biennial gathering with a theological conference on the theme: “Memory, Identity and Hope: Intersections in American Baptist Ecclesiology.” In response to issues raised by…
Lottie Moon, a missionary in history and legend
By Regina Sullivan “It is a small thing to be judged of a man’s judgment. It is good to know that we are judged by God.” As I began my graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel…
A letter to fellow Baptist Michele Bachmann
By Zachary Bailes Dear Michele Bachmann: Seriously? You left the Lutherans and now want to be Baptist? Calling yourself “Baptist” doesn’t equate to much – there are as many definitions as there are Republican presidential candidates. I’m not sure you’re…
Seeing America from across the seas
By David Gushee This is my first column in two months. My absence stems from many weeks on the road. I am still processing these experiences. With my daughter Marie, I spent two weeks in Cape Town, South Africa, helping…