Baptist News Global

What is Shariah and why do states like North Carolina want to ban it? A guide to the complex concept

(RNS) — North Carolina lawmakers approved a bill July 24 to prohibit judges from considering “foreign laws” in their decisions, but nearly everyone agrees that “foreign laws” really means Shariah, or Islamic law. North Carolina now joins six other states…

Removal of song from a hymnal because of reference to an atonement theory is drawing the ire of some

(ABP) — The wrath of God has become a point of contention since news broke that a new Presbyterian hymnal passed on the popular title In Christ Alone for theological reasons. “Why do many Christians shrink from any thought of…

Reza Aslan defends controversial new book on Jesus

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — For the third time, Jesus is about to change Reza Aslan’s life. As a teenager, Aslan turned to Jesus in an evangelical youth group, where becoming a Christian made him feel like a real American. He…

Aging pushes some churches to fiscal brink, others to find creative solutions

(ABP) — Survival is a question thousands of American churches confront each year. Estimates of annual church closures range from 3,500 to 7,000. That’s likely to increase as younger generations, including the rise of the “nones,” increasingly avoid organized religion….

Baptist groups hosting pistol classes to support ‘biblical principles’

(ABP) — A Southern Baptist camp in Illinois plans to host a National Rifle Association pistol course intended to help participants qualify for permits under the state’s newly passed concealed-carry law. The eight-hour course is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 7,…

ERLC defends sectarian public prayer in legal brief filed with Supreme Court

(ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court Aug. 2 defending prayers offered in Jesus’ name at government meetings. The first legal brief filed since Russell Moore took…

Baptist ethicist signs sex abuse petition

(ABP) — Ben Mitchell, Graves Professor of Moral Philosophy at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., added his signature to “A Public Statement Concerning Sexual Abuse in the Church of Jesus Christ” posted July 17 by Godly Response to Abuse in the…

Practical joke backfires at Baptist camp in Maryland as five are sent to hospital

JERRETTSVILLE, Md. (ABP) — Five people were taken to a hospital and multiple medical units were dispatched to a Maryland Baptist campground in a hazardous materials incident that resulted from a prank. The July 23 incident at Camp Wo-Me-To near…

Baptist Joint Committee names recent graduate as education, outreach specialist

(ABP) — Recent McAfee School of Theology graduate Charles Watson Jr. has been named education and outreach specialist for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. A native of Millen, Ga., Watson previously worked as children’s director at Buckhead Baptist…

Muslims hope Gov. McCrory will veto bill prohibiting state’s judges from considering ‘foreign law’

(RNS) — North Carolina Muslims hope they can persuade Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, to veto a bill that prohibits state judges from considering “foreign law.” “It’s going to be tough,” said Rose Hamid of Charlotte. “But I do believe…

Concert at Campbell University Divinity School’s OASIS event draws largest crowd in conference’s his

BUIES CREEK, N.C. — “Who says worship can’t be fun?” Jim Davidson asked with a smile and a wink, talking about his experience at last month’s Carnegie at the Creek concert at Butler Chapel. “You have this wonderful time of…

N.C. music minister wins worldwide song contest

The minister of worship at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville, N.C., is London-bound after winning a worldwide worship music contest. Giles Blankenship On Aug. 6 Integrity Music Europe named Giles Blankenship’s You Are There winner of its 2013 “Search…

Supreme Court slides into partisanship

Before the fireworks, be careful what you drink

The contemptible case of Clarence Thomas

The permanent paradoxes of Christian thinking about war