Why coercive religious politics undermine Christianity and democracy

INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) — Southern Baptist Convention messengers voted overwhelmingly June 15 to end the denomination's 99-year relationship with the Baptist World Alliance. The action during the SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis follows several years of tension between the two organizations….

INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) — In an eventful first day of their annual meeting, Southern Baptists heard a rousing speech from President George W. Bush, broke ties with the Baptist World Alliance, and elected a new convention president June 15. During the…

INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) — Paige Patterson's assessment of the American Baptist Churches USA's stand on homosexuality is “completely outrageous,” declared ABC General Secretary Roy Medley. Patterson, a member of the Southern Baptist Convention's Baptist World Alliance study committee, cited BWA's affiliation…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — A House committee has scuttled a provision in a trade bill that would have allowed churches to engage in partisan politics. On June 14, the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously removed an addendum to the “American…

McALESTER, Okla. (ABP) — A jailhouse conversion to Christianity may be what saved Terry Nichols from the death penalty during a state trial for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombings, according to both the prosecution and defense lawyers. Nichols faced 161…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Fifty years to the day after the words “under God” were added to the Pledge of Allegiance, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to remove them — but only on technical grounds. On June 14, the…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Fifty years to the day after the words “under God” were added to the Pledge of Allegiance, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to remove them — but only on technical grounds. On June 14, the…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Gene Mims, a key vice president at the Southern Baptist Convention's publishing house for 12 years, said June 10 he is leaving to return to the pastorate. Mims, 54, vice president of church resources at LifeWay…

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (ABP) — High-priced malpractice insurance, which is prompting many physicians across the country to reduce their practices or leave the field, is also limiting health care for patients who use free and Christian-operated clinics. In Kentucky, a free…

WASHINGTON (ABP) — Despite the sudden national attention directed to stem-cell research following the death of former President Ronald Reagan, researchers say Alzheimer's disease may not be a candidate for stem-cell treatment. “I think the chance of doing repairs to…

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., (ABP) — The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower-court ruling Monday that it is unconstitutional for a Tennessee school district to allow devotional Bible education in the classroom. Sue Porter, superintendent for the Rhea County…

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is updated from the version released June 8. WASHINGTON (ABP) — Former judge Roy Moore and church-state expert Brent Walker squared off in a lively debate about religious expression and the First Amendment June 8 during…