TORONTO (RNS) — Religion may provide a “buffer” allowing the devout to feel less anxiety when they make mistakes, compared with nonbelievers, according to new scientific research. Researchers at the University of Toronto measured “error-related negativity” — people’s defensive response…
Ruckersville, Va., church burned, police charge two teens with arson
RUCKERSVILLE, Va. — For more than a century, the sanctuary of Ruckersville Baptist Church, about 20 miles north of Charlottesville, Va., stood as a mute but elegant witness to the presence of Christ. But in the very early hours of…
RIGHT OR WRONG? Liability
Following a recent service at our church, a visitor tripped over a curb. She maintained to people around her that she was all right but then asked for an ambulance to carry her two and a half blocks to the…
Religious groups push action on prison rape
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Six months before her scheduled release, Marilyn Shirley was raped in 2000 by a guard at the Texas prison where she was serving time for drug charges. “I am still haunted by the words he whispered in…
Religious leaders say questioning Obama’s faith is out of bounds
WASHINGTON (ABP) — More than 70 Christian leaders signed a letter Aug. 25 calling on "public officials, faith leaders, and the media to offer no further support or airtime to those who misrepresent and call into question" whether or not…
Seminary president says evolution ‘incompatible’ with Christian faith
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — A Southern Baptist seminary president says evolution and Christianity are not compatible. "The theory of evolution is incompatible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ even as it is in direct conflict with any faithful reading of…
OPINION: Judging a book by its cover — or a worshiper by his cell phone
Throughout the worship service, the man fiddled with his cell phone. I tried not to stare at him, but as his activity became increasingly obvious, his insensitivity became increasingly annoying. Others noticed as well. While the congregation followed Scripture readings…
World’s Baptists continue to give money for flood relief in Pakistan
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Baptist groups in North America and Europe are donating money to assist flood victims in Pakistan. Baptist World Aid, the relief-and-development arm of the Baptist World Alliance, granted an initial $10,000 to meet medical, food and shelter…
Poll: Confusion about Obama’s faith, opposition to church politicking
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A new poll released by the Pew Research Center Aug. 19 shows a sharp uptick in the percentage of Americans who are confused about President Obama’s faith. It also shows that a slight majority of Americans don’t…
Baptist executives endorse federal recognition of Virginia tribes
RICHMOND, Va. – The top executives of two Virginia Baptist groups have joined other religious leaders in calling for federal recognition of six Native American tribes in the state. In an open letter released Aug. 17, about 30 Christian, Jewish…
Controversial theologian, seminary professor Clark Pinnock dies
HAMILTON, Ontario (ABP) — Clark Pinnock, an influential theologian whose spiritual pilgrimage led from a fiery fundamentalism as a young professor to an openness that caused some to brand him a heretic, died Aug. 15 of a heart attack. Pinnock,…
Judge throws out Missouri funeral protest law aimed at extremist church
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (ABP) — A federal judge ruled Aug. 16 that a Missouri law banning protests at or near funerals is unconstitutional. In 2006 Missouri passed a law prohibiting picketers within 300 feet of a memorial service. It was…