AUSTIN—A bespectacled teenaged wizard with a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead may not fit most people’s picture of Christ, but Christian pop culture observer Greg Garrett definitely sees the similarities. “Harry Potter is one of the most clearly identifiable examples…
Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood unimpressed by new NIV
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — A group that criticized the New International Version Bible translation for introducing a gender-inclusive edition in 2005 says it isn't satisfied by revisions in the latest edition recently available online. The Council for Biblical Manhood and…
Texas Baptist executive is considering move to pastorate after three years
DALLAS — Randel Everett, the former Virginia Baptist pastor and seminary president who has served as Texas Baptists' executive director for almost three years, announced Nov. 21 he will preach at First Baptist Church in Midland, Texas, Dec. 5 "in view…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: What did America’s founders have in mind?
I've been reading and listening to comments on the Religious Liberty Committee's resolution adopted by the Baptist General Association of Virginia [insert] with great interest. I’ve seen evidence for the different sides of the debates, but I have to admit…
Arab Christian: Bad eschatology harms U.S. Christians
KELLER, Texas (ABP) — Theology that equates the modern state of Israel with the Israel of biblical prophecy has caused some evangelical Christians to let eschatology trump ethics when it comes to the Middle East, a Palestinian-American Christian told a…
Israeli leaders find common cause with American evangelicals
JERUSALEM (RNS) — When Texas megachurch pastor John Hagee wrapped up a visit to Israel on Nov. 15 with 40 pastors in tow, he sought out the places where Jesus walked, preached and prayed some 2,000 years ago. But there…
U.S. opposes U.N. ban on defamation of religion, says secretary of state
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The United States continues to oppose a proposed ban on defamation of religion currently before the United Nations, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Nov. 17. "Now, some people propose that to protect religious freedom, we must…
Obama sidesteps some controversies over U.S. faith-based program
WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Obama issued a long-awaited executive order Nov. 17 altering the government’s faith-based efforts, to generally positive reviews from those across the ideological spectrum on church-state issues. But some religious-liberty advocates expressed disappointment that the order avoided…
Judge refuses to block Tennessee mosque and Islamic center
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (ABP) — A judge ruled Nov. 17 that Muslims can move forward with plans to build a new mosque and Islamic center in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Chancellor Robert Corlew III heard a total of eight days of testimony spread…