Jonah Lehrer’s book, Imagine: How Creativity Works, is a “popular science” approach to how we foster imaginative environments for complicated problem-solving. One, use groups—you need the friction of a variety of perspectives. But two, don’t brainstorm with a goofy, positive, “every-idea-is-great”…
HERITAGE: Life goes on
Life goes on at Careby Hall, the old house built by William E. Hatcher “upon the brow of a noble hill” overlooking the village of Fork Union, Va., about 35 miles west of Richmond. It was Hatcher’s summer home, which…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Blessed are the church leaders who make peace in their own congregations: Part 4
In three previous articles, we examined characteristics of Jesus that made him ideally suited to make peace and sought in the life of the early church examples of dealing with conflict. In this final article in the series, we will…
OUT LOUD
“I’ve never seen more irresponsible personal attacks, mean-spirited slander and flat-out dishonest attack ads, and I don’t expect that tone to change before the election.” Rick Warren The megachurch pastor was explaining to the Orange County Register why he canceled…
Mormons’ relationship with America: It’s complicated
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS)—When it comes to flag-waving, some Mormons may outdo their neighbors to express their outsized patriotism. Love of America, they believe, stretches beyond appreciation and gratitude. It is theological, prescribed in holy writ. When it comes to…
HeraldBeat: Tracking Baptists across the Mid-Atlantic
Transitions ON THE MOVE Matt Cook, to First Baptist Church, Wilmington, N.C., as pastor. Michael Khol, to Mulberry Grove Baptist Church, Buckingham, Va., as pastor. Ron Cava, to First Baptist Church, Henderson, N.C., as pastor, effective Sept. 9. Tom Doubt,…
Mormonism: Mainstream values, unorthodox theology
Nearly 200 years after religious zeal prompted a young convert named Joseph Smith to found a movement called the Latter-day Saints, the once-despised minority “cult” increasingly is going mainstream. With a Mormon running for president, a hit Broadway musical titled…
WINN RECOMMENDS
Ecclesiastes, Peter Enns (Eerdmans) Enns has proven to be a provocative and thoughtful theologian, particularly from within Evangelical circles. In this new commentary on Ecclesiastes, Enns seeks to pay careful attention both to the exegetical arguments of the text and…
OPINION: Hidden gems
A friend told me about a phenomenon called “Hidden Gems,” an online community for people who regularly watch “Dancing with the Stars.” Every week as people tune in to watch the show they are entertained not only by the dancing…
Will candidates’ Mormon faith repel or attract voters?
WASHINGTON (RNS)—As the first Mormon selected by a major political party as its presidential candidate, will Mitt Romney’s barrier-breaking faith be a boon or bane to his White House campaign? Two studies on the question come to contradictory conclusions. In…
For Mormons, missions are like a ‘refiner’s fire’
WASHINGTON (RNS)—At age 19, Mitt Romney was a typical college student, schmoozing about politics, pulling pranks and sneaking away to see his girlfriend. Then he went on a 30-month Mormon mission in France. He returned to the United States in…
UPDATED EDITORIAL: Just another campaign?
Two paragraphs in Jim White's editorial, "Just another campaign," have been clarified. To read the updated material, which is italized, go here.