Zombie dramas are known for being full of blood and guts, horror and death — lots and lots of death. But is it possible they also offer lessons in ethics and spiritual formation? Greg Garrett, a Baylor University professor, author and…
Youth studying theology? Lilly Endowment-funded programs hope to pull it off
Getting high school students interested in theology sounds like a pretty tall order. In the age of “nones” and “dones” and continuing declines in religious adherence, younger generations have been identified with a less-is-more attitude toward faith. But that assumption…
Reward not guaranteed by religious devotion, but study suggests they are connected
Feelings of religious devotion evoked by prayer, scripture reading and other spiritual practices may be connected directly to parts of the brain that process feelings of reward, according to a new study. The authors suggest the possibility of “a mechanism…
Faith, religious commitment may inspire workplace success
Catholics are more emotionally committed to their workplaces than are evangelicals, and people with strong attachments to God, regardless of their faith group, are more committed to their jobs when they work for smaller companies. Those and other findings about…
Hoping for cessation of ‘war on Christmas’ rhetoric? Don’t, historians say
Another season of the so-called “war on Christmas,” especially in the wake of Donald Trump’s election, may be just enough to drive some people over the edge. And all indications are it isn’t going to go away. “There is no…
To help someone grieving at the holidays, avoid platitudes, experts say
The holidays are especially hard on those mourning the loss of loved ones and friends. And that suffering is often made worse by well-meaning-but-nervous friends who don’t know what to say — or not say — to those who are grieving. “A…
Time to re-friend social media adversaries, expert says
It’s time to re-friend and unblock those people you unfriended and blocked before and after the election, Mia Moody-Ramirez says. And if you deactivated your Facebook, Twitter or other social media accounts because the anger and fear were boiling over,…
One-woman fundraising machine amazes friends and Baylor community
Nov. 29 was Giving Tuesday, when nonprofits, ministries and other groups who thrive on goodwill press the public and their benefactors for much-needed donations. Next time around they may want to consider getting Allison Dickson’s help to boost contributions. The…
Don’t blame Trump for your bad behavior
Kids don’t show up at school and suddenly say racist things to their classmates because of who won a presidential election; most often they repeat what they’ve heard at home. College students don’t suddenly start yelling racial epithets on a…
On social media, laments and hope following Donald Trump election
God surely got an earful Wednesday from Americans emotional about the results of the 2016 presidential election. But God wasn’t alone. Social media heard plenty, too. First thing in the morning, Americans began posting about hopes dashed, dreams fulfilled and…
Former Baylor president says his ouster wasn’t sudden
Former Baylor University President Ken Starr says in a forthcoming book that he was already on the way out when he was fired abruptly in May. He was let go amid a sexual assault scandal that prompted a federal investigation…
Baylor student continually relives Paris attacks — even in Waco
Baylor University senior Olivia Gambelin is a passionate advocate for international travel and study abroad. She highly recommends it after spending last fall studying in Rome. “A great way to open your mind to other world views is to travel,”…
Latino funerals often foster Baptist and Catholic cooperation
Sermons in the United States are said to be getting shorter and shorter. Maybe. But that’s not the case for pastors officiating funerals for Latino Christians. “Oh yes, the preaching can last an hour,” said Ruben Ortiz, pastor of Primera Iglesia…
Great pilgrimages of the world converge on university campus
Each year, more than 330 million people around the world journey to sacred places to perform acts of devotion, express faith or seek enlightenment or healing. From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, visitors to Baylor University’s Mayborn Museum Complex in…