Many evangelical Christian leaders, both progressive and conservative, express profound, faith-based opposition to Donald Trump. But the reasons for our opposition mainly differ. This difference is often lost on outside observers.
What if we actually applied the Bible to our politics?
What if the lens we viewed politics through was the Bible? No, really! Seriously. For me, it might go something like this: The way of Christ compels me to love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. The…
The American Way(s) of Life
In his 1955 best-seller, Protestant, Catholic, Jew, sociologist Will Herberg wrote that “it is the American Way of Life that supplies American society with an ‘overarching sense of unity’ amid conflict.” Sixty-one years later, amid divisive ideologies of presidential politics,…
Four spiritual essentials for surviving this election season
I can’t fall asleep with the TV on if political commentators and campaign surrogates are debating the implications of the latest speech, poll, tweet or primary result. It gives me nightmares. I could point to a particular candidate getting under…
Can America’s largest Protestant denomination stop Trump?
The Southern Baptist Convention takes on the GOP front-runner — and itself.
Faith leaders denounce Trump’s ‘call to bigotry’
Fifty-five faith leaders invoked the memory of martyred Hitler opponent Dietrich Bonhoeffer in a proclamation April 28 denouncing presidential candidate Donald Trump. “Donald Trump directly promotes racial and religious bigotry, disrespects the dignity of women, harms civil public discourse, offends…
Former SBC leader claims 2016 election most important since the Civil War
The former head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commissions says the possibility of a lesser-of-two-evils choice in this year’s presidential election cannot deter conservative evangelicals from going to the polls. “The 2016 election year is well…
When religion turns hateful, it loses its moral voice
In this craziest of presidential primary seasons, I have not mentioned the Republican candidate with the “best plumage,” the colorful description offered by Marilynne Robinson. I have found his words so offensive, his narcissism so egregious, and his attitude toward…
Why Ted Cruz should see ‘Spotlight’
I can’t imagine why a presidential candidate would want to seek guidance from someone who has demonstrated such a wrong-headed attitude toward a support group for child rape victims.
The unseen side of Bernie Sanders’s young voter revolution
The appeal of Bernie Sanders’s policy to young liberals is well-known. The appeal of his ‘spiritual’ outlook is less discussed, but potent.
Is Trump a moderate or a maniac? Divinity school professor isn’t sure
Last fall, Wake Forest School of Divinity scholar John Senior celebrated the release of his first book, which examines the moral complexities that shape how politicians govern. The book also proposes that those who govern should view their positions as…
Springsteen and Lent, part 3: Fear and love
I was reminded a few months ago when I visited Ginter Park Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., of the numerous scriptures in which the phrase “Fear not” appears. Some counts suggest that phrase and similar phrases appear 365 times — one…