The Hamas problem This is a terrorist organization. The tragedy of Oct. 7 with 1,200 murders of mostly women, children and innocent Israeli civilians, the atrocities committed, the ongoing terror of the remaining hostages along with continued rocket attacks make…
On the SBC, Alliance and CBF and lost causes
The histories we tell ourselves about our churches and denominations are important. They shape organizational identities and give greater meaning to the work churches and denominations conduct in the wider world. When those histories become deeply engrained, they can morph…
How do you put faith on display in a museum? Britain’s Faith Museum gives it a go
Spanning more than 6,000 years, from Neolithic stone circles to the early Christianity of Roman soldiers, from Medieval monasteries to Baptist beginnings, from Darwinism to the influx of immigrants from across the Commonwealth, the history of faith in the United…
‘The Prayers of Both Could Not Be Answered’: The history of slavery at Wake Forest University and the Baptist church
On Oct. 23, faculty at Wake Forest University gathered to offer a film screening and panel discussion hosted by the institution’s Slavery, Race and Memory Project, an academic committee dedicated to the “examination of the history of slavery and its…
‘Genesis stories are never accidental’: A conversation with Robert P. Jones
Last week, I welcomed Robert P. Jones back to Baylor University for a conversation about race, religion, James Baldwin and American democracy. Jones was a keynote speaker for our first Baylor conference on racism in the church in 2021, and…
Black Gospel Music Preservation Program: Securing the legacy of Black Gospel music
Note: This is the first in a five-part series on the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program made possible by generous funding from the Prichard Family Foundation. Already the largest resource of its type in the world, the Black Gospel…
BWIM’s 40th anniversary gathering features new documentary
Midwives of a Movement, a documentary that tells the story of the founding of Baptist Women in Ministry and the early years of the organization, premiered Oct. 2 at the organization’s 40th anniversary annual gathering in Louisville, Ky. Produced by…
In the midst of history-engendered pessimism, don’t forget the hope
History books are full of horror stories. As we look back with perspective, we read embarrassing tales of incompetent and foolish people, fearful and gullible nations, evil and egocentric leaders, entire eras that seem to have been characterized by ignorance, avarice, selfishness, myopia and bigotry. We can…
Christianity after Christendom
In 1850, there were about 700,000 Baptists in the United States, evenly divided between North and South. As the nation expanded and grew, Baptists advanced in membership and social standing. As they expanded, they divided into divergent denominational groups, and…