With the Winter Olympics just ended, we have been reminded of the dangers of performative patriotism that cannot tolerate contradiction. When we demand those who wear the flag speak only in praise, we are not preserving the apolitical nature of…
As nationwide COVID vaccination rates increase, a few are still seeking religious exemptions, often with difficulty
Two weeks ago, as the St. Louis County Council was about to pass an ordinance requiring all employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, one resident stood up and told wary city employees how to avoid the mandate: “If you don’t…
A tale of two churches: one closes, one thrives and both live on
Shortly before it ceased being a congregation in June, First Baptist Church of Santa Ana, California worshiped at nearby Second Baptist Church. The nostalgia and irony were evident for the two congregations because it was the historically white First Baptist that helped birth historically black Second Baptist nearly 100 years ago.
Rob Bell: podcaster, bestselling author, performer and, yes, pastor
Conjure up an image of a former mega-church pastor and you will almost certainly not envision Rob Bell.