Preparing my son for a semester abroad, and anti-Semitism

(OPINION) France’s president said anti-Semitism is at its worst since WWII. My son will spend the next few months there, so we’re going to have the Jewish version of “the talk.”

Opinion, Analysis, North America, Religion, SocietyDave SchechterDecember 31, 2019anti-semitism in the US, Anti-Semitism, antisemitism, Alsace, France, Judaism, Jewish, Dave Schechter, college, Christianity, Judiasm, Hasidic JudaismComment

Hollywood glosses over Mister Rogers' pastorhood

(OPINION) In the new movie about the life of Fred Rogers, his spirituality shines through. The religious foundation of that spirituality is ignored.

Opinion, North America, Culture, Film & TVTerry MattinglyDecember 30, 2019Terry Mattingly, Mr. Rogers, Fred Rogers, PBS, Tom Hanks, Mister Rogers, Rev. Fred Rogers, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Tom Junod, ChristianityComment

Lottie Moon's legacy survives as Christianity in China struggles to

(OPINION) The church in China is under attack, but the famous missionary’s work there more than a century ago endures.

Opinion, AsiaTerry MattinglyDecember 27, 2019China, Religious Freedom, Religious Liberty, Wulin Shenghui Church, Terry Mattingly, Lottie Moon, Baptists, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Southern Baptist Convention, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, ChristianityComment

What will happen to churches in the U.K. after Brexit?

(OPINION) Some observers anticipate a breakup of the United Kingdom once it leaves the European Union. There are a few scenarios that could play out for the nation’s churches if that happens.

Opinion, Analysis, Religion, Society, Politics, Europe, North AmericaRichard OstlingDecember 27, 2019Brexit, Christianity, Richard Ostling, ElectionComment

The Buddhist Book You Should Read, Even If You’re Not Buddhist

(REVIEW) In the new book Welcoming the Unwelcome, 83-year-old American Tibetan Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön moves past her usual style of writing in poetry and strict spiritual guidance and instead into a vulnerable teaching about how to overcome the pain of the world by explaining how she was led to do exactly that.

Asia, Books, Religion, Culture, OpinionHadley Hitson December 27, 2019Buddhism, pema chodron, Tibetan Buddhism, buddhist nun, welcoming the unwelcome, Beyonce, Hadley Hitson, Primary Feature Comment

Peering through the year's darkness for bits of light

(OPINION) A look back over the year can remind us of those who find sparks of light in their darkest hour. They serve as beacons for the rest of us.

OpinionDave SchechterDecember 25, 2019NAMES Project, Jewish, Judaism, Rabbi Ari Sollish, Chabad, kavod, ChristianityComment

Gazan Christians can now escape to Israel's holy sites on Christmas

(OPINION) Israel ended a travel ban that now allows Gazan Christians to cross the border into Bethlehem and Jerusalem for Christmas, but the tiny (and shrinking) community continues to struggle under Hamas.

Opinion, Politics, Middle East, Analysis, TravelLela GilbertDecember 25, 2019Gaza Strip, Lela Gilbert, Israel, Gazan Christians, Muslims, Jews, Nina Shea, Hudson Institute, West Bank, Christianity, Travel, Islam, Judaism, ChristmasComment

A deep dive on euthanasia, but shallow treatment of religious arguments

(OPINION) An in-depth examination of the euthanasia case of a celebrated athlete by The New York Times neglected to grapple with religion’s role in the debate. There was plenty of opportunity to.

Opinion, Europe, North AmericaRichard OstlingDecember 23, 2019euthanasia, Marieke Vervoort, Belgium, ethics, The New York Times, Wim Distelmans, Paralympic Games, Lynsey Addario, Elizabeth Dias, mercy killing, Taylor Hyatt, Richard Ostling, Euthanasia

Trump advocates for Jews on campus, but Jewish students largely reject him

Research shows that on college campuses where Trump’s executive order to protect Jewish students from discrimination should theoretically have the greatest effect, it seems more likely to fall on highly skeptical ears.

When journalists say 'evangelicals,' who do they mean?

(OPINION) The term is used interchangeably with President Trump’s religious white voter base, but it steamrolls a varied landscape of perspectives and communities into a monolith. That’s bad journalism.

Opinion, North AmericaRichard OstlingDecember 20, 2019Richard Ostling, evangelicals, Billy Graham, Eerdmans, David Bebbington, George Mason, Mark Noll, Christianity, Donald Trump, Republican Party

An Indian pastor's response to rising violence against Muslims

Mass protests erupted in India this week condemning a law that discriminates against Muslims. Police and para-military forces have responded to several protests with violence.

Asia, Opinion, PoliticsAkshay RajkumarDecember 20, 2019India, protests in India, Jamia Millia Islamia, Modi, BJP, violence against Muslims, Muslims, violence, Islam, Akshay Rajkumar, Christianity

'VeggieTales' creator's new book makes biblical literacy accessible to kids

(OPINION) Bible stories aren’t enough to convey to children what the biblical narrative is really about. They need to be able to see their place in it, argues Phil Vischer.

Genomics: Journalists should dig into its moral quandaries

(OPINION) An experiment planned for 2020 could pave the way for scientists in the field to “play God.” We should all be paying attention, and journalists should be helping us facilitate an important conversation.

Opinion, Europe, North AmericaRichard OstlingDecember 13, 2019Genomic Prediction Company, single-nucleotide polymorphism, snip, The Economist, designer babies, genomics, gene editing, pleiotropy, CRISPR, Christianity, Richard OstlingComment

Anglican church leaders in Canada face a steep decline in members

(OPINION) The archbishop takes an optimistic view of the situation, but the numbers tell a sobering story. It’s part of an overall trend of secularization in Canada.

Opinion, North America, ReligionTerry MattinglyDecember 13, 2019Canada, Anglican Church, Anglican Church of Canada, United Church of Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, church decline, Archbishop Linda Nicholls, Anglican Journal, Anglican Network in Canada, Christians, Christianity, Terry MattinglyComment

Dwindling donations to churches due to a variety of factors

(ANALYSIS) Americans continue to be generous — but churches and some faith-based groups have suffered the most these days when it comes to donations. A drop in donations to these non-profits would also have a global impact.

Catholicism and clergy sex abuse: The legal saga continues

(OPINION) It’s been 17 years since The Boston Globe published its groundbreaking series on clergy sex abuse. Some two decades later, a political shift in state legislative bodies and fallout from the #MeToo movement have all collided to bring what many warn is a financial reckoning that could cripple the Catholic church in America.

Analysis, North America, Opinion, Politics, Religion, SocietyClemente LisiDecember 12, 2019Clemente Lisi, Roman Catholicism, Catholic Church, Christianity, clergy sex abuse, lawsuits, Vatican, Pope Francis, priests, Sexual AbuseComment

Memoir of a Missionary Kid: Being Lesslie Newbigin's Daughter

(REVIEW) A new book about Bishop Lesslie Newbigin’s family – by his feminist daughter – exposes the collateral damage of ministry and questions Christian duty to the church over one’s family.

Asia, Primary Feature, Religion, Books, Culture, OpinionDr. Jenny TaylorDecember 11, 2019Jenny Taylor, Dr. Jenny Taylor, Lesslie Newbigin, missionaries, mission work, Christian missions, Margaret Beetham, Home is Where: the Journeys of a Missionary Child, missionary kid, Primary Feature, Christianity Comments

Young people are living in a 'digital Babylon'

(OPINION) Religious leaders have been slow to catch up to the ways that technology is changing the lives of people in their communities. The consequences are evident.

Should the Catholic Church change course on celibacy and women priests?

(OPINION) By year’s end, Pope Francis is expected to make a pronouncement about some of Catholicism’s most long-debated traditions.

Opinion, Religion, South AmericaRichard OstlingDecember 10, 2019Catholic, Catholics, Pope Francis, Amazon Synod, viri probati, celibacy, Christianity, Richard Ostling, Celibacy, women priestsComment

Benedict and Francis: The truth about spirituality, soda and soccer

(OPINION) If you really want to see this movie, then definitely do your homework and read the very good reporting that went beyond the fawning reviews.

Opinion, Religion, South AmericaClemente LisiDecember 5, 2019Catholic Church, catholicism, Clemente Lisi, Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, religion, movies, film, opinion, newspapers, journalism, media, ChristianityComment

Address

Contact

Information