Pentecostal Scholars Call for Academic Freedom
A scholar of Pentecostalism tells how an academic conference became a culture war battleground, and what she plans to do about it.
Should Faith-Based Orgs Be Allowed to Discriminate in Hiring? Introducing: A New Collaboration with Bloggingheads
In this first installment, RD Contributing Editor Peter Laarman debates evangelical professor David Gushee over the Obama administration’s decision to effectively continue to allow recipients of federal faith-based funding to discriminate in hiring. In other clips, the two tangle on gay marriage, whether the Christian Right is dead, and more.
Healed of the Sin of Religion: At Church with Sara Miles
Sara Miles was a journalist and a chef who wandered into a San Francisco church one Sunday, got religion, and stayed to start a food pantry that now feeds 600 families a week. We talked to her recently about her newest book, Jesus Freak: Feeding, Healing, Raising the Dead.
Meet the New Haggards—Same as the Old Haggards?
Ted Haggard, one of America’s most successful megachurch preachers, was officially separated from his church back in 2006. His wife and partner, Gayle, has stuck by his side through it all and has written a new book on the experience. RD spoke with her about their former church, their evolving views on homosexuality, and the future.
An Extravagant Welcome For All: Believe Out Loud, a Faith-Based LGBT Campaign, Launches
We know that there is a significant “uncertain middle” of mainline clergy who would show leadership on LGBT issues if they were not afraid of stirring controversy in their congregations. A new campaign aims to jump start this missing conversation and to create space in American Christianity for a true welcoming of LGBT people and their families.
Would they say the same if this were an anti-Christian law?
Mark D. Jordan’s recent RD op-ed garnered a response from Peter Steinfels, whose final New York Times column was referenced in the article. Here are both Steinfels’ letter, and Jordan’s response.
New Report: More Sex in the Pulpit
While religious conservatives are vocal on issues of sexuality—from pre-marital sex to masturbation to abortion—progressive religious leaders have largely ‘abstained’ from discussing these matters in the pulpit. A new report urges more clergy education and openness on sexuality issues.
A short list of commercials and events with religious underpinnings....
Religious Leaders Urge Obama to Condemn Ugandan Anti-Gay Bill at Prayer Breakfast
Obama is scheduled to address the National Prayer Breakfast, organized by ‘The Family,’ which has ties to the ‘kill-the-gays’ bill in Uganda. Religious leaders, including a member of the president's faith-based Advisory Council, are calling on the president to condemn homophobia and offer an alternative, inclusive prayer event.
Gays in the military = hurricanes!
When Mormons Mobilize: Anti-Gay Marriage Prop. 8 Effort ‘Outed’?
New documents introduced in the challenge to Prop. 8 reveal that the LDS Church sought to create “plausible deniability” in its role in supporting the Yes on 8 campaign. Why would the LDS hierarchy want to deny Mormon involvement?
While some of us believe that "it is not in war, but in peace, that we are trained," we're still waiting for equality in the military.
Without the Bible as support, anti-gay marriage attorneys resorted to a smattering of flimsy arguments, half truths, and discredited studies.
Or, how to proof-text your perfect hatred.
‘Traditional’ Christianity vs. ‘Liberals’? It’s Not That Simple
From abortion to homosexuality to stem cells, you’ve heard time and again that what we are living through is a fight between religious conservatives and activist liberals. It’s not. It is a deep disagreement inside Christianity over what conserving faithfulness means.
Religious Right leaders are demanding that gay Republicans are excluded while remaining silent on conspiracy-minded John Birch Society.
Rwanda, Nigeria, Iran: Uganda is just the tip of the iceberg.
A response to a recent RD article/interview with filmmaker Lisa Darden.
Election of New Lesbian Bishop Reveals Tensions in Anglican World
Conservative Episcopalians have denounced the election of only the second openly gay bishop, and the Archbishop of Canterbury has urged bishops to not seat her. But others, like one of the first women priests, aren’t worried about the well loved bishop-elect who remains focused on her duties.
RD speaks with filmmaker Lisa Darden who helped to alert Pastor Rick Warren to the dangers of remaining silent.
Christian conservatives won't hear of it.
Uganda’s Radical Anti-Gay Measure and the American Religious Right
A proposed measure in Uganda would make repeated homosexual activity punishable by death. Anti-gay activists in the United States may think that it goes too far, but they laid the groundwork for it.
A new book.
The not-so-new ecumenism of the religious right: stoking fears of secularism as the new Nazism.