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It’s Barack v. the Bible, Says Barton

By Paul Harvey

…opponents with position papers, textbooks, blog posts, talking head appearances, and footnotes. In his work on the Christian origins of the United States, at least he has a modicum of evidence to produce, given the Christian proclivities of certain of the founders. In the war against Obama, however, Chuck Norris and Franklin Graham have to stand in the stead of Patrick Henry or Parson Weems. Thus, for the anti-Obama agonists, the president’s overt…

Oprah, Terrorist Cells, and the Meaning of Life: An Interview with Paul Froese

By Andrew Aghapour

…el good about ourselves, and where that can turn evil is when—either by chance or by circumstance—you’re in a group whose purposes are nefarious, and so you derive self-worth and self-esteem out of participating in group projects that are violent or evil. The classic example is a terrorist cell. I think those people think they’re doing good. They want to feel good about themselves and what they’re doing, and so they attach themselves to an ideolog…

Religion at Decade’s End

By Louis A. Ruprecht

…at state universities, where suddenly legislatures did not need to be convinced of the importance of knowing something about other religious traditions from around the world. But there is something falsifying about this crude historical truism, the one claiming that religion enjoyed a tortured comeback of sorts in the year 2001. If anything, religion had already been “back” for a generation, by then. The really singular date for any contemporary…

As Long As There’s Fear, We Aren’t Ready for Atheism: A Conversation with Theologian and Ex-Priest Daniel Maguire

By Alana Massey

…recognizing the poetic and ethical value of biblical stories in a more nuanced way than those scholars who offer only perfunctory nods to the Bible’s poetry, Maguire’s book offers a gentler welcome to atheism than its more dismissive predecessors. RD spoke with Maguire by phone about his latest book and the future of belief. What was the impetus for undertaking this after a long career as a priest and theologian who was once a believer? I started…

Madoff, Through a Glass, Darkly

By Louis A. Ruprecht

…were terrified of him. The brothers never speak anymore; they talk on the phone at least once a day. It’s all there and it’s all unclear. All we know for a fact is that it all came apart very suddenly. On December 9, 2008, Bernie Madoff told his son, Mark, that he intended to pay out $173 million in holiday bonuses two months early. Deeply concerned, Mark revealed this to Andrew, who concluded that Madoff Securities should probably be re-named. T…

Under Water: Waiting for the Flood (of Awareness) in Louisiana

By Drew Konow

…ngoing disaster—triggering transportation, housing, public health, and financial crises. So, many ask: “Where is the media coverage, the public awareness, the national attention?” In launching these critiques, some have contrasted the coverage of the flood with wall-to-wall coverage of the Olympics, the ongoing presidential sideshow, and the riots in Milwaukee. Having your suffering ignored or cast aside only intensifies the pain you feel. And, ye…

Not All American Muslims Feel the Dread I Do

By Huma Mohibullah

…ther, some* Muslims on social media describe a Trump presidency as a mere inconvenience that pales in comparison to the plight of those living under occupation and drone strikes in Muslim countries. They wonder aloud where the liberals, who are now eager to contend with and subvert the system, have been as our drones alter lives and terrorize children in rural Pakistan. While they cannot be generalized as pro-Trump, they are excited by Clinton’s l…

Does the Science Show that Spirituality Will Benefit Your Child?

By Michael Schulson

…nce abuse. It has a small effect in preventing kids from ever trying substances, but once that boundary is crossed, it is not protective against heavy use, it is not protective against downward slide or abuse. Similarly, in our study, we look at a large study of adolescent girls. That deep spiritual piece puts sex in the context of relationships and love. Girls who have a strong relationship with a higher power tend to have more stable ongoing rel…

War on Christmas Affirmed by Southern Baptist Convention

By Mark Gstohl

…the American Way and others. These groups are attempting to “remove references to God and Jesus Christ” from American life. One particular concern for the Southern Baptist messengers is Christmas. The resolution “encourages believers to be aware of businesses, schools, and all other public institutions in their areas that are removing Christmas as the official designation of the season and to use their influence to restore Christmas to its proper…

A Year After the Non-Apocalypse: Where Are They Now?

By Tom Bartlett

…hstand disconfirmation, it is clear that the introduction of contrary evidence can serve to increase the conviction and enthusiasm of a believer.” When the world failed to end, they clung more tightly to their belief. Rather than folding, they doubled down. Festinger wanted to understand this phenomenon. The Millerites were long gone so instead he focused on Dorothy Martin, a suburban homemaker who believed that she was able to communicate telepat…