Religion Dispatches
…ia their nefarious new “religious freedom” axis), the more interesting and welcome news relates to what is happening among the 18-29 year-old set: the millennials. Here, white evangelicals make up only 13% of the total cohort, compared to 32% who are now religiously unaffiliated. Of these younger “nones,” 42% say they are atheist or agnostic. The others obviously aren’t all that keen on organized religion, or else they would affiliate. Does this m…
Read More…pope. Should that happen, John Ortved’s cover letter is already written. A welcome puff of humor from McSweeney’s, Ortved’s letter begins with a gaffe that betrays his gender-inclusive liberal arts education: “Dear sir or madam, I am writing to apply for the position of Pope,” and dutifully includes relevant experience: As your website notes, the role of Pope includes “Guiding the College of Cardinals, and the masses.” Through my participation in…
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…ever doing enough. But while Daniel has not provided an obviously warm welcome for those who may be trying to figure out a way to be in religious community, it is possible to detect a bit of tenderness between the snarky lines. She admits to being someone who was never quite sure where she belonged; church, for her, provides a body of people who accept her. She tells a story of struggling with depression over a dying cat; church is where peopl…
Read More…ed for Sydney, Australia in May. The letter telling Smith he was no longer welcome says the bill he supported “is at odds with the World Congress of Families’ definition of the natural family, marriage, and a child’s right to be raised by its mother and father.” The World Congress of Families is one vehicle by which American religious conservatives export their anti-abortion and anti-gay-rights ideologies (or as they would put it, their support fo…
Read More…n from 21 to 19. The policy change, announced in October, was hailed as a welcome step towards leveling life expectations and opportunities for religious study and service among young Mormon men and women. And it resulted in a dramatic spike of new missionary applications from young Mormon women. (More here.) 3. Mormon athletes prove more popular than Mormon presidential candidate. That’s a hunch, not a scientific observation: we’re still waiting…
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…in two types: The “silent type” (e.g., “We love everyone here and all are welcome… We don’t need to get into the specifics.”). And there is the “vocal type” that seeks more overtly to accommodate queer people into the structures of privilege already enjoyed by straight folks (e.g., marriage, church leadership, organizational visibility, ordination, etc.). Accommodation is sometimes helpful, for sure, but perhaps perhaps we will dream up a vision…
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…ssive centers, plus the cumulative effect of well-intentioned policies for promoting young academics, have effectively sabotaged the intergenerational culture essential for a rich sense of intellectual identity. Yes, I realize that annual meetings hosting thousands of participants need large facilities. Yes, the annual meetings need to offer junior faculty and graduate students opportunities to see and be seen on a national stage. Yes, adding anot…
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…I, as a historian, am reasonably well-informed, and the opportunity was a welcome interruption from the incessant bombardment of election propaganda and the absurd claims so-called Christian politicians were then making. Once again, in the U.S. election campaign, our evangelicals—including among them many of “my” Baptists—were promoting a slew of “social issues,” but precious little “gospel.” Self-proclaimed and media-designated evangelicals…
Read More…r than you do.” Romney also goes on to explain that pro-choice Mormons are welcome in the Church, that there are plenty of Mormon Democrats, and that his own stance on abortion rights is “not a Mormon thing.” “I’m not running as a Mormon and I get tired of coming on the air and having it all be about Mormon,” he concludes. What to make of this video and its resurfacing now, just hours before the election? 1. Whoever pushed this video out again wan…
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…woman as chaplain but will endorse a woman who is not ordained. Women are welcome to study at SBC seminaries as long as they do not have an eye on the pastorate. In some places female students are prohibited from enrolling in preaching classes. Although many women major in Religious Studies at Baptist colleges and seminaries across the land few find leadership positions in SBC churches, there are only 150 female pastors serving in the moderate Co…
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