Interview with Karen Armstrong
The best-selling scholar says that the Bible is more violent than the Qur’an, that religious fundamentalism is political, and more.
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The Next Generation of the Pro-Life Movement
Young people are being trained by militant anti-abortion groups to be informed, media-savvy, publicity-oriented foot soldiers in the battle to outlaw abortion.
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Fact Check: Are Gay-Friendly Churches in Decline?
A recent US News & World Report piece claims that “the churches most open to homosexuality are shrinking fastest.” A closer look at the numbers reveals a different picture.
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President Carter on Religion: Stop Harming Women and Girls
In a recent Op-Ed, Elders member Jimmy Carter noted that religion is used to excuse slavery, forced prostitution, genital mutilation, and more.
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Do Atheists Borrow Religion’s Morality?
Does morality come from religion or is it merely “the language games of one’s time”? Are the most basic moral boundaries we evolved that make life easier and less chaotic a reflection of the character of God? If there is no God, or if He doesn’t care about us, then our common morality is still the result of practical, reality-based needs, which also “teach” that a good life depends on the “Do unto others…” ethic.
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My Womb for His Purposes: The Perils of Unassisted Childbirth in the Quiverfull Movement
Already distrustful of outside experts, be they members of the education system or leaders of traditional denominations, Quiverfull followers are increasingly eschewing the medical establishment, opting to leave childbirth to God. The recent death of a newborn, however, exposes a growing rift between the most zealous opponents of intervention and those open to some assistance.
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Bishop Sends Shockwave, Slaying the Sacred Cow of Individual Salvation [Includes an online comic]
While many expected LGBT issues to be at the forefront of controversy at the Episcopal Church’s General Convention, presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori stunned some participants by taking aim at narrow notions of salvation.
Read MoreNiebuhrian Humility and DC Punditry
Beltway pundits like to think of themselves as impartial umpires representing all points of view in the spirit of “Niebuhrian humility” without realizing that their uncritical acceptance of all points of view is, at best, not very Niebuhrian.
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Praying Upon a Star: Michael Jackson Spectacle Highlights Online Rituals
These days, rituals of mourning, praise, and eulogies for celebrities are often enacted in and through the media sphere.
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Rage Against the Regime: Voices from the Iranian Underground Music Scene
Iran’s Green Revolt is about freedom and democracy, sure. But it usually has to take form in a particular issue or, as in the case of a growing portion of Iran’s youth, in song. Meet the resistance in the form of the underground music scene.
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