trends
Evangelicals are shifting on same-sex marriage, but it’s no avalanche
By Jonathan Merritt — March 18, 2015
To hear some commentators talk, debates on LGBT issues are over and conservatives have lost. But such predictions are premature.
Rachel Held Evans defends exit from evangelicalism, calls Christians to celebrate sacraments
By Jonathan Merritt — March 9, 2015
The wildly popular Christian writer offers an exclusive sneak peek into her new book and its pointed message.
White Christians are now a minority in these 19 states
By Jonathan Merritt — March 3, 2015
The notion of America as a mostly white, mostly Christian country is rapidly becoming a fact for the history books.
You’ll never guess which U.S. cities are most ‘Bible-minded’
By Jonathan Merritt — January 26, 2015
A new study ranking cities according to "Bible mindedness" contains a few surprises. Did your hometown make the list?
Misfit minister says pastors should ‘pray their church loses numbers’
By Jonathan Merritt — December 1, 2014
Pastor of "Scum of the Earth"--a punk-rock-goth-artist congregation in Denver--has some harsh words and surprising advice for evangelical Christians.
‘I don’t’: Conservative pastors vow not to officiate government marriages
By Jonathan Merritt — November 19, 2014
A prominent religious journal has launched a movement encouraging pastors to refuse to perform marriages as representatives of the state. The concept is not entirely novel and isn't just being proposed by conservatives. Americans should seriously consider it.
Let’s talk about sex, baby (er, millennial Christians)
By Jonathan Merritt — October 20, 2014
RNS' Jonathan Merritt and Sarah Pulliam Bailey interview popular pastor and author John Mark Comer as they explore this tricky topic. Comer believes sex is not just "play for grown-ups," but a "joining of body and soul...in self-giving love."
Have evangelicals diluted Jesus’ radical message?
By Jonathan Merritt — September 11, 2014
A popular Christian blogger says evangelicals have created a domesticated, American Jesus. But is he just making the same old liberal arguments we've heard for decade.
The Christian Church is dwindling. Here’s why I’m still hopeful.
By Jonathan Merritt — September 4, 2014
Could it be that the exodus of young people from the church and metastasizing negative perceptions of Christians among non-believers is actually a good thing?
POLL: Many Americans think Jesus doesn’t share their political views
By Jonathan Merritt — July 15, 2014
WWJD? According to a new poll, the iconic question is little more than a slogan on a bracelet for some Americans when it comes to abortion, gay marriage, the death penalty, and other social issues.
What the Pope’s popularity says about American culture
By Jonathan Merritt — July 11, 2014
Pope Francis' intense and broad popularity counters the idea that American society intrinsically despises and opposes Christians.
The future of evangelicalism: Sarah Pulliam Bailey and Jonathan Merritt discuss
By Jonathan Merritt — July 8, 2014
RNS' Sarah Pulliam Bailey and Jonathan Merritt join Ed Stetzer of LifeWay Research and author Trevin Wax to discuss the future of evangelicalism.
What many Christians get wrong on July 4th
By Jonathan Merritt — July 3, 2014
Many Americans believe America is more exceptional than other nations. Is this claim true, and if so, should Christians shout it from their star-spangled rooftops?
Liberty University responds to complaints about Glenn Beck sermon
By Jonathan Merritt — May 19, 2014
The evangelical super-school responds to complaints about Mormon Glenn Beck's sermon to students, saying that Beck may have had "born-again experience."
Pastor: Christians should drop ‘us vs. them’ mentality
By Jonathan Merritt — May 12, 2014
70% of James Emery White's church's growth comes from previously unchurched people. He shares why other churches aren't convincing or capturing non-believers.
