Laura Turner
Laura Turner is a writer and editor living in San Francisco. In addition to being a regular contributor to Christianity Today’s “Her.meneutics” blog, she has also written for publications such as Books & Culture and The Bold Italic. She is interested in the intersection of church and culture.
All Stories by Laura Turner
Pussy Riot singers freed under new Russian amnesty law just in time for Sochi
By Laura Turner — December 23, 2013
Pussy Riot, the all-female Russian punk band, saw two of its members jailed last year following their now-famous “punk prayer” in Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral. A new amnesty law, which comes conveniently before the February start date of the Winter Olympics being held in Sochi, Russia, freed bandmates Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova just […]
Christmas movies for the whole family, or not
By Laura Turner — December 20, 2013
When we were young, our family had a tradition that I thought was unique only to us: Every Christmas, after opening presents (in reverse age order) and eating a lethal combination of meat and See’s chocolates, we would pull out the newspaper and pick a movie for the whole family to go see. Now I […]
Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robinson must fly the coop after antigay remarks
By Laura Turner — December 18, 2013
It’s been a bumpy day for Phil Robertson, star of Duck Dynasty and paterfamilias of the family behind Duck Commander, a multimillion dollar company that produces duck-hunting merchandise. In an interview for January’s GQ, the reporter asked Robertson about his view of sin: “’Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and […]
Peter O’Toole: ‘No one can take Jesus away from me.’
By Laura Turner — December 15, 2013
Peter O'Toole, one of the last century's greatest actors whose roles in films such as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Lion in Winter" earned him eight Oscar nominations but no wins (a record), died Saturday (Dec. 14) at the age of 81.
Beyoncé and the State of your Soul
By Laura Turner — December 13, 2013
Because she is the most amazing human specimen ever to walk the earth, Beyoncé dropped an entire album yesterday with no warning, marketing, or pre-sale hype. “Beyoncé” is her fifth solo LP, including collaborations with Drake, Michelle Williams, and Frank Ocean, among others. Bey being Bey, this isn’t just any old album. “Beyoncè” is a […]
Bless this Macaroni and Cheese: How Home Alone can Teach you to Pray
By Laura Turner — December 12, 2013
In the Jewish tradition, a midrash refers to the ouevre of stories used by rabbis to explain the Hebrew Bible. They are stories that fill in the gaps left behind by the Scriptures. If there were a midrash that took us into the New Testament, and if that midrash examined the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:13 and Mark 10:15, […]
God Loves Uganda?
By Laura Turner — December 10, 2013
Uganda’s anti-homosexuality bill, which would further criminalize same-sex relations in the country, including provisions for the death penalty, has been in the news since its introduction in 2009. A new documentary explores the role American missionaries (and money from American churches) have played in the bill’s development and popularity, exposing one of the darkest sides […]
The faith and loss of Joan Didion
By Laura Turner — December 5, 2013
Today is the 79th anniversary of Joan Didion’s entrance into this mortal coil, and I will use the excuse to wear giant sunglasses and write interminable sentences all day long. Didion’s career has changed the landscape of American nonfiction writing, and although she is perhaps best-known for her recent duet of grief memoirs The Year of […]
The Best Man Holiday
By Laura Turner — December 4, 2013
It’s not uncommon, of course, for a film to deal with old friends who have fallen out with each other and must learn to get along. Nor is it out of the ordinary to see stories of marriages on the rocks, families with financial struggles, and secrets waiting to come to light. To do all […]
Racy Cartoons Make Bart Simpson Look Like a, Um, Saint
By Laura Turner — June 7, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service (UNDATED) When a cartoon can make even Bart Simpson look like a saint, you know you’re dealing with some racy material. Tune into Comedy Central’s “South Park” and you’ll find Jesus boxing Satan, while over on Fox’s “Family Guy,” you’ll find God as a white-robed, bearded creator setting off the […]
For Some Joggers, Running Nurtures Body and Soul
By Laura Turner — June 5, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Like many runners, the Rev. Charles P. Henderson of New York City runs to shed pounds and stay fit. He isn’t trying to set any records. Josh McDougal, on the other hand, is one of the fastest collegiate distance runners in the nation. A junior at Liberty University, McDougal […]
Poll Finds Muslims Satisfied, Opposed to Islamic Terrorism
By Laura Turner — May 23, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ Most Muslim Americans are largely assimilated in the culture, happy with their lives and embracing the American dream, according to a comprehensive study released Tuesday (May 22) by the Pew Research Center. The Pew study, conducted between January and April, was based on interviews with 1,050 Muslim American […]
Brazilian Landowner Convicted in Killing of U.S. Nun
By Laura Turner — May 17, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ Lawyers representing the family of a slain American nun say Tuesday’s (May 15) conviction of a Brazilian landowner was a key victory, but have already set their sights on one more conviction, a “bigger fish to fry.” Vitalmiro Bastos de Moura was given a 30-year sentence for ordering […]
House Extends Hate Crimes Law to Cover Gays
By Laura Turner — May 4, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ The House voted Thursday (May 3) to extend hate crimes legislation to add protections for homosexuals, bisexuals and those with gender identity issues in the same way that people are protected because of race or creed. Democratic leaders called it a civil rights victory, but conservatives and some […]
Church Magazines Feel the Pinch With Higher Postal Rates
By Laura Turner — May 3, 2007
c. 2007 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ This month, the cost of mailing a letter goes up 3 cents, to 42 cents for first-class. That’s an increase of about 7.6 percent, a cost many Americans chalk up to the price of doing business. But on July 15, faith-based publications will face increases of at least […]
