Sarah Pulliam Bailey
Sarah Pulliam Bailey is a national correspondent for RNS, covering how faith intersects with politics, culture and other news. She previously served as online editor for Christianity Today where she remains an editor-at-large.
All Stories by Sarah Pulliam Bailey
Christians in Middle East: U.S. attack on Syria would be detrimental
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — September 4, 2013
NEW YORK (RNS) “I couldn’t find a Christian leader at the conference who supported military intervention,” said Geoff Tunnicliffe, secretary general of the World Evangelical Alliance.
Quiz: How well do you know Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech?
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 27, 2013
Wednesday marks the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Can you spot some of the biblical and historical references in King's speech?
Newest ‘Values Voters’ adversary to America: The Emergent Church.
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 27, 2013
(RNS) “If we had one one-thousandth of the adherence of either of communism or Islam, we’d be doing pretty well," said Emergent Church leader Tony Jones. "When I first saw this, I thought it was a headline from The Onion.”
Monday’s Religion News Roundup: King’s March * Night Thievery * Miley’s Moment
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 26, 2013
Wednesday marks the 50th anniversary of the "March on Washington." The filmmaker who made evangelical movies like "A Thief in the Night" has died. Miley Cyrus's performance managed to horrify the VMAs.
Atheist group can sue IRS over enforcement of pulpit politicking
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 23, 2013
(RNS) U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman ruled that the Freedom from Religion Foundation “has standing to seek an order requiring the IRS to treat religious organizations no more favorably than it treats the Foundation.”
Alan Robertson on ‘Duck Dynasty’: Not ‘The 700 Club for Rednecks’
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 22, 2013
"Our faith is the main part of our lives, but it’s better to be subtle. It’s more effective. When Jesus talked in parables, he wanted people to seek and find. I think it’s better that it’s funny," Alan Robertson said.
‘Duck Dynasty’ success thrives on Christian stereotypes
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 21, 2013
(RNS) Between TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting” and National Geographic Channel's upcoming “Snake Salvation,” the “Duck Dynasty” portrayal of rural Southern Christians may be among the most tame in the reality TV genre.
Monday’s Religion News Roundup: Conversion Therapy Ban * Egypt Turmoil * Interfaith Struggles
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 19, 2013
Gov. Chris Christie is set to ban gay conversion therapy in New Jersey. The death toll continues to rise in Egypt. And the interfaith movement is struggling.
Lutherans take surprise step in electing female presiding bishop
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 15, 2013
(RNS) The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton will take over from Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, who will step down after 12 years of overseeing the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, one of the country’s largest denominations.
Lutherans elect Elizabeth Eaton first female presiding bishop of ELCA
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 14, 2013
(RNS) The new presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Elizabeth Eaton, told delegates that "We are a church that is overwhelmingly European in a culture that is increasingly pluralistic."
Reformers want Congress to end ban on pulpit politicking
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 14, 2013
(RNS) An independent commission recommended that members of the clergy should be able to say "whatever they believe is appropriate" from the pulpit without fear of IRS reprisal.
Christian ethicist Jean Bethke Elshtain dies at 72
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 13, 2013
(RNS) Widely admired ethicist Jean Bethke Elshtain regularly wrote and lectured on ethics, politics and religion but was routinely criticized by other theologians for her position on Iraq.
Monday’s Religion News Roundup: Baby Messiah * Islam Nation * Phone Heaven
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 12, 2013
A Tennessee judge changed a 7-month-old boy’s name to Martin from Messiah, saying the name Messiah was earned by one person and “that one person is Jesus Christ.” An ex-gay gospel singer says the mayor of D.C., under pressure from gay rights activists, asked him to cancel a commemoration ceremony concert. An Australian politician being dubbed the […]
Partisan fighting spells trouble for church insurance under Obamacare
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 8, 2013
(RNS) House Republicans have voted 40 times to repeal Obamacare, so observers see little hope of passing a bill to fix a gap in health care reform that poses problems for clergy in church insurance plans.
Monday’s Religion News Roundup: Ramadan Risks * Sex Offender Village * Imaginative Prayer
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — August 5, 2013
Today is the one-year anniversary of the shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin that left six dead. The attack formed one unlikely alliance between a victim's son and a former skinhead.
