On Faith and Culture
A funeral director says many churches (unknowingly) promote a ‘death negative’ narrative
By Jonathan Merritt — November 10, 2017
Caleb Wilde says many churches teach that "death, and our mortality, is at heart both shameful and has little to no redeeming value."
Against Clarity: A progressive Christian opposes rating churches on LGBT acceptance
By Jonathan Merritt — November 1, 2017
(RNS) — 'Human sexuality is not,' writes Barbara G. Wheeler, 'the decisive issue that determines whether a church body is acceptable or not.' (COMMENTARY)
Why pastor Robert Jeffress’ interview with Sean Hannity was so maddening to so many
By Jonathan Merritt — October 25, 2017
(RNS) — Who knew that a simple meeting between a preacher and a pundit would be so controversial? But it starts to make sense when you consider the preacher. And the pundit. And the meeting itself. (COMMENTARY)
Church Clarity pressures pastors and churches to disclose views on homosexuality
By Jonathan Merritt — October 18, 2017
(RNS) — Prominent pastors are finding themselves on the hot seat thanks to a new group's efforts to call out leaders who lack clear stances, writes Jonathan Merritt. (COMMENTARY)
Alan Jacobs’ antidote to Christian anti-intellectualism
By Jonathan Merritt — October 11, 2017
"if you don't care what anyone else thinks about you, you can easily find yourself locked in an echo-chamber," Jacobs says.
First Look: Trump talks Israel on Mike Huckabee’s new TBN show
By Jonathan Merritt — October 6, 2017
Trump's peace plan, the president says, will be decided "in the not-too-distant future" and "everybody says it is not going to work."
The gospel for gun-loving Christians
By Jonathan Merritt — October 3, 2017
How exactly can someone do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly while carrying a deadly assault rifle? asks David Gringor in a commentary.
Sociologist Rodney Stark gets cranky about religion
By Jonathan Merritt — September 18, 2017
(RNS) — The man who defended the Crusades talks about the definition of religion, the nature of atheism and the benefit of heresy.
What is the ‘Enneagram,’ and why are Christians suddenly so enamored by it?
By Jonathan Merritt — September 5, 2017
Everything you wanted to know about the Enneagram but are afraid to ask.
Take a deep breath. The Nashville Statement won’t change anything
By Jonathan Merritt — August 30, 2017
(RNS) — 'A closer look at this statement reveals a number of fatal flaws, which are likely to render it impotent,' writes Jonathan Merritt.
Brian Zahnd: No, God didn’t command genocide in the Old Testament
By Jonathan Merritt — August 29, 2017
The following is an adaptation from “Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God.” I have decided to feature it here because it was one of the most profound and readable theological reflections that I’ve encountered in my life. I highly recommend that you order it. Even a casual reader of the Bible notices that […]
Why Christians can stay hopeful in this time of political darkness
By Jonathan Merritt — August 22, 2017
(RNS) — After weeks of moral chaos, Americans have grown discouraged. Here's how Jesus-people can keep hope.
Evangelicals, Trump and the politics of redemption
By Peter Wehner — August 11, 2017
(RNS) — 'Today, far too many evangelical Christians are tools of the Trump presidency,' Peter Wehner writes in a commentary.
Eugene Peterson had this to say about same-sex issues in 2014
By Jonathan Merritt — July 13, 2017
"I started to change my mind," Peterson says about the result of friendships with gay men in his church.
Eugene Peterson backtracks on same-sex marriage
By Jonathan Merritt — July 13, 2017
(RNS) — After condemnation from conservatives and a Christian bookstore's threat to ban his books, 'The Message' author says he regrets telling RNS columnist Jonathan Merritt that he would officiate a same-sex wedding.
Jonathan Merritt
On Faith and Culture
Jonathan Merritt is a senior columnist and contributing editor for Religion News Service and a contributing writer for The Atlantic. He has published more than 2500 articles in outlets like USA Today, The Week, Buzzfeed and National Journal. Jonathan is the author of "Learning to Speak God from Scratch: Why Sacred Words are Vanishing - and How We Can Revive Them," "Jesus is Better Than You Imagined," and "A Faith of Our Own: Following Jesus Beyond the Culture Wars." He resides in Brooklyn, NY.
