evangelical
Beef ban * Witch hunts * Too much Guinness : March’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — April 1, 2015
An Indian state bans the sale and possession of beef. Tanzanians murder “witches” accused of murdering “magical albinos.” And Ireland nearly outlaws straight marriage, on accident. Who needs April Fools’ Day when reality is this strange?
Mormon author says “grace is not God’s backup plan”
By Jana Riess — March 10, 2015
Adam S. Miller says Mormons are doing a better job nowadays thinking about grace, but we need to stop seeing it as God's backup plan to deal with human sin. To do this, he offers a fresh interpretation of Romans, a book of Scripture historically neglected in the LDS curriculum.
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.
Faith-based aid groups face a hurdle: the faith that drives them
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — March 6, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) Faith and foreign aid make a complex, controversial mix. Yet leaders of faith-based nonprofits say the two can't be separated.
Pope Francis nearly as popular as St. John Paul II among US Catholics
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — March 5, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) He's reached statistical tie for top ratings with the immensely popular late pope, who always scored more than 9 in 10 positive views from Catholics.
Why technology didn’t (and won’t) destroy the church
By Jonathan Merritt — February 27, 2015
Former Newsweek religion editor Lisa Miller once warned that advances in technology could demolish the Christian Church. But new data indicates that technology has become an empowerment tool for both pastors and parishioners.
How to access the spiritual power of poetry–even if you “just don’t get it”
By Jonathan Merritt — February 26, 2015
New York Times columnist David Brooks called Christian Wiman's "My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer" the "best modern book on belief." Here Wiman shares how people of faith can begin accessing the spiritual power of poetry even if, at first, they "just don't get it."
I’m queer, and I’m (still) an evangelical (COMMENTARY)
By Brandan Robertson — February 24, 2015
(RNS) At the heart of this controversy, there's a deeper problem: a fundamentally flawed belief that one cannot be a true Christian if one identifies as LGBTQ (or an ally of LGBTQ people).
The ‘Splainer: Martyr or terrorist? It depends …
By Kimberly Winston — February 24, 2015
(RNS) One man's martyr can be another man's terrorist. Here's what's behind lionizing the dead.
Is President Obama a Christian? It depends what you mean by ‘Christian’ (COMMENTARY)
By Justin Taylor — February 23, 2015
(RNS) When it comes to the question of who is and who is not a Christian, the governor should have remembered that clarity is often served by asking the questioner why the question is being asked.
The Ash Wednesday Mormon
By Jana Riess — February 18, 2015
Rumblings in various pockets of Mormondom suggest I'm not the only Latter-day Saint who finds our cheerful omission of Christ's suffering strange, even theologically impoverished. More Mormons are giving Lent a try.
David Gushee: “There’s an awful lot of suffering going on”
By Eliel Cruz — February 9, 2015
The evangelical ethicist says Christianity must abandon “toxic traditions” that harm the LGBT community.
The death of transgender teen Leelah Alcorn should be a wake up call for Christians
By Eliel Cruz — January 2, 2015
The church is failing LGBT youth. It's time we stopped rejecting and start affirming the children of God.
Faith and values in 2014: 10 telling numbers
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — December 30, 2014
(RNS) The most intriguing findings in religion research are not always in the headlines.
Can you question the Virgin Birth and still be a Christian?
By Kimberly Winston — December 23, 2014
(RNS) Why is the Virgin Birth the lynchpin of Christianity? Was it miracle or metaphor? And can you call yourself a Christian if you can't accept the idea of the Virgin Birth?
