Civil Religion, School Prayer and Our Missional Future

John H. Armstrong February 20th, 2012

America has had more than its share of court cases and challenges regarding prayer in our public schools. I can actually mark stages of my developing memory about growing up in America by these various challenges and debates. I remember, very vividly, when the Supreme Court first ruled on separation challenges regarding opening the day with prayer in our schools. I remember how Christians vehemently protested and spoke against the "evil" Warren Court for years. I also remember the hatr … (Read More)

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The Worship Wars

Tony Campolo February 13th, 2012

One reason churches are splitting these days is over forms of worship. There are those who contend that we are not going to bring in a new generation of young people unless we introduce into the worship service a guitar-led band and employing all the new worship songs that become omnipresent in youth gatherings. On the other hand, there are those who contend that a great deal of this new music contains lousy theology and is in no way melodious. Older people want to sing the old hymns of the Chur … (Read More)

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Pod people: Birth control or religious liberty?

Terry Mattingly February 6th, 2012

Finally.

I think someone may have had a journalistic epiphany on the whole Health and Human Services thing.

But before we go there, stop and, for a moment, join me in contemplating the following journalism puzzle.

The Obama administration's new HHS regulations - click here for a sample of GetReligion coverage - continue to cause an electric buzz here inside the Beltway. At the moment, people continue to focus on the Catholic angle of this story.

That's logical. I get that. I mean, why … (Read More)

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Embrace

Renée Altson January 30th, 2012

This is my first Steve Brown Etc. blog post for the year 2012. With so much going on in many different facets of life and culture, it is almost easy for me to forget how new 2012 really is.

I don’t make new year’s resolutions anymore. After decades of broken promises and disappointed efforts, I started picking a new year’s word to remember and operate from for 12 months. I’ve had some interesting words since starting this, but I never make the conscious choice–the word always comes … (Read More)

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cartoon: God's daisy

nakedpastor January 23rd, 2012

(If you're on the front page of the site, click the title of this post to see the cartoon.)

Oh, the years I spent in spiritual anguish because I'd been taught that I had to earn then keep The Love.

Then the light went on by some Mysterious Hand and revealed to me that there was nothing to be earned. Nothing to be kept. I couldn't be loved any more than I already was.

Love is All.

(Ps: You can check out all my art and cartoons for sale HERE.)

nakedpastor is David Hayward. David is … (Read More)

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A Theology for Synthetic Biology

Fazale (Fuz) Rana January 16th, 2012

Should humans play God?

This question has become more poignant in the last few years as biochemists, molecular biologists, and origin-of-life researchers make significant strides in their quest to create life in the lab. Attempts to produce artificial life fall under the purview of a new discipline called synthetic biology, a fusion of engineering and the life sciences.

One of synthetic biology’s goals is the design and manufacture of nonnatural life-forms—man-made constructs—unlike anyt … (Read More)

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