More than 40 years of research on the psychology of surviving disasters has found that religion can be a valuable resource in fostering resilience. Studies of people’s reactions to the Ebola outbreak and Syrian refugee crisis show that some forms of religiosity may be less healthy and less helpful.
The Missouri House has approved a bill exempting private and religious schools from raising the minimum wage for their workers, as state law now requires. It was the wrong decision.
In an inversion of Teddy Roosevelt's dictum, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom speaks loudly and carries no stick at all. And not surprisingly, over the years its words had little effect beyond annoying the objects of the criticism.
Jean Vanier, who died last year at the age of 90, has been credibly accused of an abusive sexual relationship with six non-disabled adult women to whom he was giving spiritual direction. At the same time, I ask myself, why am I surprised?
When I came to pastor here more than a decade ago, I wanted to see younger people join the church. But now more than ever, I’m thankful for those wheelchairs.
One hundred years ago on January 17, 1920, the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution went into effect. That amendment established the prohibition of “intoxicating liquors” in the nation—and initiated thirteen years of national turmoil.
For many preachers, it can be a challenge to preach each Sunday from the Common Lectionary rather than simply use their favorite passages of the Bible. I had to wonder what conservative preachers did with last Sunday’s reading from the Prophet Isaiah.
Psalm 11 reminds us that even when it seems that the unrighteous are getting away with their wicked ways, we can rest knowing that God is in control, for he will bring order and justice when he best seems fitting.
(RNS) — In the 15 years since Terri Schiavo died, changes in medical research and technology give us reason to totally rethink fundamental questions about patients thought to be 'vegetative.'
(RNS) — Religious liberty is already a treasured value in our nation’s public schools. So why are the president and White House staffers making inflammatory and misleading statements, claiming our constitutional rights are under attack?