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December 2003
December 21
Iraqi
Christians Celebrate Saddam's Capture
Chaldean Christian communities in the U.S. call arrest a Christmas present.
Complied by Rob Moll.
Doing
Tolkien Justice
The Christian virtues of humility and sacrifice filter through a tarnished
triumph. By Jeffrey Overstreet.
Where
to Go for All Things Tolkien
The best sites on the Internet about the man, his faith, his books, the
Inklings and the movies. Compiled by Rob Moll.
The Lure
of the Obvious in Peter Jackson's The Return of the King
The film adaptations of a 1,200-page novel required making significant changes
to the story. But at what cost? By Ralph C. Wood.
Hanukkah
celebration will begin Friday
According to the tradition, after ousting the Greek-Syrian occupiers, the
Maccabees cleaned the temple and re-dedicated it. They found only a small
amount of oil with which to light the holy lamps. But it miraculously lasted
eight days. (Indianapolis Star)
December 14
Carl F.H.
Henry, Theologian and First Editor of Christianity Today, Dies at 90
Thinker helped to shape many evangelical institutions and efforts, from
higher education to ecumenism. By Beth Spring and CT Staff. See h
CT Classic: Standing on the Promises
In this 1996 article, former CT Editors Carl Henry and Kenneth Kantzer evaluate
evangelicalism in light of its 20th-century developments.
The Postmodern
Crackup
From soccer moms to college campuses, signs of the end. By Charles Colson
with Anne Morse.
Censoring
Christmas
Public Christmas displays, like the Ten Commandments, are allowed—as
long as they don't mean anything religious. By Rob Moll.
Does Fuller
Seminary program really oppose evangelism of Muslims?
Stories in the Los
Angeles Times and Associated
Press over the weekend have potential to create a problem for Fuller
Theological Seminary and its president, Richard Mouw. "One of the nation's
leading evangelical Christian seminaries has launched a federally funded
project for making peace with Muslims, featuring a proposed code of ethics
that rejects offensive statements about each other's faiths, affirms a mutual
belief in one God, and pledges not to proselytize," Times religion
writer Teresa Watanabe begins her story.
Shut Up
and Embrace Diversity
Some find "tolerance" intolerable. Compiled by Rob Moll.
Rebuilding
Afghanistan U
How Christian scholars are using their heads to change people's hearts at
universities worldwide—including the one Osama bin Laden used to roam.
By Agnieszka Tennant.
The Dick
Staub Interview: Mary Poplin Calls Claremont Her "Calcutta"
After seeking God through telepathic spoon bending exercises, this professor
found God, and with the help of Mother Teresa, her calling.
Books
& Culture
Corner: Books, Books, Books!
We begin our annual roundup. By John Wilson.
Film Forum:
Christian Critics Hail Third Rings, by Jeffrey Overstreet.
I joined several Christian press film critics in Los Angeles last week to
see an early screening of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
The screening was an overwhelming experience—the film surpasses its
predecessors in many ways, especially in the Department of Jaw-Dropping,
Eye-Dazzling Spectacle. But regarding the way that Peter Jackson, Philippa
Boyens, and Fran Walsh adapt this chapter of J.R.R. Tolkien's story, they
have made many changes that must be discussed. Check next week's Film Forum
for some in-depth debate.
Hard-wired
for God
Only something extraordinary could entice the Carmelite nuns of Montreal
to break their vow of silence and venture out of the cloister: They have
joined forces with science to look for a concrete sign from God -- inside
the human brain (Anne McIlroy, The Globe and Mail, Toronto).
December 7
Newsweek
Goes to Sunday School
And learns about all the women in the Bible, who have been there for millennia.
Compiled by Rob Moll. See also Newsweek story at http://www.msnbc.com/news/999077.asp?cp1=1.
Oh Who
Are the Evangelicals in Your Neighborhood?
U.S. News examines the movement and its founder Jonathan Edwards. Compiled
by Ted Olsen.
Supreme
Court Justices Ask 'How High a Wall of Separation?'
Should the Supreme Court strike down Washington State's "Blaine Amendments,"
the implications nationwide would be "breathtaking." Compiled
by Rob Moll.
Supremely
Rejected
Lower-court decisions the Supreme Court let stand Compiled by Ted Olsen
Muslim
God and Christian God
President George W Bush has come in for some stick this week for saying
that the God he worships is the same God that Muslims worship (Christopher
Howse, The Daily Telegraph, London) See http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2003/11/29/do2907.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2003/11/29/ixop.html
Do all religious paths lead to the same God? Bush remark renews old
debate (Newhouse News Service)
Culture
vs. faith
A sociologist sees the end times for traditional religion in the United
States (John T. McGreevy, Chicago Tribune).
From
Fenton to fortune in the name of God
The way Joyce Meyer spends her ministry's money on herself and her family
may violate federal law, legal and tax experts say. That law bars leaders
of non-profits—religious groups and other charities—from privately
benefiting from the tax-free money they raise. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch).
See also http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/special/joycemeyer.nsf/0/1BE01E3AEC7CF38986256DE30018CF38?OpenDocument
Salon
tells of friendship between Lewis and Tolkien
How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis' all-night argument about God paved the
way for both "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Chronicles
of Narnia."
C.
S. Lewis journeyed from atheism to Christianity
C.S. Lewis scholar explores author's beliefs (Toledo Blade, Oh.).
Holy Land Photo's
Free, instantly downloadable, Power Point Ready Images of Israel, Turkey,
Greece and Jordan.
November 2003
November 30
Forty
Years Later, C.S. Lewis's Influence Tops JFK
Compiled by Rob Moll.
Fuller
Theological Seminary wins LA Times approval
The Los Angles Times Sunday magazine reported on Fuller Seminary's "post-evangelical"
attempt to reach beyond conservative/liberal labels and develop Bible-believing
Christian leaders with social justice concerns, evolutionary science, pop
psychology counseling, and Hollywood influence. The piece marks a new chapter
of the Seminary's history as an institution founded by radio preacher Charles
Fuller and minister Harold Ockenga in three stages. First, Edward Carnell,
the school's second president, called for tolerance among theological viewpoints,
then the acceptance of Karl Barth-style theology in the late 1960s, and
finally "Post-Conservatism."
Blockbuster
Evangelism
Millions have been converted after seeing films about Jesus, and Hindu radicals
are responding with violence. Joshua Newton in Karnataka, India.
Colleges rarely delve into spiritual issues, students say in poll (The New York Times).
Operation
Christmas Child: Every gift is meant to be given to a certain child
Area churches are the drop-off points for the world's largest Christmas
project, which gives a gift found in a shoebox, to suffering children worldwide.
(Daily Courier, PA).
He'll
walk out of prison into the pulpit
The charismatic Baptist minister who served time for grand theft and racketeering
is set to preach.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A Baptist minister whose fall from grace began with
a fire his wife set at a home he had secretly bought with his mistress will
walk out of prison today and head directly to the pulpit. (By Vickie Chachere,
Associated Press, 11/30/2003 03:01 AM EST)
Christian
group fights the law with the law. By Steven G. Vegh / Knight Ridder
News Service
Having lost past battles over school prayer and abortion, evangelicals are
seething over recent rulings that plucked God from the Pledge of
Allegiance, spurned the Ten Commandments, and decriminalized sodomy.
And that was before Massachusetts' high court struck down a ban on same-sex
marriage earlier this month. Thursday, November 27, 2003 (Philadelphia Inquirer).
A
higher authority on energy By Alan J. Heavens / Inquirer Real
Estate Writer
An interfaith group ferrets out waste where lone houses of worship cannot.The
buildings that make up St. Timothy's Parish at Levick and Hawthorne Street
s in Northeast Philadelphia are vastly larger and more complex than the
red-brick rowhouses that surround them. ... the parish or synagogue figure
out how to lower costs. Sunday, November 23, 2003 (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Christian
History Corner: Thanksgiving in the Midst of Fear
Seriously ill in the days of the Black Plague, poet John Donne still celebrated
God's goodness. Updated by Philip Yancey and introduced by Christian History
editor Chris Armstrong.
November 23
Life after
'Mac'
Promise Keepers names new leader, looks ahead. Interview by Stan Guthrie.
The End
of Traditional Marriage?
Religious activists say Massachusetts decision is monumental—and may
be cause for revolt. Compiled by Ted Olsen.
Hugh Hefner's
Hollow Victory
How the magnate won the culture war, lost his soul, and left us with a mess
to clean up. By Read Mercer Schuchardt.
Reinhard
Bonnke, Benny Hinn, and Others Reportedly Bilked of $160M+ in Ponzi Scheme.
Christ for All Nations board member, four others arrested. Compiled by Ted
Olsen.
Dispatch
from Atlanta: What Fireworks?
Anxieties and attack turn to grace and truth as the Evangelical Theological
Society votes on Open Theism proponents' membership. By David Neff.
Evangelical
Scholars Remove Robert Gundry for His Views on Matthew
Did Matthew embellish his work with nonhistorical additions? By Leslie R.
Keylock in Dallas.
November 16
Federal
appeals court says RLUIPA is unconstitutional
The battle over the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act
of 2000 continues, this time with a major setback to the law. Last Friday,
a three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that
the law is "unconstitutional because it has the primary effect of advancing
religion."
Healing
Salve
United by Faith looks for answers to the problem of race. Reviewed by Cindy
Crosby.
Compassionate
Capitalism
How Christians are using fair trade to help the world's poor, missionaries,
and shoppers. By Rob Moll.
Islam
and the West
Islam in Context shows a religion at a crossroads. Reviewed by Cindy Crosby.
Faith
and Fantasy
The Gospel According to Tolkien reveals a deeply Christian work. Reviewed
by Cindy Crosby.
Todd Komarnicki:
Producer, Director, Writer and Believer
The producer of Elf explains how his Christian faith affects his career
as a Hollywood producer, director, and writer. Interview by Jeffrey Overstreet.
Books
& Culture's Books of the Week: Remember Afghanistan?
Two inside reports. By Albert Louis Zambone.
Mysteries of Faith 2003 is an in-depth chronicle of humanity's encounter with God by US News.
November 9
Gay Bishop
Consecrated Despite Objections
Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, head of the Episcopal Church USA, led the
service. By Douglas LeBlanc.
Bush Signs
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban
The court battle has already begun.
The Dick
Staub Interview: Pursuing God and Community
A self-described nerd says pursuing God and community is possible through
commitment.
Exegeting
The Matrix
A lot of spiritual stuff went into the Matrix films, but not as much as
some authors think. Reviewed by Todd Hertz.
Breaking
The Da Vinci Code
So the divine Jesus and infallible Word emerged out of a fourth-century
power-play? Get real. By Collin Hansen.
Books
& Culture's Books of the Week: From Dust to Dust
Soil and the future of creation. Reviewed by Ragan Sutterfield.
November 2
ETS Leadership
Issues Recommendations on Kicking Out Open Theists
Evangelical Theological Society's Executive Committee unanimously recommends
Clark Pinnock stay; majority says John Sanders should go. By Ted Olsen.
Mike Yaconelli
Dies in Truck Accident
The cofounder of Youth Specialties and The Door embodied Messy Spirituality.
Interview by Rob Moll.
Books
& Culture's Book of the Week: The Troubled Conscience of a Founding
Father
An Imperfect God examines George Washington and slavery. Reviewed by Preston
Jones.
Ancient
Christian Commentary on Current Events: What Is War Good For?
What early church leaders thought of Christians and the military. By Joel
Elowsky.
Discovering
Magdalene the apostle, not the fallen woman
Karen L. King and several other scholars, maintain that the church made
Mary Magdalene into a sinner in an attempt to denigrate women and to solidify
male leadership (The New York Times).
Combing
through lost articles of faith
Lost Scriptures and Lost Christianities discuss what didn't make it into
the canon (The Boston Globe).
October 2003
October 26
New
Afghan constitution juggles Koran and Democracy
The question now facing Afghans is: how to devise a constitution that combines
the country's deep-rooted Islamic traditions and its aspirations for democracy?
(New York Times).
The Truth
About Samaritan's Purse in Iraq
This past summer, pundits predicted that Iraqis would resent Franklin Graham's
ministry. What really happened when the workers showed up? By Kevin Begos.
"Under
God"
The history of a phrase (James Piereson, The Weekly Standard).
We Live
What We Believe
Luke Timothy Johnson talks about the importance of the creed—even for
non-creedal Christians.
Interviewed by David Neff.
Evangelical
society will decide whether to oust two members
Several hundred evangelical scholars will decide whether to expel two members
of the Evangelical Theological Society as heretics for their embrace of
open theism. (ChurchCentral.com).
This
is our heaven - or hell
For the great religions, this world matters more than the next (Karen Armstrong,
The Guardian, London).
John Paul
II's Canonization Cannon
Why and how this pope has made over 470 saints. By Steven Gertz.
Investing
as Love
Gary Moore's biblical approach to financial management. Reviewed by Cindy
Crosby.
Thinking
to Change Lives
Robert Louis Wilken explores early Christian thought. Reviewed by Cindy
Crosby.
October 19
Pope
John Paul II marks 25 tumultuous years
The pontiff's role in shaping events is unrivaled by any cleric in modern
history. Aides say he now wants to use his illness as inspiration (Los Angeles
Times).
After
plagiarism charges, National City Christian Church pastor takes leave
Alvin Jackson, the most prominent pastor in the Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ), which he also serves as moderator, is taking a leave of absence
to "regain strength—emotionally, physically and spiritually,"
The
Washington Post reported Saturday.
Sacred
Mysteries: Iraq's Chaldean Christians
Bishops want recognition of Chaldeans at least as an ethnic group (Christopher
Howse, The Daily Telegraph, London).
Bible
wars in public schools: No truce in sight
Suggestions to alleviate the plague of lawsuits over Bible courses and clubs
(Charles Haynes, First Amendment Center).
On this they
do agree
Evangelicals take the lead in human-rights activism (Allen D. Hertzke, The
Wall Street Journal).
School
may close Chicago homeless mission
The Pacific Garden Mission has been home to legendary evangelists like Billy
Sunday, a famous weekly radio drama and thousands of homeless men who are
offered a meal, a bed and a prayer (Associated Press).
America
obsessed with future apocalypse
There is no work in all literature that has been more misunderstood, prostituted,
exploited and abused than the Bible's final book, titled simply in the Greek,
"Apocalypse of John." (Tom Harpur, The Toronto Star).
Never-Ending
Gardens
Bruce Wilkinson and his son teach the hungry to feed themselves. By Timothy
C. Morgan.
Books
Sterling
Disagreement
Christopher Hall and John Sanders continue their debate over open theism.
Reviewed by Cindy Crosby.
Scholar's
book sees schism in Gospels
In recent years, books such as Elaine Pagels' have brought more information
about the diversity of early Christianity to the public (The Miami Herald).
Hell, yes
There's more to Jonathan Edwards than "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry
God." (Editorial, The Wall Street Journal).
Is
Jonathan Edwards history?
The contested legacy of the great Puritan—and what it tells us about
religion in America today. (John Wilson, Beliefnet).
Groundbreaking
Book Uncovers Bush's Beliefs
For those who might question whether the 43rd president of the United States
has genuine faith, a groundbreaking new book will be full of surprises.
Apocalypse
Without the Beasts
A high school teacher finds the sacred in all the "wrong places."
By Greg Taylor.
Movies
Hollywood's
Luther
From 95 Theses to 112 silver-screen minutes (Thomas Hibbs, National Review
Online).
Will
movie spark talk of Christian values?
Would Jack Chick's views dissuade you from seeing his film or screening
it for your congregation? Religious leaders respond (Los Angeles Times).
October 12
Pope to
Anglican head: "New and serious difficulties have arisen on the path
to unity"
In comments universally seen as critical of the Episcopal Church USA's confirmation
of a gay bishop, Pope John Paul II Saturday warned Archbishop Rowan Williams
that ecumenical efforts between the two leaders' churches were in danger.
Medicine
cured 'miracle' woman - not Mother Teresa, say doctors
The elevation of the Albanian-born Agnes Gonxha Bojahiu into Blessed Teresa
of Calcutta has its detractors (The Daily Telegraph, London).
Supreme
Court watch
It's going to be a busy
year for religion at the Supreme Court, as the justices will consider
both the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision against the use of the phrase
"under God" in classroom recitations of the Pledge of Allegiance,
and a challenge to Washington state's constitutional prohibition against
scholarships for religious studies. But it could have been an even bigger
year. This week, amid various
protests, the Supreme Court rejected several other cases, which could
have widespread consequences. In turning
aside Jacoby v. Prince, the Supreme Court allows
the World Changers Bible club to meet
at Spanaway Lake High School, a public school in Washington state, during
class time.
'Jesus
Tax' Plan Dies
Alabama's fiscal debate exposes a divide between Christians.
By Collin Hansen.
Influential
Things Come in Small Packages
Three friends, four spiritual laws, and other legacies of Bill Bright.
By Josh McDowell, Dave Hannah, and Rick Warren.
Promise
Keepers to shift direction under new chief
Undeterred by recent setbacks, the new president of Promise Keepers says
the Christian men's ministry is planning a gradual expansion into other
countries and the creation of smaller life-skills seminars to complement
its trademark arena rallies in the United States (The Denver Post).
Baylor
Reaps the Enlightenment Whirlwind
Ultimately, the challenge to creating a top-level Christian research university
lies in combating individualism gone awry. By Ralph C. Wood.
Man
jailed for 'honor killing'
A businessman was jailed for life yesterday for murdering his daughter's
boyfriend because he was a Christian (PA, U.K.).
Paul's
letters of tolerance
Thanks to Paul, Christianity has never really been a religion that used
the Bible as a code of law (Christopher Rowland, The Guardian, London).
When Denominations
Divide
The two-century-old "Unitarian controversy" suggests a grim prognosis
for the current crisis in the Episcopal Church. By Collin Hansen.
October 5
John
Paul II announces 31 new cardinals
The 'princes of the church' are named earlier than expected, raising more
questions about the 83-year-old pope's health (Los Angeles Times).
Holy Marriage
How it ravishes our souls. An exclusive excerpt from Philip Yancey's Rumors
of Another World.
The Dick Staub
Interview: Philip Yancey, the Rumor-Monger
The author's latest is written not for Christians, but for those on the
"borderlands of belief."
The Good
Effects of the Good News
A convert from Islam answers critics hostile to the Christian mission. Jonathan
Bonk reviews Lamin Sanneh's Whose Religion Is Christianity?
The Defender
of the Good News: Questioning Lamin Sanneh
The Yale historian and missiologist talks about his conversion, Muslim-Christian
relations, Anglican troubles, and the future of Christianity. Interviewed
by Jonathan J. Bonk.
Disciples
of Christ leader busted for "borrowing liberally" from Lew Smedes,
Baltimore Sun
Speaking of 9/11 rememberances, The
Washington Post reports that Chalice
Press has withdrawn its book on the tragedy: Shaken
Foundations: Sermons From America's Pulpits After the Terrorist Attacks.
Disciples World, a magazine
of the Disciples of Christ denomination, found that more than half of one
of its chapters was lifted without attribution from How
Can It Be All Right When Everything Is All Wrong?, a 1982 book from
the late Lew Smedes. The rest of it, it turns out, was largely culled from
a Baltimore
Sun article.
Church-and-state
standoffs spread over USA
From Winder, Ga., to Everett, Wash., Americans are squaring off in courthouses,
classrooms and city halls over religious monuments in government buildings
and parks (USA Today).
Campus Collisions
Why InterVarsity Christian Fellowship was "derecognized" at some
of America's leading universities. By Andy Crouch.
Promise
Keepers' VP ascends to presidency
Thomas Fortson, a former General Motors executive who has served as a Promise
Keepers executive vice president through seven tumultuous years, was named
Wednesday as president of the Denver-based Christian men's movement.
A
film of biblical proportions
Controversial evangelical cartoonist Jack Chick makes film debut with "The
Light of the World." (Rancho Cucamonga Voice, Calif.). I use to love
to read Chick tracts, but sadly, much of the information in the tracts is
not true.
September 2003
September 28
Kenneth Hagin,
'Word of Faith' Preacher, Dies at 86
His life and beliefs.
'Rumors'
about people who say they're 'spiritual but not religious'
Yancey's latest isn't directed at Christians, but toward those who are in
what he calls "the borderlands of belief" (The Tennessean, Nashville).
New
Mormon aim: Reach out to blacks
It's a tricky feat. In the not-too-distant past, the Mormon faithful were
routinely taught that blacks were an inferior race (Los Angeles Times).
Billions of
government dollars no longer off-limits to faith-based organizations
The White House yesterday announced regulatory changes that will make it
easier for religious organizations to compete for federal funds. In addition,
it proposed six other rules to "level the playing field" in funding
social services. See h
A Reformer's
Agony
A high-caliber film shows how messy it was when Luther helped change the
course of history.
Luther, reviewed by Chris Armstrong.
September 21
13 Hindu
Extremists Convicted of Murdering Missionary Graham Staines and His Sons
Compiled by Ted Olsen.
Focus
on the Family can sue over rejected ads, court says
In 2001, a Florida bus company refused to post advertisements for a Focus
on the Family conference on homosexuality called "Love
Won Out." Focus sued,
but the case was thrown out. Now it's back
in, thanks to a decision
from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (the same court that Focus on
the Family founder James Dobson castigated for its decision against Alabama
Chief Justice Roy Moore and his Ten Commandments monument).
Is
Buddhism good for your health?
Researchers are making the case that Eastern-style meditation is good not
just for your emotional well-being but also for your physical state (The
New York Times Magazine).
Ailing
Pope ends trip amid concern it may be his last
John Paul II is unable to complete a speech or sermon on his four-day visit
to Slovakia (Los Angeles Times).
Garner
Ted Armstrong dies at 73
TV evangelist formed own church after break with father (Los Angeles
Times).
The
prophet of profit sows the seeds of wealth
Encouraged to "sow seeds" of prosperity, followers attending E.
Bernard Jordan's services in Manhattan and, since July, at the church's
new retreat in the Sullivan County hamlet of Woodbourne, donate or pledge
sums of as much as $10,000—contributions that they expect to bring
them greater wealth (The Record, Middletown, N.Y.).
The
Church's Hidden Jewishness
Hebrew thinking in a Greek world. In the Shadow of the Temple, reviewed
by David Neff.
Breaking
Down the Faith/Learning Wall
How the history of Christians in higher education has stacked the deck against
Robert Sloan's "new Baylor." By Collin Hansen
The Ph.D.
Octopus, 100 Years On
How Christians can make a difference in the upside-down world of graduate
school. By Wilfred M. McClay.
September 14
Signs
of hope in a secular age
The International Church Council Project is the organizational result of
evangelicalism's 25-year process to affirm historical biblical inerrancy
and the Bible's historical interpretation on today's heresies. (Tom Terry,
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).
National
Baptist Convention will have impacts
One feature of this year's convention will be to focus on economics and
to improve networking among African-Americans. Another session has been
set aside to look at health problems peculiar to the black community (The
Kansas City Star).
Surveys
show opinions of religious and nonreligious folk
Pollsters are finding that Americans' attitudes toward religion, politics,
and morals are shifting (David Yount, Scripps Howard News Service)
Promise
Keepers head to step down
Bill McCartney, who revealed his decision during a quarterly board of directors
meeting, said he wants to care for his ill wife and spend more time with
his family (The Denver Post).
Roy Moore
criticizes Commandments display
You would think that suspended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore would be
happy about his governor's new display of the Ten Commandments, which was
installed Tuesday in the old Supreme Court library room in the Capitol.
But he's not. Actually, it's the posting of the Magna Carta, the Mayflower
Compact, and the Declaration of Independence along with the Ten Commandments
that Moore is upset about.
Graduating
in faith
There's an enrollment boom among evangelical Protestant and conservative
Roman Catholic colleges as more baby boomers opt for a Christian education
for their children (The Washington Times).
West,
Meet East
Who Are the Christians in the Middle East? examines millions of forgotten
believers.
Uneasy
Unity
Christians take different paths as "road map" hits impasse. By
Sheryl Henderson Blunt.
Nice
guys finish first
Inspired by the Good Book, Max Lucado's books reach heavenly sales levels
(Publishers Weekly).
Church
on the Ropes
Why so many are "spiritual, but not Christian" God Outside
the Box, reviewed by Cindy Crosby.
Christian
author explores 'borderlands of belief'
While most best-selling Christian authors have offered answers, Philip Yancey
presents questions (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).
Sermon
illustration alert update
Two weeks ago, Weblog noted
a New York
Times story about thieves who broke into Manhattan's Church of the Holy
Cross and worked hard to remove a statue of Jesus from a crucifix before
they stole it, leaving the cross behind. (The moral: We sinners want Jesus
without the cross.) Today comes a report that the
Jesus statue turned up by the garbage in the alley by the church. Police
told The New York Times that the garbage had been picked up since the theft,
so someone must have brought the statue back. The moral of the story now:
When we try to take Jesus into our lives without taking up the cross, we
always end up rejecting Jesus in the end.
September 7
Egyptian
law dean plans suit against "all the Jews of the world" for Exodus
theft
When, after the Ten Plagues, Pharaoh finally let Moses lead the Israelites
out of Egypt, says the book of Exodus, the former slaves "plundered
the Egyptians." Now, more than three millennia later, Egypt wants its
stuff back.
Family
Christian Stores to open on Sunday
Noting a company poll that found 80 percent of its customers shop on Sundays,
with 89 percent of these eager to shop at its stores if they were open,
Family Christian Stores, the country's largest Christian retail chain, announced
that it would open on the traditional day of rest.
Lebanon
acquits Canadian missionary
Citing a "lack of evidence," a Lebanese military tribunal on Monday
cleared Canadian missionary Bruce Balfour, who went to the country to replant
its biblical cedars, of charges that he was a spy for Israel.
Black
music from Scotland? It could be the gospel truth
Willie Ruff, an Afro-American professor of music at Yale, is adamant—he
has traced the origins of gospel music to Scotland (Scotland on Sunday).
VeggieTales
Creators File for Bankruptcy
Bob the Tomato and friends sold to company that already has Lassie, Lone
Ranger, and Rudolph.
House
wrapping up billon faith-based charities
One of the first items on the House agenda this month is a scaled-down version
of President Bush's faith-based plan, consisting largely of tax incentives
to encourage donations to religious charities (The Washington Times).
Why Don't
They Listen?
John Stott on the most pernicious obstacles to effective world evangelism.
Interview by Gary Barnes.
Florida
executes unrepentant abortion-clinic murderer Hill
His last words were a call to arms for abortion opponents (The Orlando Sentinel).
Lowering
the Baby Boom
A new book helps Christians make wise birth control decisions.
Reviewed by Cindy Crosby.
Homeschooling: A web site for basics at http://www.coreknowledge.org. Resource Helper at http://www.reasons.org/resources/products/resourcehelper.shtml?main
The Lord
of the Rings: What Harvest?
A reader's guide to the best of epic fantasy.
In
defense of God
A number of liberal atheists condemn belief in God as destructive nonsense,
but their simplistic arguments are no better than the religious zealots
they deplore (Bradford R. Pilcher, Jewsweek).
Q
& A with David Wilkinson: 'Science is exploring what God has done'
The ordained Methodist minister holds a doctorate in theoretical astrophysics
and has received a number of scientific honors including the Chalmers Prize
for Theoretical Physics and the Reidel Research Prize (The Dallas Morning
News).
August 2003
August 24
Thousands
Rally in Montgomery for Ten Commandments Display
Ruling called "effort to set the stage for religious persecution."
Doubt
and Meaning
Joni Eareckson Tada's poignant memoir probes God's use of suffering.
The
Unintentional Ethicist
How three assumptions about God can shape the moral choices we are called
to make. An excerpt from My God and I by Lewis B. Smedes
Audit's
lesson was 'painful' for evangelist
Hank Hanegraaff and auditors won't say how much was repaid to the Christian
Research Institute or by whom. Critics allege whitewash (Los Angeles Times).
Astrologers
fail to predict proof they are wrong
Good news for rational, level-headed Virgoans everywhere: just as you might
have predicted, scientists have found astrology to be rubbish (The Daily
Telegraph, London).
The Christian-Muslim
divide
Christians have tended to respond in one of two ways: Some want to learn
about Islam and find common values, while others stress fundamental dangers
in Islam that need to be confronted (The Wichita Eagle).
Atheists
find their comfort in numbers
This weekend, leaders of seven like-minded but distinct national groups
will participate in the Minnesota Atheists Conference, which organizers
say will be an unprecedented gathering of freethinkers of various persuasions
(Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.).
Faith
and works
Lisa Jardine reviews For the Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations,
Science, Witch-Hunts, and The End of Slavery by Rodney Stark (The Washington
Post).
A
push to map the mystical
As researchers study how spiritual experiences happen inside the brain,
theologians question the point (The Baltimore Sun).
August 17
Louisiana Rep. to head Family Research Council
The Family Research Council has named Louisiana State Rep. Tony Perkins as
its new president, effective September 1, calling him "the leading opponent
of Louisiana's gambling industry and one of the state's most vocal prolife
advocates." "The very bedrock of our society and nation, the institution
of marriage, is under attack," Focus on the Family founder James Dobson,
an FRC board member, said in a press release. "I can't think of anyone more prepared to lead
FRC and to promote and defend the sanctity of marriage and the family at
this time than Tony Perkins." See http://www.frc.org/?i=PR03H02
Kevin Leman
Talks
The author of The Birth Order Book looks at the private lives of
Christian couples in Sheet Music: Uncovering the Secrets of Intimacy
in Marriage. See http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/132/22.0.html
Could Rastas and
Christians Really Unite?
There's more in common than you might think, but some factors keep adherents
wary of one another. See http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/132/31.0.html
Right wing fears being terminated The Schwarzenegger phenomenon is so disturbing for those who have staked their careers on their unwavering conservative credentials (Diane Carman, The Denver Post). See http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~115~1566977,00.html
Church must stop preaching to the converted, say ad agencies Traditional images of Christ on the cross and biblical quotations in bill-board adverts are a turn-off for church goers, advertisers have proclaimed today (The Guardian, London). See http://media.guardian.co.uk/advertising/story/0,7492,1018088,00.html
Debate exists about whether the Bible is entirely error-free Nowadays, inerrancy is championed almost exclusively by conservative Protestants (Associated Press). See http://www.dodgeglobe.com/stories/080803/chu_0808030041.shtml
Believers in the lost Ark Treating myth as fact misunderstands the meaning of religion (Karen Armstrong, The Guardian, London). See http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,2763,1015350,00.html
Dr.
Laura loses her religion Radio host drops Judaism, 'envies' Christian
friends (Forward)
See http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.08.15/news2.html
I Lost It
Noted missiologist Ruth Tucker shines a light on the netherworld of apostasy
in Walking Away from Faith. See http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/008/33.60.html
Book of
the Week: 'A Golden Age' of Religious Tolerance?
The Ornament of the World analyzes how the intellectual elites of
medieval Spain eschewed fundamentalism and showed surprising sensitivity
in reconciling competing truths. See http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/132/12.0.html
August 10
Darkness
in the Afternoon
Openly homosexual Episcopal priest cleared of misconduct, confirmed as bishop.
Newly confirmed bishop-elect Gene Robinson's dark night of the soul lasted
24 hours as church officials considered last-minute allegations against
him and then declared him innocent. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/131/31.0.html
Moore's Ten Commandments ordered to be removed by August 20
Alabama Chief Justice
Roy Moore has
two weeks to remove the
5,280-pound
display of the Ten Commandments from the state judicial building rotunda.
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson, who last November ruled that the display
was unconstitutional, made good yesterday on his promise to issue a 15-day
removal order once the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Moore's
appeal. See
http://miva.jacksonsun.com/miva/cgi-bin/miva?NEWS/news_story.mv+link=200308065252804
Banished for being 'born again,' monarch dethroned Why was the king's 13-year rulership terminated? At the centre of the crisis was the monarch's alleged disregard for tradition on the ground that he was a born-again Christian (Vanguard, Lagos, Nigeria). See http://allafrica.com/stories/200308040944.html
Looking at education, religiously Christian Educators Assn. celebrates 50th year at 34th annual convention at Hilton Glendale (News-Press, La Crescenta, Calif.). See http://www.latimes.com/news/local/glendale/news/la-gnp-christian25jul25.story
To be Catholic in America A review of Peter Steinfels's A People Adrift (Kevin Starr, Los Angeles Times). See http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/books/la-bk-starr3aug03.story
Robertson's indefensible doctrine It's high time for believers to repudiate "Christian nation" politics and the moral corruption it invites (Joseph Loconte). See http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed073103b.cfm
Lighter side of religion: Whatever their faith, readers poke some fun A collection of religion jokes (The Tennessean, Nashville). See http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/03/08/37053143.shtml?Element_ID=37053143
The Dick Staub Interview: Why God Is like Jazz
Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz,
talks about why Christians need writers who honestly deal with their faults.
See http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/131/24.0.html
Finding God in Small Groups
Tom Albin's doctoral research reveals why the Wesley's system worked so
well. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/008/2.42.html
Magazine version of the Bible draws young female readers I have never seen a Bible like Revolve, the name that Thomas Nelson Inc. has given to this magazine edition of the New Testament (David Crumm, Detroit Free Press). See http://www.freep.com/news/religion/crumm30_20030730.htm
Church burns Bibles And other tales of brotherly love (Bob Bankard,
PhilllyBurbs.com)
See
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/212-08062003-136546.html
Does
The Da Vinci Code crack Leonardo? The short answer is no. (The
New York Times)
See
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/03/arts/design/03BOUC.html
Symposiums to look at whether DNA refutes Book of Mormon. Murphy published an essay last year, based on DNA evidence, claiming that the Book of Mormon cannot be what the LDS Church claims it is -- a record of the American Indian descendants of Lehi, a Hebrew who migrated with his family to the New World in about 600 B.C. DNA samples taken from native tribes in south, central and north America have shown that their principal ancestors were from northeast Asia, not Israel -- a fact conceded by both sides in the debate. Murphy says, "It's possible for a small group to have not left a trace. But that's not what the Book of Mormon describes." The book describes a vast Nephite civilization, and its existence until the end of time is prophesied. Moreover, church leaders, including founder Joseph Smith, taught that Lamanites are the ancestors of native Americans. "There is sufficient evidence to draw a conclusion and that conclusion is that the Book of Mormon is not accurate historically," says Murphy. See http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Aug/08072003/utah/81906.asp
Books & Culture's Books of the Week: Looking for the 'I'
What happens to the self when the brain is injured or malformed?
Reviewed by Heather Looy. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/131/17.0.html
August 3
Put
Yourself in Jesus Shoes
Within 48 hours, a supermarket chain pulls shoes with Jesus' image from
the shelves.
By Ted Olsen. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/007/29.13.html
Ken Connor Resigns from Family Research Council
Former trial lawyer now considering Senate bid favors judicial strategy
over Federal Marriage Amendment. By Tony Carnes. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/130/31.0.html
The price of healing | For critics of extravagant faith healer Benny Hinn, the Good Book isn't enough. They want his ministry to be an open book (Los Angeles Times Magazine). See http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/magazine/la-tm-benny30jul27.story
Showdown at Baylor, Continued See http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/130/21.0.html
Vatican seeks to stop okays for gay unions | Instructions to be released this week outline a course of action for politicians and other lay people to oppose extending the rights accorded to traditional couples (Associated Press). See http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030729/ap_on_re_eu/vatican_gay_marriage
'U.S. Credibility Hangs on Whether It Can Do Justice for the Palestinians'
A Palestinian Christian and former PCUSA moderator talks about his faith
and critiques Bush's road map to peace in the Middle East. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/130/51.0.html
Reaching for the Invisible God by Philip Yancey. Award winning book. Reviews at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0310247306/qid=1059847821/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/002-7353505-4548840?v=glance&s=books
July 2003
July 27
Bill Bright Dies at 81
Bill Bright, founder of
Campus Crusade for Christ and one of
the most successful evangelists of the 20th century, fought pulmonary fibrosis
since his
diagnosis in late 2000—but he never feared it. Bright took his
last breath Saturday at his Orlando home, surrounded by his family. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/129/11.0.html
Carmen Renee Berry's Unabashedly Consumerist Handbook to Ecclesiology
The author of The Unauthorized Guide to Choosing a Church helps
seekers find their best congregational fit. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/129/21.0.html
Traditional Values Coalition, accused of lying and bribery, is banned
from Capitol Hill for a year
Is Lou Sheldon's
Traditional Values Coalition (TVC) involved in bribery and extortion?
Those are just some of the accusations being leveled against it this week.
What's more, those accusations are coming from prolife conservatives, furious
over the
organization's campaign to stop
a bill allowing the
importation of prescription drugs from Canada and Europe. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/129/22.0.html
Robertson's role in GOP questioned
The televangelist's stands often seem extreme. Some wonder if they hurt
party outreach efforts. See http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/6391336.htm
Abuse scandal far deeper than disclosed, report says | Victims of clergy may exceed 1,000, Mass. Attorney General estimates. See http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/205/metro/Abuse_scandal_far_deeper_than_disclosed_report_says+.shtml
Ft. Worth's Tyndale Theological Seminary ordered to pay $173,000 fine
for awarding diplomas, calling itself a seminary
Concerned about diploma mills, the Texas Legislature in 1975 passed a law
barring unaccredited schools from using the word "seminary" in
their titles and from using "bachelor, master, and doctor" in
their degree titles. See
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/local/6377512.htm
Turning the Mainline Around
New sociological studies show that evangelicals may well succeed at renewing
wayward Protestantism. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/008/1.34.html
Breakthrough Dancing
A look at the one of the most creative youth ministries in Hong Kong—if
not the world. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/007/6.54.html
Is the Babywise method right for you? | What you should know about Babywise and Growing Kids God's Way by Gary Ezzo(TulsaKids). See http://www.tulsakids.com/july-1.html
Challenging the Qur'an | A German scholar contends that the Islamic text has been mistranscribed and promises raisins, not virgins (Newsweek International). See http://www.msnbc.com/news/940974.asp
A view from the experts: Modern society still needs spirituality (Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette)
See
http://www.post-gazette.com/neigh_washington/20030720waexpert5.asp
July 20
Christian
networks battle over Dish Network
Three major Christian television networks are battling each other in a satellite
broadcasting fight that has gone largely unreported. In April, Dominion
Video Satellite, which owns the Sky Angel
satellite service, sued Echostar, the parent company of Dish
Network, saying it violated a 1996 contract. Sky Angel, the company
said, had exclusive rights to air Christian content on the Dish Network.
So what were the Daystar Television
Network and FamilyNet TV doing
on new Dish channels? See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/128/22.0.html
Christian Research Institute Accused of 'Naïve' Bookkeeping
Report by whistleblowers to Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
prompts ministry to pay back funds, shore up accountability. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/008/6.19.html
Believers tout the healing powers of evangelist Hinn, critics dispel them | No televangelist is bigger than Hinn, whose ministry takes in an estimated $100 million a year (The Colorado Springs Gazette). See http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/6307137.htm
Big
Idea Productions says it's looking for a buyer
Earlier this month, federal judge Barbara M.G. Lynn of Texas upheld
the decision of a jury that Big Idea
Productions, creators of the VeggieTales, owed a former distributor
more than $11 million for breach of an unsigned contract. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/128/31.0.html
Anglicans move to repair 200-year rift with Methodists | The Church of England took the first steps towards healing a 200-year-old rift with the Methodist Church yesterday when the General Synod voted in favour of a "covenant" scheme (The Daily Telegraph, London). See http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/07/14/nsyn114.xml
Pat Robertson loses it in attack on high court | If his followers pray hard enough, God might make these sick and elderly justices see the wisdom of retiring, he said, although the underlying suggestion seemed to be that if they don't, they could be struck dead (Sheryl McCarthy, Newsday\). See http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/newyork/columnists/ny-vpmcc173374414jul17,0,5207384.column?coll=ny-ny-columnists
Baylor's president faces off against critics this week amid multiple
controversies
Last November, Christianity Today
published a story about Baylor
University, the world's largest Baptist institution of higher education,
and President Robert Sloan's efforts to make it "the finest Christian
institution of higher learning on this planet." See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/128/54.0.html
Court: Religious clubs can meet during school day | Public schools may not bar student religious clubs from meeting during student-activity periods held during the school day, a federal appeals court ruled yesterday (The Philadelphia Inquirer). See http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/6311516.htm
St. Louis Archbishop to take over Philadelphia archdiocese | Archbishop Justin F. Rigali was appointed by Pope John Paul II to succeed Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua, who is retiring (The New York Times). See http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/16/national/16BISH.html
The meaning behind the words | Are the Bible, Torah and Koran meant to be taken literally? (Daily Pilot/Los Angeles Times). See http://www.latimes.com/news/local/pilot/features/religion/la-dpt-theory12jul12.story
Progress Through Theology
An interview with Rodney Stark, author of For
the Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-hunts,
and the End of Slavery. By David Neff. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/128/52.0.html
European Christianity's 'Failure to Thrive'
Why Christendom, born with an imperial bang, is now fading away in an irrelevant
whimper.
By Collin Hansen. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/128/55.0.html
July 13
Larry Burkett
dies
Christian financial adviser Larry
Burkett died Friday in Gainesville, Georgia, after a long battle with
kidney cancer and heart problems. Earlier last week, doctors at the Mississippi
Medical Center found him free of cancer,
The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mississippi, reported. See
http://www.demossnewspond.com/crown/index.htm
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/127/32.0.html
When Larry Burkett Spoke, Evangelicals Listened
After a long struggle with cancer, "evangelicalism's financial answer
man" died last week at age 64. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/007/2.44.html
Bush Africa visit lifts hopes of U.S. missionaries | Many hope a trip by President Bush to Africa this week will help advance their version of God's cause (Reuters). See http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=ourWorldNews&storyID=3055861
Watch that Invocation
Prayer in Jesus' name forbidden in California legislative meetings. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/008/11.25.html
How 'under God' got in there | With Eisenhower present, D.C. pastor's sermon sparked quest to change pledge (The Washington Post). See http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A30720-2002Jul5¬Found=true
Are Evangelicals Fueling Teen Fascination with the Powers of Darkness?
The horror of Buffy Summers and the fantasy of Harry Potter draw from conservative
religious imagery while fans feed on conservative opposition, says the author
of From Angels to Aliens. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/127/51.0.html
Life has a spiritual side, even without faith in God | Many secularists I've met over the years care just as deeply about life's enduring values as the believers who surround them (David Crumm, Detroit Free Press). See http://www.freep.com/news/religion/crumm9_20030709.htm
Book of the Week: One-Hit Wonder
The long swansong of Madalyn Murray O'Hair. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/127/12.0.html
July 6
Alabama
Supreme Court Ten Commandments display ruled unconstitutional
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday ruled Alabama Chief Justice
Roy Moore's 5,300-pound Ten Commandments monument an
unconstitutional state establishment of religion. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/126/31.0.html
Malawi's
minority Muslims riot against Christians
Angry about the deportation of five foreign nationals suspected of belonging
to the al Qaeda terror network, Muslims in the African nation of Malawi
rioted for two days, targeting Christians. Seven churches in two cities
were damaged, as were the national offices of the aid agency Save the Children.
See http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/126/12.0.html
Time's Cover Story on Missions to Muslims Arrives. See http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/125/11.0.html
Mel Gibson
visits Focus on the Family, National Association of Evangelicals
Seeking positive reaction and response to his film The Passion, Mel Gibson
screened the film to hundreds of pastors at Focus on the Family's Colorado
Springs headquarters last Thursday. See
http://www.gazette.com/popupNews.php?id=408774
Jerry Falwell gets control of JerryFalwell.com
Just three months after a Virginia judge
threw out Jerry Falwell's case against an Illinois man's parody site,
JerryFalwell.com, the Southern Baptist pastor gained control of
the domain. See
http://www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=LNA%2FMGArticle%2FLNA_BasicArticle&c=MG&cid=1031769832166&path=!n
Vatican says celibacy rule nonnegotiable | One of the major thrusts of the document is a reiteration of Christianity's heritage in Europe (Associated Press). See http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030628/ap_on_re_eu/vatican_celibacy
Did Bush say God told him to strike Iraq?
Buried at the end of an article in the Tel Aviv daily newspaper
Ha'aretz Sunday was a very, very interesting quote from Palestinian
Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, who has been talking with President George
Bush about peace in the region. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/126/41.0.html
Bush says Federal Marriage Amendment may not be necessary
Yesterday, he was asked if he supported the
Federal Marriage Amendment, which would define marriage as a union between
a man and a woman. "I don't know if it's necessary yet," Bush
said (video
|
audio). "Let's let the lawyers look at the full ramifications of
the recent Supreme Court hearing. What I do support is the notion that marriage
is between a man and a woman." See
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1097-2003Jul2.html
White House to Congress: Let religious organizations use religion in
hiring decisions
In a position paper released to members of Congress, the White House says
"religious hiring rights" are part of faith-based organizations'
civil rights, and should not be restricted even if the organizations receive
public money. See
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28678-2003Jun24.html
'Guidance, not a sermon' | Cornerstone Festival offers a view of God as a creative muse (Peoria Journal Star, Ill.). See http://www.pjstar.com/news/topnews/g169434a.html
Sojourners editor wants to inspire people to improve the world | The biggest conflict facing people of faith today is not between belief and secularism, says Jim Wallis. It's between hope and cynicism. (San Antonio Express-News, Tex.). See http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=180&xlc=1018255
Going It Alone
We should take heed when much of the world says it distrusts us.
By Philip Yancey. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/007/46.72.html
Christian History Corner: From Beer to Bibles to VBS
How America got its favorite summer tradition.
By Steven Gertz. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/126/43.0.html
June 2003
June 22
Doctrinal
Aftershocks
Worldwide Church of God seeks a new start in face of fresh opposition.
By Marshall Allen. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/007/14.22.html
Avoiding Rights Talk
An interview with David Koyzis, author of Political
Visions & Illusions.
By David Neff. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/124/12.0.html
Many evangelicals side with Israel in Mideast dispute | Critics of the alliance between American Jews and Christian conservatives say they are worried that the partnership is generating too much influence on Capitol Hill and could drown out the Palestinian perspective (Fox News). See http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,89387,00.html
Uganda's
rebels begin attacking churches
Last week, Joseph Kony, head of the Lord's Resistance Army of Uganda,
ordered his troops to attack Christians in the northern part of the
country. See http://allafrica.com/stories/200306190466.html
Ex-Islam Leader Now a 'Bible-Quoting Baptist'
A one-time fiery younger leader in the Nation of Islam is now a Christian
preacher. Conrad Tillard is emerging from "a 5-year metamorphosis that
has transformed him from a fist-shaking black nationalist to a Bible-quoting
Baptist," "The New York Times" reported. See
http://www.charismanews.com/a.pl?ArticleID=7732
A Creative Youth Group Activity That Will Get Your Church Sued
Family alleges "serious, painful and permanent injuries" after
persecuted church simulation. Compiled by Ted Olsen
See http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/124/13.0.html
Most Evangelicals Like Harry Potter. Really.
See http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/124/42.0.html
Big Idea Loses Suit
Jury says creator of VeggieTales owes $11 million to ex-distributor.
By Todd Hertz. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/007/10.18.html
Some claiming group offers empty promises | A Christian-focused male fellowship known for packing arenas across the country will descend on the Pepsi Arena in downtown Albany Saturday, but not everyone is looking forward to the visit (Troy Record, N.Y.). See http://www.troyrecord.com/site/news.cfm?newsID=8407161&=461&dept_ID=7021&rfi=6
Valley stunned by arrest of O'Brien in fatal hit-and-run | Prelate's new calamity throws Arizona's Catholic leadership deeper into limbo and rocks a diocese that has endured months of scrutiny about priests accused of misconduct with children (The Arizona Republic). See http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0617obrien-main17.html
Norma McCorvey files motion to vacate her Roe v. Wade decision
Norma McCorvey, the "Jane Roe" of the historic 1973 Roe
v. Wade case that legalized abortion across the U.S., filed a motion
this morning in Dallas to reopen and overturn her case. McCorvey, who
became a prolife Christian in the mid-1990s, is backed by the Texas
Justice Foundation. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/124/21.0.html
Deepening crisis as Methodists celebrate Wesley | Overshadowing the 300th anniversary celebrations is the parlous state of the institution, which is struggling with declining numbers, financial difficulties and plunging morale (The Daily Telegraph, London). See http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/06/16/nwes/2003/06/16/ixhome.html
How John Wesley Changed America
His 300th birthday should be a red-letter day on this side of the ocean.
After all, we're all Wesleyans now. By Chris Armstrong. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/124/53.0.html
The heresy that saved a skeptic | What was it, Elaine Pagels wondered, that made Christianity so compelling, despite the obstacles of doctrine? (The New York Times). See http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00E15F83D5C0C778DDDAF0894DB404482
June 15
O Father where art thou? | Christianity is becoming a minority faith in Europe, as church attendance falls, the clergy ages, and scandals and harsh doctrine drive people away. But the faith is reappearing—and thriving—in all sorts of unexpected places. A search for God in Europe, 2003 (Time Europe). See http://www.time.com/time/europe/html/030616/story.html
New Hampshire Episcopalians elect gay bishop
Episcopalians in the Diocese of New Hampshire overwhelmingly
elected
V. Gene Robinson to be their next bishop Saturday, marking the first
time that an Anglican diocese has picked an openly noncelibate gay man for
the post. In 1990, Robinson announced that he was gay, and left his wife
and two daughters. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/123/11.0.html
What would Jesus do? Sock it to Alabama's corporate landowners | Alabama's Republican governor thinks he can convince the voters that Christian theology calls for a tax system that is fairer to the poor (Adam Cohen, The New York Times) See http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/10/opinion/10TUE4.html?tntemail1
The evolving James Robison | To some, Robison's transformation has given him mainstream influence and standing. Perhaps as a result, he now has critics on both the right and the left (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) See http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/6062774.htm
Idled hospital slated for religious revival | Bill Gothard will take over Nashville Memorial Hospital in Madison (Nashville Business Journal). See http://nashville.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2003/06/09/story1.html
Apocalypse soon | Evangelicals in the US believe there is a biblical basis for opposing the Middle East road map (Giles Fraser, The Guardian, London). See http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/comment/0,10551,973445,00.html
Christian bands, crossing over | A new crop of bands has broadened the appeal of Christian rock by emphasizing musical originality rather than a sermonizing message (The New York Times). See http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/10/arts/music/10CHRI.html
Film Forum: Good, Bad, and Ugly Christians in the Movies
Readers and film critics remember the best and worst portrayals of Christians
on the big screen. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/123/41.0.html
Book inspires worship sensation | "The Purpose-Driven Life" has struck a nerve and sold more than 2.7 million copies, lifting it to the No. 2 spot on the New York Times' hardcover advice list. (Knight Ridder). See http://goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030607/LIFESTYLES03/106070261
Give us
back our atheist pastor, says church
Remember
Thorkild Grosboel, the Lutheran pastor from Taarbaek, Denmark, who was
suspended for saying in a magazine interview, "There is no heavenly
God, there is no eternal life, there is no resurrection"? The story
gets even stranger—now hundreds of his church members have gathered
to protest his suspension. See
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s877813.htm
Forced by Logic
It took philosophy and a friend to convince this atheist. By Agnieszka Tennant.
See http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/006/36.48.html
June 8
Focus on Family prepares for future without its founder | Hodel's new role will largely be behind the scenes, but his decision-making will be critical as the organization seeks to groom others to succeed Dobson, broaden its reach to younger families and keep donations coming (The Denver Post). See http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~1429536,00.html
Habitat for Humanity to open slum 'theme park' | Millard Fuller, founder of the organization, said he expects the Global Village & Discovery Center to attract as many as 70,000 tourists in its first year of operation (Reuters). See http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030602/od_nm/habitat_dc_1 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2955604.stm
Faith, fun attract flocks | Orlando is moving toward becoming "the Las Vegas of the evangelical world" (The Orlando Sentinel). See http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-asecreligionentertainmay31,0,1?coll=orl-news-headlines
Cracks in Jefferson's wall | It's good to see that common sense prevailed in the compromise that will allow a religious song to be sung during graduation ceremonies at Winneconne High School on June 8 (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel). See http://www.jsonline.com/news/editorials/may03/144806.asp
'New' Jim Bakker Returns to Christian Television. Though he once said he would never start another Christian TV ministry, televangelist Jim Bakker is back on the air. "The New Jim Bakker Show" debuted 16 years to the day of his last broadcast of the "PTL Club," the flagship of a ministry empire that crashed amid headlines about financial and sexual scandal, and saw its head jailed for five years. To read more, go to: http://www.charismanews.com/a.pl?ArticleID=7671
Ted Haggard:
'This Is Evangelicalism's Finest Hour'
The new president of the National Association of Evangelicals talks about
the current state and future goals of the association and evangelicalism.
See http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/122/21.0.html
Was alleged Olympics bomber motivated by religion?
Is Eric Rudolph a Christian terrorist?
The Washington Post asks the question in yesterday's edition. "The
question is not just whether Rudolph is a terrorist, or whether he considers
himself a Christian," writes Alan Cooperman. "It is whether he
planted bombs at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, two abortion clinics,
and a gay nightclub to advance a religious ideology—and how numerous,
organized and violent others who share that ideology may be." Syracuse
University political science professor Michael Barkun, who has consulted
the FBI on "Christian extremist groups," is willing to use the
phrase. "Based on what we know of Rudolph so far, and admittedly it's
fragmentary, there seems to be a fairly high likelihood that he can legitimately
be called a Christian terrorist," he said. See
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1196-2003Jun1.html?nav=hptop_ts
and http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/122/22.0.html
'Boston Movement' Apologizes
Open letter prompts leaders of controversial church to promise reform.
By John W. Kennedy. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/006/13.23.html
Congress enacts first abortion restriction since Roe v. Wade
After a U.S. House of Representatives
vote last night (roll
call), the federal government will
finally ban partial-birth abortions, or what some abortion rights supporters
call "dilation and extraction." See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/122/42.0.html
American Life League questions prolife victories
The American Life League, a
$7.5 million/year organization that runs such antiabortion programs
as Rock for Life,
STOPP (Stop Planned Parenthood), Rachel's
Vineyard (for postabortion healing), and Campus
for Life (which was recently profiled by
The Washington Post) is earning a reputation as the wet blanket at the
prolife party. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/122/511.0.html
Data: Not keeping the faith| Is Christian fundamentalism in America on the rise? A Gallup poll analyzed in the March Scientific American by Rodger Doyle suggests a trend toward moderation among evangelical Christians (Reason). See http://reason.com/0306/data.shtml
Jazz, Jesus, and Liberation
In This Far By Faith, Juan Williams argues
that the spiritual journey of African Americans is essential to understanding
America. By John W. Kennedy. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/006/32.55.html
Christian unity in atheist bastion | Germany, where only one-third of its 3.5 million citizens belong to a church, is now the venue for a massive display of a deep yearning for Christian unity (UPI). See http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20030528-053129-5386r.htm
Harleys in Heaven
What Christians have thought of the afterlife, and what difference it makes
now.
By John G. Stackhouse. See
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/006/3.38.html
June 1
Survival Through Community. An interview with Charles Colson, author of Being the Body. By David Neff. See http://ChristianityToday.com/ct/2003/120/11.0.html
Conservative religious groups rejoice as Senate passes AIDS bill
Early Friday morning, the U.S. Senate
passed the
House's Global AIDS Bill, which triples the country's anti-AIDS expenditures
to $15 billion. See
http://ChristianityToday.com/ct/2003/120/12.0.html
No Strings Attached. Christians seek to balance relief work and evangelism in Iraq. By Dawn Herzog and Deann Alford. See http://ChristianityToday.com/ct/2003/006/5.44.html
The
New York Times focuses on evangelical attempts to "woo" Muslims
In May 2002, Mother Jones ran a cover article titled, "False
Prophets: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Aims to Eliminate Islam."
The shocking revelation of the article was that evangelical missionaries,
in a "stealth crusade," are serving in Muslim countries and sharing
their faith. It reported that the mission was to "wipe out Islam."
See http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/121/11.0.html
Supreme Court Will Take on 'Blaine Amendments' See http://ChristianityToday.com/ct/2003/120/21.0.html
Will Canada ban the Bible?
A year after a member of the Canadian Parliament proposed a bill that Christians
say
could censor Scripture, the mainstream media are finally catching up.
See
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030516/od_uk_nm/oukoe_canada_gay_1
Gracia Burnham: 'I Speak My Mind'. The former hostage talks openly about what she learned about God, her Muslim captors, and herself during her captivity. An exclusive interview with Gracia Burnham. See http://ChristianityToday.com/ct/2003/120/51.0.html
Haitians say ancient religion is often misunderstood | Though Catholicism is the dominant organized religion in Haiti, voodoo is widely practiced in the country (The Ledger, Lakeland, Fla.). See http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030518/NEWS/305180415/1004
Religious freedom for teachers on trial in Pennsylvania | In Pennsylvania, the church-state question is made more complicated by a 19th century law that originally had nothing to do with religious tolerance (Voice of America). See http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=16F0FC2D-80A2-4A62-9C3E7D863619868F
Why We Are Drawn to The Matrix. Chris Seay, coauthor of The Gospel Reloaded, says the first movie was about finding belief and the second looks at walking that path. See http://lists.christianitytoday.com/t/813269/936088/616/0/
The Prayer of Bruce
Instead of using one of those 555
phone numbers like you see in most movies, the creators of Bruce Almighty
decided to use a more realistic-sounding phone number for God. It turns
out the number was too realistic—it actually exists in many states—usually
on mobile phones. Now the
owners of those phones are getting inundated with calls for God. See
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/05/27/Tampabay/God_s_phone_rings_in_.shtml
Review of the movie at
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/121/42.0.html
Christianity Today Book Awards 2003. Evangelical leaders in numerous disciplines choose the year's top titles. See http://lists.christianitytoday.com/t/813269/936088/613/0/
Countdown to the end times | The world's demise gets lots of ink—and debate (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution). See http://www.ajc.com/living/content/epaper/editions/saturday/faith_values_e35c8737154560e90082.html
'God's Secretaries': Blessed Are the Phrasemakers | Adam Nicolson recounts the story of a committee that actually accomplished something: the King James Version (Christopher Hitchens, The New York Times Book Review) See http://query.nytimes.com/search/full-page?res=9501E7D9163FF93BA25756C0A9659C8B63
An atheist loses faith | The fall in churchgoing opens up a troubling void in society (Ruaridh Nicoll, The Observer). See http://www.observer.co.uk/comment/story/0,6903,958558,00.html
May 2003
May 18
SARS Comes to Church. The deadly illness has changed Asia's church life, but the uncertainty is bringing people to Christ. By Anil Stephen in Hong Kong. See http://ChristianityToday.com/ct/2003/006/17.28.html
Gracia Burnham's Book Throws Philippine Government into Turmoil. President orders investigation into claims that military and rebels colluded. But former missionary hostage says, "I am not pointing an accusing finger at anyone." By Ted Olsen. See http://ChristianityToday.com/ct/2003/118/53.0.html
Southern Baptist International Mission Board terminates 13 missionaries
who wouldn't sign statement
Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's
International Mission Board fired 13 missionaries who refused to sign
the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message by the
May 5 deadline issued by IMB president Jerry Rankin. Twenty other missionaries
tendered their resignation instead of signing, and 10 others chose early
retirement. See
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030509/ap_on_re_us/baptist_missionaries_1
Missionaries' killer gets death penalty
Abed Abdul Razak Kamel who confessed to killing three IMB missionaries
at the
Jibla Baptist Hospital in Yemen, was
sentenced to death yesterday. He'll probably face a
firing squad. See
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030510/ap_on_re_mi_ea/yemen_missionaries_verdict_6
The Dick Staub Interview: John Ortberg's Freak Show. Churchgoers' attempts to be average are killing them, says the Willow Creek pastor. See http://ChristianityToday.com/ct/2003/119/21.0.html
Focus on the Family Focuses on Christianity Today. http://ChristianityToday.com/ct/2003/119/54.0.html
Education Department shows grace to schools on prayer issue
Under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, all schools in the country had
until Tax Day to certify that they
follow guidelines protecting prayer and other religious activities.
But the
Associated Press reports that initial responses showed "dozens
of schools out of compliance." More specifically, 150 to 200 school
districts in five states (Arizona, California, Ohio, Illinois, and New York)
don't comply with the
federal guidelines. Three states and the District of Columbia haven't
filed compliance reports. See
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030513/ap_on_re_us/school_prayer_2
President of Toccoa Falls College resigns after student journalist uncovers errors on résumé. See http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/0503/12resigned.html
Forget sci-fi and guns - The Matrix is really about religion (BBC). See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3027027.stm also Looking for God in The Matrix. Neo's return reminds us that a fallen world full of people is a world worth saving. By Greg Garrett. See http://ChristianityToday.com/ct/2003/119/51.0.html
New life breathed into Church | The world's first inflatable church opened its Gothic doors to worshippers yesterday to reveal a blow-up organ, a polyvinyl pulpit, altar, pews and fake stained glass windows (The Daily Telegraph, London). See http://www.dailytelegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/05/14/nblow14.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/05/14/ixhome.html
Spirituality protects against end-of-life despair | Among people with less than three months to live, U.S. investigators found that those with a strong sense of spiritual well-being were less likely than others to feel hopeless, want to die, or consider suicide (Reuters). See http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030509/hl_nm/spirituality_despair_dc_1
Bible Codes II. The latest and most egregious example of the (mis)use of science in the (dis)service of religion is Michael Drosnin's Bible Code II, enjoying a lucrative ride on the New York Times best-seller list, as did the 1997 original. See