(OPINION) These days the "response rates" among those in randomly selected samples are so low it's tough to tell how representative the people are. Pew's expertise often provides all-important distinctions between white "mainline" and white "evangelical" Protestants, and between white and Hispanic Catholics. Pew is changing the way it surveys religious behavior and attitudes, so the media will want to be aware of why and how.
Read More(OPINION) What definition of “religion” is the right definition to use in American society? How does that definition of religion relate to the insurrectionist riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6?
Read More(OPINION) The United Methodist Church is on the brink of America's biggest religious schism since the Civil War, with the conflict centering on sexual morality, biblical authority and theological liberalism. The 2020 General Conference to settle matters was postponed until this coming Aug. 29- Sept. 7 in Minneapolis, a city that currently limits meetings to 150 people.
Read More(OPINION) Ravi Zacharias, known for turning "apologetics" (defense of the Christian faith) from defensive bombast to intelligent and personable persuasion through books, countless personal appearances worldwide and the global team of some 100 speakers he built — died last May. Though, the coverage of multiple sex scandals he was involved in during his lifetime still stains the news today.
Read More(OPINION) Conservative Christians propose that the final day of Trump’s campaign to overturn President Biden’s Electoral College victory involved religious “heresy” or “apostasy.” A survey by the conservative American Enterprise Institute shows 63% of White evangelicals think Biden’s win was illegitimate, despite the numerous federal and state court rulings that found no evidence for Trump’s claim of a “sacred landslide.” But to what extent were Christians implicated in the Capitol mayhem?
Read More(OPINION) President Biden, in his first hours in office, directed each government agency to spend the next 100 days reframing all gender policies surrounding transgender students. The backlash from other Catholics in power has brought further controversy about Biden being a “fake Catholic.”
Read More(OPINION) Katherine Stewart, Times reporter outwardly against the Christian Right, makes the surprising assertion that to understand Sen. Josh Hawley’s role in the unprecedented furies of recent weeks we must look back 16 centuries to one of the hottest theological disputes in Christian history.
Read More(OPINION) Ostling explores the new prospective European law that could require that animals must be stunned before being slaughtered — going directly against Halal and Kosher traditions and practices.
Read More(OPINION) Though religious preferences don’t necessarily define policy standards — for example, Joe Biden as a pro-choice Catholic — there has been a notable shift away from mainline Christianity in the House and Senate. There has been a rise in religious “nones” as well as Muslims, Hindus, and Jews in the group of the latest elected representatives.
Read More(OPINION) Ongoing fights about the First Amendment and religious liberty are likely to prove the most newsworthy, but two other themes deserve attention as well.
Read More(OPINION) Joy, faith, fear, pray, heart, light, and spirit. These words have been ringing in the ears of American Christians as 2020 has brought on global uncertainty — whether that be in regards to the pandemic and racial unrest, according to Biblegateway.com
Read More(OPINION) As Biden prepares to step into office, he has his sights set on the Equality Act for LGBTQ+ individuals. How will this shift religious freedom rights for those opposed to same-sex marriage?
Read More(OPINION) The Religion Guy discusses the gross injustices within the Chinese system of religious freedom—or a lack thereof. Whether that be towards Muslims or Christians, religion has been essentially outlawed in the Chinese system.
Read More(OPINION) The eroding sense of trust in the media is not just related to Trump—it’s related to implicit (and explicit) biases from journalists. The Times used to be the highest standard of journalism, now only 15 percent of Republicans believe their religious coverage next to 53 percent of Democrats.
Read More(OPINION) Ostling looks at the history of many Supreme Court Justices’ religious affiliations and sees how they were either praised or scrutinized for their beliefs. Does the Supreme Court Justices’ religion impact their reliability on the Court?
Read More(OPINION) In a recent study by the Gallup Poll, researchers found that Americans are much less likely to vote for an outward atheist due to past concerns with the people group. They associate atheism with communism and immorality, making it difficult for someone to rise above those stereotypes and gain power in office.
Read More(OPINION) Richard Ostling commends journalists at Christianity Today and World for prioritizing truth over tribalism in the case of sexual assault claims against Ravi Zacharias. Both publications seek to prioritize the community over the reputation of the religion.
Read More(OPINION) As Black Lives Matter persists as one of the hot topics in the media, mainstream news associations often neglect the religious angle — isolating entire groups of stakeholders within the community. This leaves us asking the question, how are people within religious communities responding to Black Lives Matter?
Read More(OPINION) Will age play a role in determining the next Pope? Some will say the rule of thumb has moved to older popes, as with the U.S. presidency.
Read More(OPINION) The Religion Guy tackles the question of whether or not religion is “worth it” in the United States. He addresses both a secular and religious viewpoint—citing studies about the nature of human flourishing and happiness.
Read More
