Mainline

, , , , ,

A life: Ghosts in a Dorothy Rodham obit?

, , , , ,

Just yesterday, I praised a member of the Washington Post team for weaving valid religious content into the obituary of a former Washington, D.C., police official whose life led him from trailblazing work as an advocate of racial equality into a remarkable final act as a Catholic monk and priest. The story showed unusual grace in portraying the themes that were woven through the life of the man who died as Father James Murray.


Please respect our Commenting Policy
, , , , , , , ,

That growing (gay) UCC Nashville flock

, , , , , , , ,

Since day one, a major theme here at GetReligion has been the need to portray the specific beliefs of specific believers whenever possible, instead of taking the easy road and settling for simplistic labels.


Please respect our Commenting Policy
, , , , , ,

Ron Paul, culture warrior?

, , , , , ,

At my church‘s Oktoberfest yesterday, I was speaking with some members — he’s a fighter pilot, she’s a writer — about our shared libertarianism. My congregation — located just outside of Washington, D.C. — has all political persuasions (including the wrong ones!) but we have more than a few members who are libertarian.


Please respect our Commenting Policy
, , , , ,

Occupying a religious space on Wall Street

, , , , ,

Shortly after the Day of Rage that kicked off the Occupy Wall Street movement, I complained about the lack of coverage in general and the lack of religion coverage in particular. (See: “Prayer, song, meditation and ‘rage’“)


Please respect our Commenting Policy
, , , , , , ,

The Nobel Prize and the practice of prayer

, , , , , , ,

On Friday morning, Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Yemeni activist Tawakul Karman were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.”


Please respect our Commenting Policy
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Big day at Supreme Court for religious freedom

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

An extremely important religious liberty case is being argued in front of the Supreme Court today. I have been meaning to cover the case for months, but it kept falling into the deeper recesses of my guilt file. The case involves the firing of a Lutheran school teacher from a Lutheran school. The particulars of the case are unique and the story of the teacher who was fired is compelling. But because of the way the lower courts have ruled and because of the possible outcomes of a SCOTUS decision, today is just huge.


Please respect our Commenting Policy
, , ,

Rosh Hashana tailgating for all Jews?

, , ,

Ask religion reporters to name the part of the beat that bugs them the most and a high percentage (give me your estimates, Godbeat walkers) will say that they worry about finding new, valid, interesting stories linked to religious holidays.


Please respect our Commenting Policy
, , , , ,

Did you hear about Obama's 'fiery' rhetoric?

, , , , ,

Earlier this year, I complained about the lack of coverage surrounding President Barack Obama’s confession of Christian faith at a pre-Easter Easter breakfast he hosted at the White House. I wrote:


Please respect our Commenting Policy