Many writers pursue consistent themes in their work. Mark Steyn has his campy references to show tunes. Paul Greenberg works in journalists’ inside joke of “It was as if an occult hand had.” GetReligion’s editors chafe at glib references to fundamentalism. And Jon Meacham of Newsweek chips away at “certainty” and “literalism,” which means he managed to find a theological angle in last night’s presidential debate about foreign policy.

Alex Johnson of MSNBC writes: “George Bush has not said directly that he was ever born again. He has often said he was pointed on the path to God after a discussion with evangelist Billy Graham in 1985. . . . There is a second story about how Bush started on the road to salvation, one that is more in line with the common narrative.”

Charlie Madigan, senior correspondent of the Chicago Tribune, coins the phrase “Jesus-baiting” to introduce his report from the dreaded Bob Jones University, which he calls “the shiny, big brass buckle on the Bible belt.”

Poor Alphonso Jackson cannot catch a break. Earlier this week, I mentioned how Jackson was hissed and booed at Call to Renewal’s Pentecost 2004 event. Jackson was booed again on Thursday at the National Baptist Convention USA for saying that the Republican Party is committed to helping African Americans.

When thinking about favorite sources for enterprising religion reporting, GetReligion does not normally turn to The Nation — although that magazine does collect its sporadic religion coverage on this accessible page.

Nearly 20 years ago, I thought my habit of cursing was under control. Then I went to work at a daily newspaper, and I soon tumbled off the wagon. I usually give up cursing for Lent, but I spend the rest of the year in such verbal decadence that I have something to give up again by the next Lent.