12/03/2008 In All posts by Christine
A new survey on the ethics of American students shows that more kids from religious schools are lying to their parents and cheating on schoolwork than kids in non-religious schools.
The lying I can believe. Since they are forbidden to do more things, they have more to lie about.
But the cheating? Why would kids from religious families cheat more? Maybe they’re just being more honest about their behavior. Maybe they have a higher standard of what cheating is. Any ideas?
12/03/2008 In All posts by Christine
(This is the second full story in a series called Leaving the Fold. If you’d rather enter into our Leaving the Fold discussion from the beginning, this post is also published among the comments to the first “Leaving the fold” story.)
De-toxed From Organized Religion
by Jim Schoch
What would cause a pastor of over 20 yrs to leave the ministry? My reasons and story are uniquely mine. Maybe you have been in my shoes in one way or another. I started out in the Pentecostal and charismatic traditions of showing up early and leaving late from every church meeting I ever attended. As a result, as soon as I was asked to do anything, I always said “yes.” (more…)
12/02/2008 In Changing evangelicals by Christine
Those of you who’ve read “The Fall of the Evangelical Nation” know that evangelical Jim Henderson and I have been friends for many years. I’ve spoken at his conferences, scandalizing too many of the good people there I’m afraid. After listening to me and others at the last conference one woman told her pastor that she felt as if she had been gutted.
Ouch.
On a brighter note, take a look at what Jim is doing in this wonderful article. I love his idea that Christians can shift from pushing their beliefs on others to defending the space that allows all of us to talk freely to one another. (And still “get credit.” (more…)
12/01/2008 In Stories of leave taking by Christine
When researching “The Fall of the Evangelical Nation,” I was surprised to find that leaving faith is so much like converting to faith. Once the pulling away begins, it seems inexorable. People may be filled with fear of hell and misgivings about their sanity; they may lose their closest friends and be estranged from their kin, but they can’t turn back.
Some feel led by God and find new types of faith. Others stop believing in God altogether.
I invited readers to submit their own stories about changing faith.
Wes from Portland is the first post. He left traditional faith after a lifetime in it. Here’s his story:
I am 60 years old now, but my life in the evangelical church began in 1960, when my parents, on the verge of divorce and my dad being an ex-Navy heavy drinker, both accepted Jesus and were baptized. It transformed our family: (more…)
11/24/2008 In Media responses by Christine
That may be one of the best headlines I’ve ever read. (Although it is a bit embarrassing and I didn’t write it.) It’s a great intro to one of the most interesting, thoughtful blogs I’ve come across. I’m not just saying that because the Internetmonk read my book and understood it so wonderfully.
He also writes about more mainstream things.
Click my unmentionables and discover a wonderful group of spiritual thinkers.
11/20/2008 In Evidence of evangelical trouble by Christine
Three long term trends identified by Emory University’s Alan Abramowitz don’t bode well for the Republican Party: increasing racial diversity, declining marriage rates and changes in religious beliefs, writes the Washington Post.
All three trends are hurting fundamentalist evangelical faith even more, which leads us back to wondering if the actual number of Religious Right voters is as large as it is said to be. (more…)
11/20/2008 In All posts, Interviews by Christine
This is from her column in the Washington Post:
As Republicans sort out the reasons for their defeat, they likely will overlook or dismiss the gorilla in the pulpit.
Three little letters, great big problem: G-O-D.
I’m bathing in holy water as I type.
To be more specific, the evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP is what ails the erstwhile conservative party and will continue to afflict and marginalize its constituents if reckoning doesn’t soon cometh.
Simply put: Armband religion is killing the Republican Party. And, the truth — as long as we’re setting ourselves free — is that if one were to eavesdrop on private conversations among the party intelligentsia, one would hear precisely that.
11/15/2008 In All posts, Evidence of evangelical trouble by Christine
My new book, “The Fall of the Evangelical Nation,” makes what I now realize are fairly mild claims.
It says Religious Right evangelicals are about 7 percent. Not 25 percent of Americans. (See election results in the post below.)
And the American evangelical movement is in big trouble. Sinking, in fact.
Since the book was written, evidence has only gotten stronger.
A few months ago, I began to wonder if the great evangelical resurgence really happened.
Scholars say it did. Certainly the presence of Religious Right evangelicals in the news has increased enormously.
But is that increase based on growing numbers?
Statistics from the evangelicals themselves say no. They say that the resurgence was a media event. Evangelicals got louder as their percentage of the population began to nose dive.
Judge for yourself:
Core membership in the largest group of evangelicals in the country has grown only 7 percent in the past 47 years. (more…)
11/15/2008 In Evidence of evangelical trouble by Christine
Megachurches, the hope of evangelical resurgence, are beginning to see a fall in attendance. Especially at the country’s most popular churches. So says USA Today.
11/15/2008 In Evidence of evangelical trouble by Christine
A relatively new book directed at evangelical youth ministers, Rethink: Decide for Yourself, Student Ministry Working?, presents an even more dire picture of what’s happening with evangelicals and young people: (more…)
