This division at our Eucharists inflicts pain upon those of tender conscience and deep love for Christ and his bride. They are broken upon the rocks of our divisions, and it is a scandal. ...

I do not want to go back to Church because life outside of Church is better. It just is. There's no dogma complicating the path to God. It is more than refreshing to escape the games church-folk play with ...

A growing number of people just don’t seem to believe that the Christian Church, in all its many forms, has much to offer them. Growing up, I heard things at camp and in youth gr ...

Harry Emerson Fosdick was famous for lots of things, particularly the sermon "Shall The Fundamentalists Win?" which he preached on May 21, 1922. It was a call to arms of sorts within the church, enco ...

Here are some reasons I’ve decided that failure isn’t just inevitable or necessary, but that it’s actually kind of wonderful. When I was in preschool, I was insanely jealous of th ...

July 19, 2012   GUEST COMMENTARY by Christian Piatt Top 10 ...

No, this is not some new Charlie Kauffman movie that folds in on itself, creating a perpetual feedback loop. I’m serious; Christians love Top 10 Lists. No wonder Moses did only 10 commandments. ...

Commentators see decisions they don't like — such as the Episcopal Church's recent endorsement of a rite for blessing same-sex unions. They see declines in church membership. They pounce. ...

So, Mr. Douthat asks, "Can Liberal Christianity Be Saved?" But I wonder: Can Liberal Churches Save Christianity? The twenty-first century has yet to answer that, but I think we may be surprised. ...

Is the Mainline Liberal Church in decline? Numerically, sure. Absolutely. But what this means, I cannot say. Is the Mainline Liberal Church in decline? Numerically, sure. Absolute ...

So in so much as I understand God to be the pervasive presence and expression of love in the universe, and in so much as I understand Jesus to be the most perfect embodiment of that love in the world, I believ ...

If we ignore the needy in our midst by getting rid of one huge way to address that need, we are not following Jesus’ example. On Wednesday, the House Agriculture Committee failed ...

I have a confession.(That's rich, right? A minister confessing.) I have a hard time telling people I'm a minister. Yes, really. I actually tend to handle it this way: ...

I thought I’d offer a final list of things to do rather than pop off with these phrases that may mean little or nothing to the recipient, or worse, may cause unintended – but lasting – harm. ...

Peace is better than war. Good of the whole is better than whims of a few. God wants everybody — red, yellow, black, brown and white taken care of. God wants true community, more togetherness … not more separa ...

May we not only learn from our brothers and sisters in third-world countries, may we allow their life and practice to inform the voice of the Church global as much our best books, sermons, and lectures. ...

Conservatives often resort to name-calling in the absence of debate, but liberals ignore whole categories of discussion. Like patriotism and religion. Well, it's time we got over that. ...

Is capitalism compatible with Christian values? A fascinating opinion piece by Thomas Edsall on The New York Times' Campaigns Stops blog: Is capitalism compa ...

The Vatican has published rules to evaluate the authenticity of the dozens of apparitions of the Virgin Mary reported each year. The Vatican has published rules to evaluate the au ...

This week is one of those weeks where everyone seems to be talking, tweeting and blogging about the same video. I received it from several concerned friends with commentary like, “More bad news from North Caro ...

No matter where you stand on the issue of gay marriage, there are some boundaries of human decency that should never be crossed. Never. ...

Yes, kids, it’s that time again already. Seems it was only seven days ago when we posted our last batch of weekly church sign epic fails, and here we are again. So let’s get to it: your weekly infusion of bad ...

On the rare occasion we actually slow down long enough to pray, worship, reflect or simply be in the moment, we have no idea how to do it. I watch people in church, and it’s clear from the body language that w ...

The sign outside the polling station at Devon Park United Methodist Church exemplified this state's struggle with a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. "A true marriage is male and fe ...

RALEIGH, N.C. -- With only a few days remaining before North Carolinians vote on a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, the Rev. Earl C. Johnson took five minutes on Sunday (April 30) to gi ...

Despite emotional protests and fierce lobbying from gay rights groups, United Methodists voted on Thursday to maintain their denomination's stance that homosexuals acts are "incompatible with Christi ...

Today, Sojourners' Communications Director Tim King talks with CNN's Lisa Desjardins about politicians and God-talk in this 2012 presidential election season. Today, Soj ...

North Carolina man practiced 12 different religions in the course of a year and doesn't call himself by any of them. LUMBERTON, N.C.—Andrew Bowen sat yoga-style in his armcha ...

Patrick Greene, a lifelong atheist known for his public stands against Christianity, recently announced that he has become a Christian. Patrick Greene, a lifelong atheist known fo ...

This is not another book that simply critiques religion. In Religion For Atheists: A Non-believer's Guide to the Uses of Religion, Alain de Botton, a noted author on a wide range of themes – from architec ...

Forty-five years ago today, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his now-famous speech at Riverside Church in New York City, declaring his opposition to the war in Vietnam. One year later -- 44 years ago ...

Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday and the week that follows — Holy Week — are times for Christians to remember and share the biblical stories of Jesus’ teachings and actions for peace. These stories encourage us to pray and work for peace, especially in light ...

I’ve written a couple of pieces recently that have gotten a lot of attention about why younger people tend to walk away from church. Some readers suggested I might also post a piece about why young adults come ...

It’s been a mind-boggling fortnight at the Internet water cooler. Kony 2012. Mike Daisey’s dubious portrayal of Apple’s manufacturing practices abroad. Questions of whether the “Christian Movie Establishment” ...

"We wanted to show that movies about the faith struggle that millions of Americans deal with don't have to be cheesy," said Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz, which the movie is based on. ...

Here is a condensed version of a workshop I offer on the concept of “Church 2.0.” I talk in it about the popularity of things like the “Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus” video and Mark Driscoll’s Acts 29 Net ...

Over the weekend, Newt Gingrich decided to wade into a minor cultural skirmish by claiming that the new ABC dramedy GCB is an attack on faith fueled by anti-Christian bias. Over ...

We are not a church or a denomination after all; we are the Greater Body of Christ, or so we claim. And while institutions incline themselves toward permanence, the Body is ever-changing. While the buildings c ...

REUTERS: More U.S. Kids Living In High-Poverty Areas: Study Years of economic setbacks have taken their toll on the nation's youngest residents, with another 1.6 million children living in high-poverty neighborhoods, according to one study th ...

They are calling on atheists of all colors to make the fourth Sunday in February -- Black History Month -- a "Day of Solidarity with Black Nonbelievers." As a child, Ali ...

If you’ve watched 6 minutes of news in the last few weeks, you know what this is all about: Christian leaders hurling attacks and using faith as a weapon to score political points. From presidential candidates ...

THE HUFFINGTON POST: The Surprising Faith Of 8 American Presidents (OPINION) Presidential religious lives are, for the most part, rather unremarkable--just like the majority of Americans they represent. Learn more HERE THE ASSOCIATED PR ...

On Ash Wednesday, Catholics and many others will walk around with ashen crosses (or, by the end of the day, what look like indeterminate smudges) on our foreheads. Those ashes are strong symbols of core princi ...

DES PERES, Mo. — More than 100 Lutherans streamed into the basement classroom at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Des Peres recently for a Bible study called "Islam Through a Lutheran Lens." ...

No matter how normal this may feel it is time for the people of God to wake up to this broken reality. We cannot blindly accept the cultural assumptions that have been handed down to us. ...

Piper, recently keynoted a conference called “God, Manhood and Ministry: Building Men for the Body of Christ.” On first blush, this sound both exciting and very necessary. Men are leaving organized religion in ...

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus is a true Internet phenomenon, garnering more than 18 million views and sparking a global debate. As with most internet phenomena, the viral video has given birth to dozens ...

NPR: Evangelical Leaders Struggle To Crown A Candidate Rick Santorum was fresh off his surprise showing in the Iowa caucuses and fielding questions on a radio program, when a caller challenged the Republican presidential candidate on his overt rel ...

There are Biblical scholars who will argue that it is not clear if the Year of Jubilee was ever actually put into practice. Therefore, Christians today shouldn’t practice it or it’s importance should be dimini ...

January 10, 2012 Sojo in the News Jo Piazza ...