Historically, the number of individuals who say they have no religious affiliation in America ranges between 5-10%, but a new poll conducted by Robert Putnam (of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/p ...

Recently, I had the privilege of spending <a title="http://eugenecho.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/my-official-announcement-to-enter-into-politics/" href="http://eugenecho.wordpress.com/2009/04/3 ...

<p>One of the central teachings of Torah is that all human beings are made in the Image of God. That teaching and what flows from it are at the heart of Jewish prohibitions on the use of torture -- and p ...

As I process the conversations I had recently at EVDC09 (a gathering of emerging church participants to discuss the future of Emergent Village), I realized that one of the topics that keeps surfaci ...

Dale Hanson Bourke Books get a second life in a global library. It’s possible that we finally get it. We live ...

Day two of the Mobilization to End Poverty included a trip to Capitol Hill to lobby senators and representatives on issues related to poverty and social justice. Day two of the Mo ...

"Progressive" has become the adjective of choice to describe faith communities with commitments to justice, serving the poor, and environmentalism. "Progressive&quo ...

In ominous red and black, last week's <em>Newsweek</em> cover carried the headline, "The Decline and Fall of Christian America." The magazine's <a href="http://www.newsw ...

As Christians, our continual task is to explore and mediate on Jesus' teachings, as well as to emulate his deeds. As Christians, our continual task is to explore and mediate ...

In this sermon, Pastor Efrem discusses the focus in April on Martin Luther King's death and the Easter Season, and proclaims that there is no separation between proclaiming the gospel and advancing ...

As we celebrate Easter and Christ's empty tomb, we recognize that Calvary changes everything! As we celebrate Easter and Christ's empty tomb, we recognize that Calvary c ...

There are numerous significant theological and biblical meanings behind <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Supper" target="_blank">the Last Supper</a> (Passover Seder) a ...

Jesus, who was a Palestinian Jew living under Roman occupation, preached a message that was anti-state and religious imperialism. Jesus, who was a Palestinian Jew living under Rom ...

As I write this post, I'm sitting in a hotel room in Eugene, Oregon waiting for the Society for Pentecostal Studies conference to start. It's nice to have a day to myself. ...

<p><a href="http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=events.m2ep&amp;item=m2ep-home"></a>Some might say that this is the worst possible time to have a <a href="http://www.so ...

To support and amplify the already pervasive non-religious reputation of Seattle, the atheist bus ads are set to arrive. To support and amplify the already pervasive non-religious ...

<p><a href="http://store.sojo.net/product_p/icnp_or.htm"></a>Twenty-nine years ago today, a Salvadorian government hit man assassinated Archbishop of San Salvador Oscar Romero as he ...

<p>If I had a dollar for every person who has asked me "So, what IS the emerging church?" we could meet our budget this year. Here's my own definition, and it is just that -- my definition ...

<em>Bible readings from the Revised Common Lectionary: Exodus 20:1-17, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, John 2: 13-22</em></p> Bible readings from the Revised ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/economy-special-focus/"></a></p> <p>It's always difficult to find just a few minutes from Pastor Efrem's sermons to highli ...

Shortly after I took a position as Children's Ministry Director at a small Baptist church, I sat down with the kids under my care and asked them what questions they would like to ask God. ...

<p>On the first day of the Obama administration, our newly elected president signed the order to close down Guatanamo. Scores of human rights advocates were in ecstasy. For those of us committed to peace ...

I guess that people are on a journey when it comes to faith. Some admit to being on a journey, while there are those who state they have arrived. I guess that people are on a jour ...

<blockquote><p>It is often pointed out that some of the places most lacking in hope are not the industrial wastelands or the bleak landscapes shorn of beauty, but the places where there is too much ...

<em>Bible readings from the Revised Common Lectionary: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22; Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38<br /> </em> Bible readings from the Revi ...

Preaching from the story of Ezekiel and the dry bones, Pastor Efrem describes the "right relationships" that God wants to bring about for both physical and spiritual change in our lives. ...

In this week's town hall meetings, President Obama demonstrated an important aspect of his office: Pastor-in-Chief.</p> In this week's town hall meetings, Presiden ...

As I sat in the federal court room in Tucson witnessing the sentencing of over 60 people who had been caught crossing the border between the U.S. As I sat in the federal court roo ...

Do you find it curious that some Christians seem entirely focused on gender differences? Have you also noticed that this is rarely the posture of scripture? Do you find it curious ...

It is still hard to believe that the hopes we have nurtured in the Christian anti-torture movement would come to fruition -- and so early, and so comprehensively, as they did with President Obama's ...

The first openly gay Episcopal bishop.</p> <p>The first female president of the Disciples of Christ.</p> The first openly gay Episcopal bishop. The first fem ...

It was hard to narrow this sermon down to a short clip -- it makes so many good points! It was hard to narrow this sermon down to a short clip -- it makes so many good points! In ...

Do you have family or friends on the mission field who are women? How many of them preach, teach, and exercise their gifts of leadership beside men on the mission field? Do you ha ...

<a title="blocked::http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?author=147 Posts by Valerie Elverton Dixon" href="../?author=147"></a></p> ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/my-advent-calendar"></a></p> The Christmas Eve window hid a picture of the baby Jesus with his ar ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/my-advent-calendar"></a> This morning's window opened to a picture of Joseph, Mary's husband and Jesus' earthly father.</p> ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/my-advent-calendar"></a></p> <p>As the days grow shorter, darker, and colder, our longing for the light intensifies. In these length ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/my-advent-calendar"></a></p> <p>Diana's Advent reflections will conclude next week.</p> ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/my-advent-calendar"></a></p> I missed yesterday's Advent reflection. Although I woke up earl ...

I wrote a book recently with a friend of mine that stirred some conversation. In it we try to retell the story of the Bible in the context of the American empire. I wrote a book r ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/my-advent-calendar"></a></p> <p>A set of double doors marked "17" on my Advent calendar opened to a charming image of a mi ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/my-advent-calendar"></a></p> The 16th window on the cathedral revealed a gargoyle-not exactly a t ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/my-advent-calendar"></a></p> <p>The December 13 window opens to the fourth gospel-the eagle symbol of the evangelist John.</p> ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/my-advent-calendar"></a></p> <p>Following on the theme of the last two windows, Dec. 12 on the Advent calendar opened to a picture o ...

In this clip Pastor Efrem talks about how, in order to be change agents in society, we need to change a church divided by race, class, and culture.</p> In this clip Pastor E ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/my-advent-calendar"></a></p> <p>Not surprisingly, when I opened the eleventh window, it revealed a picture of a lion holding a book- ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/my-advent-calendar"></a></p> <p>As I opened window 10, I had to squint to see a small angelic figure holding a book-the traditional ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/my-advent-calendar"></a></p> <p>I had a hard time finding window nine, an elusive little door hidden in the bushes outside of the ca ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/economy-special-focus/"></a></p> Donald Trump is trying his hand at theology. Trump was sued l ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/my-advent-calendar"></a></p> As mentioned in an earlier post , this year's Advent calenda ...