Tagged with Christianity …

PODCASTS: Modernism, Christianity and Apocalypse

The podcasts presented here derive from an international conference in Norway entitled ‘Modernism, Christianity and the Apocalypse’, held on 18-20 July 2012. This interdisciplinary event welcomed a range of leading scholars from Religious Studies and Theology, Art and Literary Criticism to consider the role and relevance of secular and Christian visions of the apocalypse in … Continue reading →

Religion Compass September 2011 Issue – now available

The latest issue of Religion Compass is available on Wiley Online Library Christianity Keswick and the East African Revival: An Historiographical Reappraisal (pages 477–489) Jason Bruner Pentecostal Theology: Retrospect and Prospect (pages 490–500) Christopher A. Stephenson Indian Traditions Jainism: Key Themes (pages 501–510) Jeffery Long Islam Salvation and the ‘Other’ in Islamic Thought: The Contemporary … Continue reading →

From Jesus Music to Lady Gaga

It comes as no surprise that the nation’s capitol has continued down the partisan path, while offering lip service to ideological equanimity. These dichotomies appear to be, to some extent, simply part of the human experience. And when it comes to religion and politics nowhere are these dichotomies quite as salient. A poignant reminder of … Continue reading →

NEWS: Faith and Education

A recent article by Andrew Penman in The Independent highlights some of the issues faced by parents when choosing a school for their children. Since writing his book School Daze: Searching for Decent State Education Penman claims he has suffered abuse and vilification. The primary focus for this opprobrium appears to be focused upon the … Continue reading →

NEWS: Anne Rice Leaves Christianity to Follow Jesus

Amid the complexity (and tumult) that is the history of American Christianity, conflict over what is essential to Christian identity dies hard. The Salem witch trials, the Scopes Monkey Trial, Roe v. Wade, and the ongoing debate over “family values” are all part of the larger evangelical legacy. While evangelicals also have a separate history … Continue reading →

NEWS: What of Pets in the Rapture? Atheists to the Rescue!

Part of that which gets “left behind” during the rapture that many American Christians anticipate are: pets. This is because, according to the beliefs of some Christians, pets have no souls. So, naturally, they will remain earthbound while their owners are lifted heavenward. This could present, potentially, a bit of a dilemma: millions of pets with no one to care … Continue reading →

NEWS: Jazz as Religion

Historian David W. Stowe’s most recent article, “Both American and Global: Jazz and World Religions in the United States,” offers a quick overview of one of America’s most enduring styles of music, then neatly connects this uniquely American music to religious belief and experience. By the end of the piece, one is left viewing jazz … Continue reading →

NEWS: Recognizing Difference is Good

In American society we have (understandably) a multitude of opinions about God. This goes without saying. But how we deal with difference has consequences. The result of multiculturalism and pluralism has, according to professor of religion Stephen Prothero, collapsed all of these ideas about God and religious belief into one manageable whole. In an attempt … Continue reading →

NEWS: One man’s mission against Christian soldiers

Stephen Glain of Foreign Policy magazine recently brought attention to the work of Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein, an activist who seeks to remove evangelical Christians’ influence from the military. As a former Air Force judge advocate general and target of anti-Semitic violence as a cadet, Weinstein views the overwhelming presence of evangelical Christianity in the … Continue reading →

NEWS: The Texas Education Massacre?

Chris McGreat of The Guardian has recently reported some worrying news that the Texas school board is believed to changing their state education curriculum to one based on religious indoctrination and revisionist versions of American history. At the centre of this story is Cynthia Dunbar, a ‘conservative Texas lawyer’ who has’ likened sending children to … Continue reading →

NEWS: Christian Musicians Come out of the Closet

Contemporary Christian music (CCM) is decidedly conservative and evangelical. However, like most areas of life the closet is filled with all sorts of things, to include artists who have felt the need to live secret lives due to their sexual orientation. CCM artist Jennifer Knapp recently confirmed what many suspected. Douglas Harrison, assistant professor of … Continue reading →

NEWS: ASBO for “Militant Atheist”

At Liverpool Crown Court this week, 59 year old, Harry Taylor has been found guilty of ‘causing religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress.’ In 2008/09 Taylor had gone to the prayer room of Liverpool John Lennon Airport and had left sexually explicit images and cartoons of Christian and Islamic religious leaders. He maintained in … Continue reading →