A version of this editorial originally appeared in The Orlando Sentinel on March 15, 2023 Florida tops many list of rankings. One hopes we would rank number one when it comes to religious liberty. Florida currently ranks fourth in the nation in religious liberty behind Mississippi, Illinois, and New Mexico, according to The Center … Read more
Religious Freedom in Florida: Let’s Be #1
The Reformation, Evangelicals, & the Trumpian Age
Protestant Christianity celebrates 500 years of ministry on October 31. On this day in 1517 the German friar Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to Wittenberg’s cathedral door. Luther’s theses exposed theological fault lines placing him and his fellow reformers at odds with the Roman Catholic Church. Today Protestant evangelicals, likewise, are discovering new theological … Read more
An Old Fashioned Ribbing
Jason Gay wrote in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal about the Congressional Baseball game going forward in spite of the horrific act of terror the day before in which a gunman shot Rep. Steve Scalise (R., La.) and three others. The Democrats won the game, and then Gay reports: After the final out, the Democratic team … Read more
Processing in the Inaugural Prayer Service: America! America!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law! –America the Beautiful (Katharine Lee Bates) It had been a long glorious morning full of adrenaline, symbolism, and splendid pomp and circumstance. Then we sang the second stanza of the hymn “America the Beautiful.” Confirming my soul … Read more
Billy Graham Epitomizes and Ends Christendom
Billy Graham has been called America’s Pastor. His voice in the American conversation and his access to twelve U.S. presidents is unmatched. He is the ultimate example of Christian faith wedded to societal and governmental power. This marriage of faith and power has a name: Christendom. Theologians, sociologists and historians use this term to describe … Read more
The Trust Deficit
Last night John Huntsman delivered his victory/concession speech (which was it?) for his third place finish in the New Hampshire Republican primary. One of his main points concerned the decrease of trust the American public has for its major institutions. He said, “The people of the greatest nation that ever was, the United State of … Read more
Voting Patterns Based on Faith: We Need Honest Media Portrayal
The presidential campaigns of Mitt Romney and John Huntsman have raised the specter of a first for a US president: one who is a Mormon. Certainly after 44 presidents of Protestant faith affiliation, with exception for the lone Roman Catholic in John F. Kennedy, this would be a marked difference for our country. As well, … Read more
Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus, Mohammed and Vishnu
A 34 year old radio-disc jockey overthrows a democratically, twice-elected president. The ousted president just happened to be the vice-president of a large Christian denomination. Now, the pastors and members of that denomination, the second largest church body in the country, are harassed, jailed, even killed as the new dictator solidified his control. You’ve never heard … Read more
For 9-11, Bloomberg Can Learn from MLK Memorial
Quick, name the seven leaders memorialized on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.? I’ll give you a hint: five are U.S. presidents, one is a founding father, George Mason, and the newest member is a Christian pastor: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The MLK Memorial, which opened to the public this week, honors the vision … Read more
Alabama Clergy Teach the Chinese
Alabama clergy, as diverse as Southern Baptists and Roman Catholics, are rising up to protest, change and explicitly disobey coming changes in state immigration law. Starting September 1 experts say the law (HB56) makes it illegal for individuals to intentionally rent to, transport, harbor, or have a contract with an illegal immigrant. A lawsuit has … Read more