Items included for this subject area come from a variety of sources. The perspectives conveyed may or may not express a Lutheran ethos. They can serve our instruction as discussion-starters, examples (positive and negative), and illustrations of intersections between God’s two kingdoms, intersections sometimes characterized by tension, sometimes by congruence. Inclusion does not imply endorsement.
From Sojourners: “Sex is great–and it will destroy us all!” This brief essay considers how modern purity movements among teenagers are built around a drive for a pure and strong nation — and fear of a looming apocalypse. The article may be useful for exploring with students such themes as holiness theology and purity movements […]
From the Becket Fund: Betty and Richard Odgaard were forced to shut down their Gortz Hause Gallery when the Iowa Civil Rights Commission tried forcing them to personally host a same-sex wedding ceremony in violation of their religious beliefs. The state’s prosecution began after a same-sex couple filed a complaint against the Odgaards for declining to plan […]
From the WSJ: When President Obama announced new “Clean Power Plan” regulations to help mitigate climate change, religious leaders were quick to offer their blessing. Some 170 evangelicals—pastors, religion professors, nonprofit directors and others—sent an open letter to the president “to offer our support and encouragement for your efforts to overcome the climate challenge.”
On natural settings and religion: a Baylor University study, published in the journal Sociology of Religion, found that U.S. counties with nicer weather and prettier natural surroundings see lower rates of religious affiliation. The study authors suggest that, yes, people tend to use nature as a spiritual resource, making it a competitor with organized religious institutions.
The new proposed rules for government grants are an example of the challenge government officials face in parsing the language that relates yet distinguishes religious activity from participating in the public square and civic well-being. Such language has been confusing, because, as the proposed Department of Agriculture rule change explains, “some might consider their provision of a […]
The Christianity Today update page on the Planned Parenthood abortion tissue news. This page includes several topics for course content and instructional material in classes such as ethics, journalism, law, theology, and public health.
An exchange students can learn from is going on between sociologist Robert Wuthnow and the Pew Research Center. Wuthnow raises several concerns about the accuracy and conclusions of polling and surveys, particularly about culture shifts in religion. The Pew Research Center responds. Check the highlighted links here for content useful in sociology, statistics, journalism, psychology, […]
Denominations and Christian campuses disagree on support for Israel. Almost a quarter (22%) of younger Americans—those 18 to 29—say they sympathize with the Palestinians more than with Israel (44%) according to a 2014 survey from Pew Research. Among Americans 50 and older, only one in 10 (9%) sided with Palestinians rather than Israel (60%). Overall, […]
Network scientists have discovered how social networks can create the illusion that something is common when it is actually rare. Statisticians have known about the paradoxical nature of social networks for some time such as the friendship paradox: on average your friends will have more friends than you do. A related paradox called “the majority […]
Southern Mutual says churches that fear suits over refusing to host a same-sex wedding can get coverage under a special policy rider. Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges that legalized same-sex marriage across the country, church leaders are worried about the possibility of being sued if they refuse to host a gay […]
