Items included on this page 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.
What’s U.S. Religion Worth? $1.2 Trillion, Says one Demographer: This article can help students realize the scope and ripple effect of religion throughout culture and society. Religion is big bucks according to a new comprehensive study. Comparatively, religion is the 15th largest national economy in the world, ahead of 180 other countries in terms of value, and […]
Tom Brady, Michael Strahan Produce ‘Religion of Sports’ Show: “OK, so sport is a religion? Well, yeah, it really is.” This six-part series looks at different examples of the cultural and spiritual impact of sports in religions around the world. The show explores the rivalry between soccer clubs in Glasgow, Scotland; the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Alberta, […]
Why Conservation Is a Gospel Issue: Christians who care about conservation are still too rare a species. Peter Harris of A Rocha, the largest international Christian conservation organization, files this report from the World Conservation Congress. Many conservation professionals and scientists, particularly but not at all exclusively from the Global South, have a living Christian faith. Integrating […]
Skip the Endorsements in Church, Say Most Americans: Eight in 10 (79 percent) say it is inappropriate for pastors to endorse a candidate in church. Three-quarters say churches should steer clear of endorsements. Yet fewer than half want churches to be punished if they do endorse candidates. This survey can serve as an intro to the complicated […]
This Sceptic Isle: Britain is unusually irreligious, and becoming more so. That calls for a national debate, says a recent article in the Economist. Religion in Britain may or may not be a harbinger. Students can consider this situation, the future of Christianity, and its relation to direct or indirect assistance from the governing authorities. […]
Absolute worst newspaper: Why this one goes on ‘Shame List’ for journalism malpractice — Campus Pride, an LGBT advocacy group, released its annual Shame List, highlighting “The Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth.” GetReligion offers an assessment of news coverage on this story, what is news, what is not, and what is sound journalism. Could be […]
Putting the Fear of God in the Fashion Industry: Considering the name of the menswear brand, Fear of God, or that the promotional video for his latest collection features the church favorite “How Great is Our God,” it’s clear that this 39-year-old doesn’t shy away from the Christian faith that inspires his work. This profile takes […]
Why Religious Employers Can Fire Trans People: Agree or disagree with the views of Atlantic religion writer, Emma Green, but the case she reviews is indicative of the confusion and conundrums about First Amendment rights that students and our society are currently enduring. “The district court rejected the argument about the dress code, but it accepted […]
Uneasy partners: religion in the workplace — It’s not always easy for employers to accommodate workers’ religious practices. And changing social mores in the US can make religion in the workplace a thorny issue, raising questions about whether religion has a place within the walls of our offices, and why religious groups typically aren’t treated in […]
Officers Can Turn To Police Chaplains In Time Of Need: This 5 min. audio clip (with transcript) offers a positive view on the role of clergy in local police departments large and small and an informative example of church and state, left-hand kingdom and right-hand kingdom. NPR interviews Mark Clements, president of the International Conference of […]
