My honeymoon with Catholicism’s newest pope is over. I’m done with getting all goosebumpy over Pope Francis and the tone he’s setting for his church. Read more.
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The Atheists Are Coming – Out of a Closet Near You
The Openly Secular movement is calling on atheists in America to come out of the closet and declare their unbelief to friends, family and coworkers. Read more.
They’re Saying Nice Things About “Wrestling with God”
Some really nice people are saying some really nice things about Wrestling with God: Stories of Doubt and Faith. That’s because I asked them to. Read more.
James Dobson: Bully Your Pet, Hit Your Kid, Make Them Obey You–And God
In his 1978 parenting book, “The Strong-Willed Child,” James Dobson says disobedient childen, like dogs, must be spanked into submission to parents and God. Read more.
Religion in Public Affairs — Americans Think Religious Influence Is Waning
A report on religion in public affairs from the Pew Research Center says religion is losing influence in American life. It also found that 50 percent of Americans finds homosexulity sinful — and 52 percent support same-sex marriage. Read more.
Xi’An to TX and Mao to LBJ — I’ve Been Traveling and I’m Back
China, Austin, a Religion Newswriters conference — I had a great, traveling September. It started with on my birthday on September 6, which lasted only a few hours because Jon and I were on a plane to Shanghai when somewhere over the Pacific we hit the International Date Line. Read more.
American Hispanics: They Like the Pope, but the Church — Not So Much
More news from the Religion Newswriters Association conference I attended in Austin – a Public Religion Research Institute survey of Hispanics in America turned up some surprises. For example, 69 percent of Hispanics in general have a favorable view of Pope Francis, but only 54 percent look favorably on the Catholic Church. Read more.