Read more of our interview with Dr. Robert Franklin, President of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, who describes prominent African-American scholar and activist Howard Thurman as a “21st-century theologian working in the middle of the 20th century.” More →

January 18, 2002

Should a pastor offer people any counseling on sex other than to maintain abstinence outside of marriage? Does saying anything about safe sex seem to condone behavior the Bible forbids? It’s a real issue in the deep South, especially in black churches, and especially regarding women. More →

January 11, 2002

All over the world and in almost every culture, the tradition of displaying scenes from the birth of Jesus has become a cherished part of the holiday season. There is even a group dedicated to keeping this Christmas tradition alive. More →

December 21, 2001

When a person has a religious experience, what happens within the brain? What kind of changes take place? In one experiment, brain scans examine the parts of the brain that are activated during prayer. In another, mystical and religious experiences are simulated by using bursts of electrical impulses. These experiments have created no small amount of controversy. More →

November 9, 2001

As the U.S. builds coalitions and deploys troops in response to last month’s attacks, an old moral question has resurfaced: In order to fight a great evil, how much evil do you have to condone? R & E discusses the implications with Nina Shea of the Center for Religious Freedom at Freedom House, Dr. Stephen Morrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Rev. Dr. John Wimberly, Jr. of D.C.’s Western Presbyterian Church. More →

October 5, 2001

  BOB ABERNETHY: As President Bush approaches a decision on whether the Federal government should fund research on embryonic human stem cells, religious groups are on both sides of the debate. For many, the fundamental issue is the moral status … More →

July 27, 2001

One of the most difficult of all religious teachings is the importance of forgiving. Forgiveness is taught as something a person should do for God or for others. But, more and more, both religious and secular counselors are encouraging forgiveness … More →

May 18, 2001

“It puts us in a place of perpetuating a cycle of violence. Closure will never be found if vengeance and revenge continues to be the motivation,” says Rev. Verity Jones, senior minister of Central Christian Church. More →

May 11, 2001

Pope John Paul II “did not want a monument that was just dedicated to himself, but rather an institution that really focused in on our teaching role within the Church,” says Rev. G. Michael Bugarin, director of the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. More →

March 23, 2001

  Editor’s Note: John O’Donohue died in 2008. BOB ABERNETHY: And now, the rediscovery of Celtic spirituality. When the pagan Celts of Ireland were converted to Christianity by St. Patrick in the fifth century, they brought with them their love … More →

March 9, 2001