The homeschooling movement is experiencing sharp divisions over the influence of conservative Christians in its ranks. While homeschooling is growing among believers and non-believers as well as gaining academic credibility, a battle is being fought over the role of the Christian rightist Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) in the loosely-based movement, according to the Charisma […]

An influx of immigration to rural and small-town America is finding congregations ill-prepared to minister to such newcomers, according to the current issue of  Visions, a newsletter on religion and demography. The Census 2000 released in late August found that counties with rapidly growing Spanish-speaking populations were primarily in rural, small-town and outer suburban regions. Most […]

The growing body of scientific work that demonstrates the benefits of religious belief and behavior to adult health and well-being is now being channeled into practical programs that can be applied to congregational life. Past research has shown that prayer, close social ties, altruistic behavior, and a sense of purpose are among the religious factors […]

The long time conflict between liberals and conservatives in mainline denominations seems to be entering a more political phase judging by a recent New York conference RW attended. The late October meeting was organized by Union Theological Seminary and the Institute of Democratic Studies (IDS) to counter the recent victories of conservatives in such mainline bodies as […]

One of the most influential movements of ideas in recent American religious life has been the return to accepting the primacy of natural law as the single most important force to stop the secularization of society. Prof. Wilfred M.McClay of the University of Tennessee presents (in the Wilson Quarterly, Summer, 2000) a highly sophisticated case, building […]

Religion in Russia is reviving, but the pattern of resurgence is uneven, particularly for the Russian Orthodox Church. These is one of the conclusions of an exhaustive survey of religion in Russia in the current issue of the journal Religion, State and Society (March). The most noticeable trend throughout the issue is the checkered condition of Russian […]

The restrictions against women in preaching and leading congregations has had strong impact on the mission field, although there are signs that women are gaining new roles in some evangelical mission agencies, reports Christianity Today (Aug. 7). Traditionally, women have been prominent in missionary work, particularly in social service and practical ministries. But the changing face of […]

In Canada’s first round of elections, a significant pro-family, Christian-based movement has come into prominence, according to the magazine Religion in the News (Summer). In an early July runoff to decide who will lead the Canadian Alliance party for the elections next year, Stockwell Day, a “sometimes Pentecostal lay preacher,” beat out more moderate opponents. The Canadian […]

“Faith-based sex education is popping up at churches and synagogues across the nation as spiritual leaders recognize the need to expand their moral guidance to young people,” reports the Salt Lake Tribune (Aug. 26). Reporter Kim Kozlowski writes that from “liberal Unitarian to conservative Christians to African-American faiths,” religious leaders acknowledge that parents and schools might not […]

Single parents, once considered a sign of failure in family-oriented churches, are now the prime targets for new ministries, reports the News Observer (N.C.) newspaper (Aug. 23). Reporter Yonat Shimron writes that “With divorce rates as high among the faithful as the rest of society, and with government championing church initiatives to help mothers on welfare find […]