American Religion

On Traveling From Münster To Geneva

by on April 22, 2026 | 17 Comments

In 1535 the Reformation was about fourteen years old. The Protestants had gained some legal status within the empire, but the existence of the movement was by no means secure. Internally, it was wracked with dissension over the moral and theological implications . . . Continue reading →

Silicon Valley’s Religion

by on February 17, 2026 | 1 Comment

…My concern here is the underlying religion of the high priests of the Silicon Valley and beyond. After all, if pioneering engineers and tech billionaires are inspired by explicitly religious ideas, why shouldn’t Christians evaluate them? There are plenty of non-ideological folks . . . Continue reading →

Review: The Search For Christian America By Mark A. Noll, Nathan O. Hatch, And George M. Marsden

by on September 18, 2025 | 5 Comments

Christians often mimic the tactics of non-Christians in the social and political realms. For example, the “cancel culture” found in legacy media and social media is also found in evangelical media and Christian social media. American politicians and pundits use scare tactics, . . . Continue reading →

Toward A Confessional CRC: Synod 2025

by on June 25, 2025 | 5 Comments
crc synod 2025

The 2025 Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRC) met from June 13–19 at Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. The 49 Classes of the denomination sent 176 delegates to deliberate on important matters of the church. The headline . . . Continue reading →

Sauls Leaves PCA, Becomes Egalitarian

by on August 14, 2024

You might have heard that one of the Presbyterian Church in America’s most notable ministers got in trouble, was suspended by his presbytery, went through a lengthy discipline process, eventually resigned his church, and two days later was restored as a member . . . Continue reading →

Eddie Bauer On Creeds, Promises, And Covenants

by on May 24, 2024 | 4 Comments

I continue to learn theology at one of our local malls. Last fall I learned about True Religion. More recently I was at Eddie Bauer. Upon putting away the store receipt, I happened to notice a little blurb on the back titled, . . . Continue reading →

We’ve Been Dating It All Wrong: Richard Denton And The Arrival of American Presbyterianism

by on August 1, 2023 | 2 Comments

Pre-1700’s Presbyterianism in America is shrouded in mystique. Some would say it did not really exist since there was no formal Presbytery established until 1706. Too often it is made to appear that Presbyterianism suddenly dropped into the colonies out of nowhere, . . . Continue reading →

What The Dying Of The PCUSA Means

by on May 17, 2023 | 16 Comments
PCUSA Logo

When, Dean Kelley published Why Conservative Churches Are Growing (New York: Harper & Row, 1972), the Protestant mainline was already in crisis. They were shrinking, and, as Kelley’s title suggests, the “conservative” churches were growing. This book was published the year before . . . Continue reading →

Samuel Would Like A Word With Americans Hankering For A King

by on May 10, 2023 | 10 Comments
Samuel Relating to Eli the Judgements of God upon Eli's House, oil on canvas by John Singleton Copley, 1780. Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, Connecticut.

Understandably, for many American Christians, the fight or flight instinct has kicked in. They are made to pay taxes to support institutions—for example, public schools—that demonstrably work against their interests and seek to subvert the authority of parents in the family by . . . Continue reading →

Should You Attend An Ecumenical Service? (Part 1)

by on March 14, 2023 | 10 Comments

An old friend wrote recently to ask whether it is appropriate for a confessional Presbyterian and Reformed (P&R) pastor or congregation to participate in an ecumenical service. This is an interesting and challenging question. Let us start by defining our terms. What . . . Continue reading →