Church Bells and Bible Studies (UPDATED)

Update 26 April 2010 A federal court has ruled that the city ordinance restricting church bells is an unconstitutional abridgment of religious speech. Now that the principle is established, perhaps the congregation will accommodate itself to its neighbors and moderate the number . . . Continue reading →

The New Inquisition: Illiberalism in the Modern Academy

Most college students are taught that, in the pre-Enlightenment world, religious zealots persecuted enlightened astronomers for daring to challenge deeply held but ignorant religious beliefs on the basis of early modern science. Whether that story is true as told is immaterial. That . . . Continue reading →

Candidate Suspected of Being "An Evangelical" Wins Settlement

Last month we learned that the University of Kentucky denied an appointment to a qualified candidate on the basis that he might be an evangelical. Yesterday news emerged that the UK settled Gaskell’s religious discrimination suit with Gaskell for $125,000 (HT: Rhett . . . Continue reading →

Brian Lee on the Real Problem with the Statement by the American Embassy in Cairo

But the real problem with the statement is its failure to grasp the inherently offensive nature of most religious belief. It belies the widely held belief that “good religion” must be utterly private, banal, and non-offensive. Read more

Religious Freedom Watch: Pentagon May Prosecute Witnessing (Updated)

Originally posted May 1, 2013 Updated below. If these fundamentalist Christian monsters of human degradation … and tyranny cannot broker or barter your acceptance of their putrid theology, then they crave for your universal silence in the face of their rapacious reign . . . Continue reading →

Religious Freedom Watch: What the IRS Wants to Know About Your Religion (Updated)

Originally published 18 May, 2013. Updated 23 May 2013 (below). From the 16 May 2013 Memo to the Hon. Aaron Schock, Member of Congress, Committee of Ways and Means, from Thomas Brejcha, Peter Breen, Sally Wagenmaker, Esqs. Thomas More Society. The IRS . . . Continue reading →

Religious Freedom Watch: Chilling Protected Religious Speech In The Military

Todd Starnes reports The Obama Administration “strongly objects” to a proposed amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would have protected the religious rights of soldiers – including evangelical Christian service members who are facing growing hostility towards their religion. Rep. John . . . Continue reading →

Deaths From Church Shootings Rose 36% In 2012

A congregation at prayer, hearing God’s Word preached and responding by singing God’s Word should be the safest place in the world. According to a story in Christianity Today, however, in 2012 it was not. Security experts describe them as “soft targets,” places . . . Continue reading →

When And How To Draw A Line In The Sand? (Updated)

UPDATE 7/5/13 Below. Original Post 7/1/13 PCA Pastor Robert Dekker, pastor of New Covenant Presbyterian Church wanted to hold worship services this summer on the beach near Lewes, Delaware. He applied for a permit from the city to use public space. The . . . Continue reading →

Does The State Illegitimately Control The Church?

It has recently been argued to me that, in the various states, because the Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act(s), the Uniform Child Custody Justice Enforcement Act(s), and because most congregations (and denominations) have formed non-profit corporations (in the USA congregations usually become . . . Continue reading →