Has Christianity been hijacked by far-right conservatives? That’s the argument of journalist Tim Alberta, a Christian whose father was an evangelical pastor. Alberta says that the pursuit of power has overshadowed spiritual missions in many of these communities. His new book explores the conflict between authentic faith and political identity. Losing Ground The term “evangelical” […]
Escaping Scientology
The Church of Scientology is notoriously controlling and secretive, and little is known about its inner workings. Mike Rinder was a high-ranking exec in the church until one day he’d finally had enough—and left. In A Billion Years, he recounts his unusual life story, offering a peek into a world that most of us will never see. […]
Why the KKK got a second wind
The Ku Klux Klan first started using violence and intimidation to uphold white supremacy in the American South after the Civil War. But many people don’t realize that the secretive organization’s real rise to power came later, in the Midwest, when it added other minorities to its hit list, including Catholics, Jews, and immigrants. The […]
Dwight from “The Office” wants to save your soul
It wasn’t a straight line from playing Dwight Schrute on The Office to becoming a religious guru. But that’s the path actor Rainn Wilson took, and now he’s ready to ignite a spiritual revolution to heal the world. We take a look at his thoughts in our latest Instaread. Modern Religion These days, religion is often dismissed […]
Mindfulness for Annoyed People
When you think of meditation and mindfulness, what comes to mind? A calm afternoon on retreat, perhaps, or a mountain cabin vacation. But mindfulness should be an everyday practice, not just something that happens when conditions are right. The Zen master and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh said that you can practice mindfulness anywhere, whether […]
Women Play an Important Role in Christian History
The place of women in religion, and Christianity in particular, has long been a subject of debate. Some traditions, like the contemporary evangelical movement, believe that God made women subservient. But where did that idea originate? Medieval historian Beth Allison Barr says that the idea of “Biblical womanhood” is relatively new. Research shows that evangelicals […]
The War on Satan
Do the thoughts you’re thinking truly belong to you? Are you sure? In Battlefield of the Mind, Christian author Joyce Meyer writes that each of our minds is a battleground for the epic forces of good and evil. Satan can take control of our thoughts in a slow, imperceptible manner. But we can wrest back control, […]
Ancient Wisdom Was the Original Self-Help
How relevant can old Hindu scripture be to our modern lives? You might be surprised. As one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, The Bhagavad Gita offers essential guidance on topics like knowledge, devotion, and spirituality. The world has always been filled with challenges and change. These old “self-help” scriptures can serve as a […]
All You Need Is Love
Actions always speak louder than words. This old saying is never more true than when it comes to love, Christianity’s most treasured principle. Unfortunately, some people prefer to talk about God’s love without letting it work in their own lives. Loving nice people is easy. But what about not-so-nice people, or lonely people, or even […]
Heaven on Earth
Today, C.S. Lewis is best known for fictional stories like The Chronicles of Narnia. But in the 1940s, during World War II, Lewis was more famous as a radio personality. In fact, he was on British radio so often that his voice became as famous as Winston Churchill’s. Lewis was offered a broadcast on modern literature, […]
