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The church, in its ignorance of and hostility to evolution, is passing up one of its greatest opportunities to apprehend the very God it claims to represent. This irony is due to a terrible case of what may be called “small-god-ism” and is, unfortunately, encouraged by much popular theology. This theology makes claims about scripture and church practice that reduce God to a cheerleader, or a cosmic vending machine, or some domesticated and pale image of our own confused selves.

76-year-old never-married evangelist Bill Gothard teaches a form of wifely submission that another evangelical theologian has referred to as “the basest form of male chauvinism I have ever heard in a Christian context.” Sarah Posner had the chance to speak at length with the controversial religious leader, as well as with critics and former adherents. The picture that emerges shows the risk, and the devastation, of the abuse of spiritual authority.

Catholic women priests are an oxymoron for the Vatican. It considers them automatically excommunicated before the holy oil is dry on their hands. Other Catholics accept them as sacramental ministers and are delighted with the innovation. Still, others, myself included, want far deeper structural changes in the Catholic Church such that priesthood loses its baked-on charm and ministry becomes the expected task of adult members. This is an important theological conversation that the Vatican wishes would go away. Memo to them: it is just starting.

Gerald Gay brings his Christian beliefs to lawmaking, but wants to ban laws based in “foreign religion.”

Claims “moral relativism” on LGBT issues endangers religious expression.

Surprise!

Growing anti-Muslim climate, even as Kristol denounces Beck.

Israeli Prime Minister piles on the caliphate-fearing bandwagon.

Faced with a Broadway send up, Mormon PR plays it cool.

A reviewer misses the point. To be an atheist is to deny God’s existence, not to become enraged about God’s acts (or lack thereof).