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July 2026

July 03, 2026

Is ‘Separation of Church and State’ Really a Myth?

Beware the Religious Liberty Commission Recently, President Trump's Religious Liberty Commission issued a report that...

April 2026

April 14, 2026

The President and the Pope: An Unprecedented Rift

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed open hostility to Pope Leo XIV. Trump was angered...

April 09, 2026

What Was the Avignon Papacy and Why Is It in the News?

The Avignon Papacy refers to a period from 1309 to 1376, when the Papacy was,...

February 2026

February 22, 2026

MAGA’s Assault on Religious Liberty

MAGA's assault on religious liberty is being under-covered in news media, but it's real. President...

January 2026

January 01, 2026

Bible vs. Quran: The Truth About U.S. Oaths

Does taking an oath of office in the U.S. require placing a hand on a...

October 2025

October 03, 2025

This Is a Third Great Awakening?

I've seen claims lately that a Third Great Awakening is happening now. I'm skeptical, but...

September 2025

September 25, 2025

New Texas School Prayer Law Seems a Tad Fuzzy

Texas has a new prayer in public school law that went into effect September 1. ...

April 2025

April 14, 2025

Religion in Public Schools Hurts Religion (and Schools)

Religion in public schools has been a hot topic in the U.S. for decades. It...

March 2025

March 13, 2025

When the Dalai Lama Escaped Tibet

The Dalai Lama escaped Tibet in March 1959, 66 years ago this month. March 1959...

March 06, 2025

How “Christian” Were the Nazis?

How Christian were the Nazis? Not as much as many assume. The relationship between Christianity...

February 2025

February 09, 2025

Madison, Bush, Trump and Religious Freedom

Most Americans might agree that religious freedom is a cornerstone of American liberty. Yet we...

January 2025

January 01, 2025

The Progressive Evangelicalism of Jimmy Carter

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29, 2024, at the age of...

September 2024

September 11, 2024

Civil Religion: A Short History

Civil religion -- sometimes calleed "civic religion" -- is a term that is defined many...

July 2024

July 10, 2024

Religious Liberty and Josh Hawley

Religious Liberty and Josh Hawley don't mix. The Republican U.S. Senator from Missouri has made...

July 07, 2024

What Does “Teaching the Bible” Really Mean?

"Teaching the Bible" -- what does that mean? Now that the state of Oklahoma had...

June 2024

June 26, 2024

What’s Wrong With the Louisiana Ten Commandments Law

The Louisiana Ten Commandments bill I wrote about last month has been signed into law...

May 2024

May 30, 2024

Florida Embeds Christian Nationalism in School

The Florida Department of Education has been directing middle school and high school teachers to...

May 23, 2024

The Appeal to Heaven Flag and Why It’s Controversial

The Appeal to Heaven Flag, also called the Pine Tree Flag, is a bit of...

May 19, 2024

Louisiana Passes a Ten Commandments in Public Schools Bill

The Louisiana legislature just passed a bill mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in...

May 17, 2024

Why It’s Hard to Separate Church and State

The relationship of church and state is one of the vexing issues of our time. ...

February 2024

February 29, 2024

Thích Quảng Duc: The Burning Monk

One of the most iconic images of the 20th century is the photograph of a...

February 26, 2024

Frozen Zygotes and the Middle Way of Compassion

The recent consternation about frozen zygotes, in vitro fertilization and "fertilized egg personhood" laws made...

January 2024

January 02, 2024

Christian Public Schools in the U.S. ?

Will there be Christian public schools in the U.S.? Recently Heidi Przybyla reported for Politico...

November 2023

November 19, 2023

The Wall of Separation Has Two Sides

The wall of separation between church and state is in the news again. Recently Rep....

November 06, 2023

Is “In God We Trust” Religious or Patriotic?

A new law in Louisiana requires posting "In God We Trust" in every classroom in...

October 2023

October 12, 2023

Reflections on War and Religion

A horrific new war involving Israel and Gaza evokes the old subject of war and...

September 2023

September 18, 2023

Faith and Football: What’s the Deal With Prayers Before Games?

What's the deal with prayers before football games? I don't know when it became the...

June 2023

June 08, 2023

Pat Robertson’s Legacy

Pat Robertson died today, June 8, in his home at the age of 93. He's...

April 2023

April 22, 2023

Do the Ten Commandments Belong in Public School Classrooms?

The Texas Senate has passed a bill that mandates posting the Ten Commandments in every...

November 2022

November 23, 2022

Arguments Against the Wall of Separation Between Church and State

I've written a number of columns looking at issues involving religion and the U.S. Constitution....

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