Features
9/11: Ten years later
To mark the anniversary of 9/11, we asked five Century contributors to reflect on the attacks and the decade that followed.
In the meantime: Christians in public life
Several years ago I met in D.C. with a group of young evangelical professionals. While certainly not world-fleeing fundamentalists, they were not theocrats either. They were seeking an alternative approach.
Gone to waste: Why is Safeway throwing out good produce?
I'm making my rounds at Safeway, shopping for my church's community meal. In the produce section—where I am forbidden to ask for donations—I see two heaping boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables headed to the trash.
Dan Savage interprets adultery
For better or for worse, the sex columnist provides real-time exegesis of the seventh commandment.
Tech detox: Unplugged at church camp
As youth become more and more attached to their digital gadgets, Christian camps are grappling with how to resist the power and presence of this technology.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows–Part 2
There's never been anything quite like the Harry Potter movies. The finale, Deathly Hallows, Part 2, is all one might hope.
Books
Pentecostalism in America, by R. G. Robins
Walk through the book section at your local Walmart and chances are you'll find popular titles written by individuals within the Pentecostal and charismatic movement, such as Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen. Flip on your television and you might encounter one of the most recognized ministers with a Pentecostal background, T. D. Jakes, dispensing advice alongside Dr. Phil.
Falling Upward, by Richard Rohr
Richard Rohr has written his most sage, most important book yet. Its message is straightforward and bracing: the spiritual life is not static.
The myth about religion
William Cavanaugh has written a pair of stunningly important books, in which he makes a clear and persuasive argument for overturning a founding myth of the modern Western state.
The Christian Moral Life, by Patricia Lamoureux and Paul J. Wadell
Patricia Lamoureux and Paul Wadell have written a text in fundamental Catholic moral theology with a creative twist....
Departments
Kneel as you are able
Unless you're Pentecostal, you've probably never run or jumped or worked up a sweat in church. But whatever your tradition, your church has some kind of worship calisthenics.
Biblical mystery tour
Surely there are ten or 12 people a day who would sign up for a Jerusalem tour designed to deepen their questions instead of answering them.
Sojourn 3 Sudan 2004
James Nicholls's photograph of a threshold in Sudan accentuates the deep grain of long-weathered wood. The lined hand resting gently on the old timber mirrors the lined wood and holds a rosary....
The Norwegian response
Mindful of the American response to 9/11, Norwegians apparently want to avoid overreacting and seeing themselves only as victims. They don't want to adopt a bunker mentality.
News
Demonstrators for poor arrested inside Capitol
Making pleas to Washington to avoid drastic spending cuts that would hit the poor and most vulnerable hardest, mainline Protestant leaders, Catholic bishops, progressive evangelicals and other faith leaders tried petitions, joint statements and me...
Liberal theologian, mentor Gordon Kaufman dies at 86
A member of the Harvard Divinity School faculty for more than three decades, Gordon Kaufman, who died July 22 at 86, had a profound influence on rethinking theology in naturalistic terms, arguing for a vision of God as the "profound mystery of cre...
Kenya promises to expand refugee camp
The Kenyan government has promised to expand a refugee camp for thousands of desperate Somalis fleeing a drought crisis in the Horn of Africa, and faith groups and humanitarian agencies are praising the move....
What’s behind renewed China-Vatican friction?
When China's state-run Catholic Church ordained a new bishop for the Diocese of Shantou this summer without the Vatican's approval, it represented the latest step back from years of progress in a complex relationship....
Disciples reelect Watkins to second term
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has reelected Sharon Watkins as head of the denomination, capping off a weeklong assembly that mixed mundane church business with hot-button issues such as homosexuality, immigration and anti-Muslim hate ...
Bloggers buzz over Murdoch as ‘Bible mogul’
The scandal involving Rupert Mur doch's British tabloid empire brought scrutiny to, of all places, western Michigan and the Zondervan publishing company....
Campus Crusade switches its name to ‘Cru’
Campus Crusade for Christ is out. "Cru" is in. The 60-year-old evangelical ministry recently announced its new name, saying the old name had become problematic....
Consumers mobilize in culture wars
When you buy a pair of shoes, a spicy chicken sandwich or a gym membership, does that mean you endorse everything about the company you are dealing with—including the CEO's religious beliefs?...
Lectionary
Sunday, September 4, 2011: Ezekiel 33:7-11; Matthew 18:15-20
If the watchman doesn't "sound the trumpet" and dissuade the wicked from their ways, the Lord promises to hold the watchman accountable.