The Christian Century

Decades ago, when a need arose at a church in rural Kansas, the finance chair would ask, "Who'll give 25 dollars?" Today, we have Kickstarter.

"What's going on is a nation-building process. It's similar to what happened at the end of World War I, when major empires were destroyed."

By the third century, the gesture of giving became miniaturized.

There has been a broad and dramatic shift toward more abortion restrictions in the United States. This will almost certainly continue.

Craddock let the word out that he would be available at no charge for preaching and teaching. Only non-seminary graduates should attend.

Christmas recommendations from Century editors and columnists.

In the 19th century, the U.S. adopted a "social peacekeeper" model of policing. Then the Civil War left behind a surplus of firearms.

"I hope the shootings in Oak Creek will lead to interfaith education around the state," says Scott Anderson, director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches. "There is a hunger for this kind of engagement."

Is Egypt's president fighting for democracy against a military regime? Or is he trying to institute an Islamist takeover?