All posts tagged: Christian

New survey points to correlation between Christian nationalism and authoritarian views

New survey points to correlation between Christian nationalism and authoritarian views

Published by skeptic

(RNS) — Americans who hold Christian nationalist views are also likely to express support for forms of authoritarianism, according to a new report, pointing to a possible link between those who advocate for a Christian nation and people who agree with statements such as the need to “smash the perversions eating away at our moral fiber and traditional beliefs.” The Public Religion Research Institute unveiled the new survey last week during Religion News Service’s 90th anniversary celebration in New York City, presenting the data to a room of faith leaders, advocates and reporters. A statement sent to RNS on Monday (Sept 16), Melissa Deckman, CEO of PRRI, framed the study as an effort to connect recent research on Christian nationalism with longstanding efforts to assess authoritarianism. “While most Americans do not espouse authoritarian views, our study demonstrates that such views are disproportionately held by Christian nationalists, who we know in our past research have been more prone to accept political violence and more likely to hold antidemocratic attitudes than other Americans,” Deckman said. In addition …

Rock Spring Congregational UCC to host presentation on Christian nationalism with Greg Carey, PhD

Rock Spring Congregational UCC to host presentation on Christian nationalism with Greg Carey, PhD

Published by skeptic

Christian nationalism: What it is and why it is dangerous for democracy and the gospel ARLINGTON, Va. — On September 22, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ will host an important program in its Sanctuary at 5010 Little Falls Road. Greg Carey, PhD, Professor of New Testament at Lancaster Seminary, will present “Christian Nationalism: What It Is, and Why It’s Dangerous for Democracy and the Gospel.” The term “Christian nationalism” has gained traction in recent years, but many still wonder what it means and why it has become a source of concern. In this presentation, Dr. Carey will introduce the movement, place it within its historical context, and explain how Christian nationalism poses a threat both to democratic values and to the core principles of the Christian gospel. Dr. Carey is widely recognized for his expertise in biblical interpretation and social issues. His insights will help attendees understand the rise of Christian nationalism and its implications for faith communities and broader society. This program offers an opportunity …

Black church leaders brought religion to politics in the ‘60s – but it was dramatically different from today’s white Christian nationalism

Black church leaders brought religion to politics in the ‘60s – but it was dramatically different from today’s white Christian nationalism

Published by skeptic

(The Conversation) — Fifty-eight years ago in the summer of 1966, a group of Black church leaders took out a full-page advertisement in The New York Times titled “Black Power.” Their densely worded statement called on national leaders, “white churchmen,” Black citizens and the mass media to correct the country’s racial power imbalance. In essence, they asked their fellow citizens to support Black power. Prominent church leaders such as Rev. Paul Washington of the Church of the Advocate in Philadelphia, Rev. Gayraud Wilmore of the Presbyterian Commission on Religion and Race, and Rev. Benjamin Payton of the National Council of Churches were among the signatories. With years of civil rights experience, 48 Black church leaders boldly asserted their unequivocal support for the Black Power movement. Like many white Christian nationalists in 2024, these Black church leaders believed that God was punishing their beloved country. Both groups called for repentance and fundamental change. And like white Christian nationalists, the 1966 Black Christian activists asserted that their faith had something to say on matters of racial identity …

So what does the future look like now? | Anywhere but Westminster – video | John Harris, John Domokos, Noah Payne-Frank Frances Rankin, Jem Talbot, Katie Lamborn and Christian Bennett

So what does the future look like now? | Anywhere but Westminster – video | John Harris, John Domokos, Noah Payne-Frank Frances Rankin, Jem Talbot, Katie Lamborn and Christian Bennett

Published by skeptic

On a non-stop road and rail trip, John Harris and John Domokos go from Rishi Sunak’s well to-do seat in Yorkshire via County Durham and Lanarkshire to arrive amidst the new-town community spirit of Milton Keynes on election day. Everywhere people are holding places together: will a victorious Labour party soak up those vibes? Source link

Why are the Tories collapsing? These true-blue towns know the answers – video | John Harris, John Domokos, Frances Rankin, Noah Payne-Frank, Katie Lamborn and Christian Bennett

Why are the Tories collapsing? These true-blue towns know the answers – video | John Harris, John Domokos, Frances Rankin, Noah Payne-Frank, Katie Lamborn and Christian Bennett

Published by skeptic

In the latest episode of Anywhere but Westminster, John Harris and John Domokos go to Woking, Guildford and Aldershot. Most of England’s south-east used to be loyally Conservative – now, however, people in the “blue wall” are struggling, cuts are biting, and Toryism today is leaving younger voters behind. Source link

This Labour city backed Brexit and went Tory: what did it get in return? – video | John Harris, John Domokos Noah Payne-Frank and Christian Bennett

This Labour city backed Brexit and went Tory: what did it get in return? – video | John Harris, John Domokos Noah Payne-Frank and Christian Bennett

Published by skeptic

In the first video of a new series of Anywhere but Westminster, John Harris and John Domokos revisit Stoke-on-Trent, the once-loyal Labour city that went totally Tory in 2019. Has ‘levelling up’ money made up for swingeing local cuts? Will Labour win again? And what do people working hard to turn the place around think  about the future?  Source link

Mandatory Christian worship has no place in modern education

Mandatory Christian worship has no place in modern education

Published by skeptic

The recent High Court ruling upholding Michaela Community School’s decision to restrict Muslim students’ prayer rituals brings into question the legal obligation on all schools to provide Christian worship. The law requiring all English state funded schools to hold daily collective acts of ‘broadly Christian’ worship have been on the statute books for 80 years. Similar laws exist in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. It should by now be obvious to all that these archaic laws need to be scrapped. Those responsible for running schools would certainly like to see the law abolished. New polling commissioned by the National Secular Society has revealed that more than two in three senior leaders in state schools do not support a law which requires daily acts of collective worship in school. A remarkable 70% of senior leaders disagree with a law they are obliged to uphold. This probably accounts for the high rate of non-compliance. In a separate 2022 Teacher Tapp poll of over 7,600 teachers in state funded schools in England, 66% said they did not hold …

Do you still consider yourself an Evangelical Christian? – OpentheWord.org

Do you still consider yourself an Evangelical Christian? – OpentheWord.org

Published by skeptic

Mixing religion and politics has always been a dangerous recipe. Does who we vote for politically in any way define what it means to be a believer in Christ? In recent years, the mainstream media and others have smeared Evangelical Christians politically as nationalists or right-wing extremists. However, a 2023 survey suggests this is not how Bible-believing Christians defined themselves, the Christian Post reports. According to Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts’ (GMRIC) analysis of the survey of 1,000 Evangelical Christians, a very small minority believe that a person’s political position in any way defines their Evangelical beliefs. “Only 2% define ‘evangelical’ at least in part by politics, such as being politically conservative, supporting Donald Trump, or being Republican,” GMRIC’s report concluded. “So, while others, such as The Economist, commonly conflate this term with politics, evangelicals themselves rarely do,” the report continued. Initially, the term Evangelical was used to describe those who held a Biblical view of Christianity. According to the National Association of Evangelicals, this included four foundational beliefs: The Bible is a person’s …

Sam Smith And Christian Cowan Hard-Launch Relationship On Met Gala Red Carpet

Sam Smith And Christian Cowan Hard-Launch Relationship On Met Gala Red Carpet

Published by skeptic

Sam Smith and their partner Christian Cowan made their first public appearance as a couple at this year’s Met Gala. On Monday night, the five-time Grammy winner and fashion designer were pictured making their way into the star-studded event in corresponding outfits, while holding hands on the red carpet. Speaking to Vogue, Christian revealed he’d designed both his and Sam’s outfits, explaining that he had been inspired by 1940s tailoring and “queer icon” Oscar Wilde, to fit the night’s “Garden Of Time” theme. He also shared that his and his partner’s matching accessories, two metallic rose, held a special meaning for them both. Christian and Sam’s looks both included a metallic rose accessory Jamie McCarthy via Getty Images “We’re both queer and British so an English rose I thought was perfect,” he said. “And early on, in our [relationship], I gave Sam a metal-plated rose…” “I wanted to speak to the theme, the night, the tone that Anna [Wintour, the night’s organiser] loves, but also to our own story,” he also told the New York …