Beyond believers
Beyond Believers Religion is now the hottest topic for American historians. March issue. The study of religion is too important to be left in the hands of believers. So claims David A. Hollinger, a professor of American history at the University of California at Berkeley, in his response to religion emerging as the hottest topic of study among members of the American Historical Association (AHA). … Continue reading Beyond believers
March 2010: GetReligion
Bobby Ross Jr. drops in. Published March 8. AP evolution story lacks intelligent design. Published March 9. Ultra-soft ultrasound in LA Times. Published March 11. A Brit’s ode to Joel Osteen. Published March 13. Until null and void do us part. Published March 15. Hands of God? Hard to tell. Published March 17. The good book of smut? Published March 18. Got reform; what about … Continue reading March 2010: GetReligion
Trends in freshman enrollment
Trends in freshman enrollment: Member numbers down at Christian universities. Page 1 lead. A decade ago, a majority of freshmen at Rochester College in Michigan, York College in Nebraska and Abilene Christian University in Texas claimed membership in Churches of Christ. That’s no longer the case. An increasing number of colleges and universities associated with Churches of Christ draw more freshmen from outside the fellowship … Continue reading Trends in freshman enrollment
Personal: Oklahoma SPJ honors Philip Patterson
Me, Steve Lackmeyer, Tamie, Linda Patterson, Murray Evans and Philip Patterson at Saturday night’s Oklahoma SPJ awards banquet. • • • By Bobby Ross Jr. The Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists honored my friend and mentor Philip Patterson as Teacher of the Year at its annual awards banquet Saturday night. My friend and fellow Oklahoma Christian alumnus Christy Watson, an editorial writer for The Oklahoman, … Continue reading Personal: Oklahoma SPJ honors Philip Patterson
More precious than gold
More precious than gold (reporting from Vancouver, British Columbia). Currents. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle VANCOUVER, British Columbia – For two weeks, the world’s spotlight will shine on this coastal metropolis as athletes from more than 80 nations compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Long after the Games end in late February, however, the Pacific Northwest city will retain its international flavor, as … Continue reading More precious than gold
Less aid for AIDS?
Less aid for AIDS? Groups fear impact of Obama administration’s PEPFAR stance. February issue. Leaders of Christian organizations that fight AIDS in Africa are expressing fears that the U.S. government is slowing its fight against the disease. The Obama administration is shifting its global health emphasis from putting more people on AIDS drugs to combating less-costly diseases. “There seems to be an AIDS funding fatigue … Continue reading Less aid for AIDS?
Orphans on deck
Orphans on Deck Adoption steps to the front lines of the culture wars. January issue. Adoption is arguably one of the Christian social ministries most central to evangelical theology. It has—to a greater extent than church positions on issues such as abortion and marriage—avoided becoming entangled in politics. Until now. A foster dad’s court challenge to a Florida law banning adoption by gays and lesbians … Continue reading Orphans on deck
Three languages, one church
Three languages, one church (reporting from Chicago). Churches That Work. CHICAGO – It’s the Bible class hour on Sunday morning. A half-mile off busy Interstate 94, in a working-class neighborhood lined with bungalows, a woman walks her dog. A teenager rides his skateboard. Inside the Northwest Church of Christ, a two-story brick building with red carpeting and wooden pews, deacon Rene Torres Jr. teaches Spanish-speaking adults … Continue reading Three languages, one church
The 2000s in review: My top 10 stories of the decade
By Bobby Ross Jr., Dec. 31, 2009 Ten years ago, I spent the last night of the millennium on Y2K duty at The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City’s major metropolitan daily. For the next day’s front page, I wrote: As the planet Earth’s calendars rolled, hour by hour around the globe, to a neatly even Jan. 1, 2000, a computer bug known as Y2K was supposed to wreak havoc … Continue reading The 2000s in review: My top 10 stories of the decade
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 