THE QUESTION: Is Socialism Christian? Is Capitalism Christian? THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER: The Covid-19 crisis has produced a nearly unprecedented degree of U.S. government intervention in the economy, and more may lie ahead. This occurs at a time of surprising and rising Democratic Party fondness for more thoroughgoing socialism. Although the prime mover of  this phenomenon, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, is very unlikely to win the presidential nomination, his status as the runner-up in both 2016 and 2020 is significant.... Read more

THE QUESTION: What are the long-term trends for the world’s religions? What’s the situation in China? THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER: Broad-brush, Christianity remains the world’s largest and most widespread religion and will still be so in 2050 thanks to steady growth in “Global South” nations of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. But Islam is steadily gaining ground. Declines relative to the population have been suffered by folk religions in China, tribal traditions elsewhere, and the ranks of the non-religious. In... Read more

THE QUESTION: Are U.S. Protestant congregations facing a dangerous plunge in income? THE GUY’S ANSWER: Note the subtitle of this recent book release: “The Coming Revolution in Church Economics: Why Tithes and Offerings Are No Longer Enough and What You Can Do About It” (published by Baker). Will many churchgoers no longer be able to keep the doors of their churches open? How bad will it get? Authors Mark DeYmaz and Harry Li are evangelicals who lead the Mosaix Global... Read more

THE QUESTION: Is Europe Christian? THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER: The intriguing question above is the title of a brief new book (from Oxford University Press) by prominent French social analyst Olivier Roy, a professor at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, and critic of political Islam. To Roy, the correct answer is that it all depends on what you mean by “Christian.” The Religion Guy agrees. If the answer is no, that’s an epochal change. The continent has served... Read more

THE QUESTION: Can students pray in U.S. public schools? THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER: The Trump Administration’s education and justice departments, after work with government attorneys, issued policy guidance to public schools January 16 on this emotional-laden and oft-misunderstood issue. The answer is well settled in American law and agreed upon by a very wide range of religious and public education organizations. Yes, depending. Yes, if a student initiates prayer and does not disrupt classes. Students also enjoy other religious rights... Read more

THE QUESTION:     What is Judaism? THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER: How are we to comprehend the series of attacks on American Jews during the holiday season? Why were there 1,879 anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. during 2018, by Anti-Defamation League count, which was double the 2017 total and the third-worst year on record? Whatever the explanation, the related three words above were the headline and subject of an online article just before the recent repellent events. See www.dennisprager.com/what-is-judaism Author Dennis... Read more

THE QUESTION: What were the sources for the Bible’s accounts of Jesus’ birth? THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER: If it’s Christmastime, we expect the media will look around for material to deconstruct cherished church traditions. One 2019 example is a series of December articles about Jesus’ Nativity on this very interfaith site (www.patheos.com/blogs/messyinspirations) from a Catholic “channel” contributor who for some reason wants anonymity and calls himself “fellow dying inmate.” The “inmate” is correct to debunk some sentimental Christmas folkways. Typical... Read more

THE QUESTION: Bible trivia: How long is a cubit? What does a shekel weigh? How much does an ephah contain? THE GUY’S ANSWER: Readers of the Bible, particularly those wedded to the revered King James Version from four centuries ago, will keep running across esoteric words for weights and measures in ancient times. Many editions today help out by providing modern equivalents in the text or footnotes. But don’t take those equivalents too literally. Specialist Marvin Powell’s advice is that... Read more

THE QUESTION: Can we rely upon New Testament texts that were copied and recopied over centuries? THE GUY’S ANSWER: It’s hard to think of any question more central for the Christian faith than that. The Catholic Church’s Second Vatican Council and subsequent catechism proclaim that the New Testament books provide “the ultimate truth of God’s revelation.” The church “unhesitatingly affirms” that they “faithfully hand on” the “honest truth about Jesus” and the history of his words and deeds. Yet consider... Read more