by Giovanni NealR3 ContributorIn America, the word terrorism is a heavily debated one.  These days terrorism is not implied, we wait on our government to determine if something was an act of terrorism.  Additionally, it seems as though being classified as a terrorist has more to do with one’s religious affiliation and race.   I can think of three recent instances where the word(s) terrorism or terrorist was at issue.  Benghazi, Boston and Assata Shakur. On September 11th2012, the U.S Consulate... Read more

HuffPost Religion is hiring a Fellow to join our team and work on our award-winning religion site and social media accounts. The Fellow will be integrated into the team with opportunities to learn and grow professionally in a fast-paced, intelligent, fun and slightly obsessed environment. A good candidate will be a self-starter with writing experience, and will be passionate about the web with a serious interest in how religion news is shared and traditions are expressed online. A good candidate... Read more

R3 Contributor Edward J. Blum will serve as a visiting professor at Memphis Theological Seminary. His class, “The Contested Colors of Christ in America,” examine issues of race and religion throughout American history through how Americans have considered the body and race of Jesus Christ. It begins with the transatlantic encounter of western Europeans, western Africans, and Native Americans and proceeds to the present-day of television, digital media, and global U.S. power. Moreover, the course highlights the power of slavery, land... Read more

*Much love and a big shout out to Bruce Reyes-Chow for showing some Love to Rhetoric Race and Religion Blog. Read the post below Not generally a big fan of the Top Ten List, I do understand that, taken as whole, many of these Top Ten suggestions can help to share some interesting news and instigate good debate.  And do not worry, I am under no delusions that my list of 10 is in any way exhaustive or even authoritative.... Read more

by Gee Joyner and Earle FisherR3 Contributors and the Pastor and ProfessorGee Joyner:It is no secret that Americans, if not the entire world, maintains an ideological belief that the male athlete is a superhero of sorts. A man that has extraordinary physical abilities that allows him to do things with his physical appendages that the majority of us mere mortals can only exhibit deep in the gallows of our minds via a vicariously voyeuristic perversion that is truly alive when... Read more

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On Monday, the New York Jets released quarterback Tim Tebow from their roster after only a year on a team. In ironic timing, news almost immediately followed that Jason Collins, a veteran center in the NBA, had become the first active male athlete in a major American team sport to come out as gay. Collins and Tebow are a study in contrasts, perhaps especially when it comes to their faith. Tebow is known for game-saving theatrics and an equally performative profession of faith... Read more

God reveals Godself… My ears pricked up during a recent sermon at a local Presbyterian church. I’ve heard “Godself” used by mainline ministers with some regularity since I went to seminary some dozen years ago, but I’m not used to it. I’ve long been fascinated by the liberal Protestant quest to neuter God. I sat among students in seminary who would render male Greek words into gender-neutral alternatives. In my mind, this simply led to mistranslation, because the language of... Read more

Christianity is shipwrecked on the rock of “biblical authority.” Twelve hundred people a day leave the church. Porn addiction, alcohol abuse and domestic violence are epidemic in conservative parts of America. The Bible, once an asset, has become a liability. Why? Idolatry of the written word. Connie Barlow, my science writer wife, and I have been traveling North America for 11 years as evangelists for big history and religious naturalism. We have addressed more than 1,700 religious and non-religious groups —... Read more

At CNN’s Belief Blog, John Blake offers four warning signs of when religious beliefs become evil. These include absolutism, charismatic leaders, apocalypticism, and the end justifying the means. He notes that “the line between good religion and evil religion is thin, and it’s easy to make self-righteous assumptions.” Blake catalogs “evil” religions and their dangerous actions: Army of God abortion clinic bombers The mass suicide at Jonestown in 1978 Aum Shinrikyo’s sarin gas attack on a Japanese subway station in 1995... Read more