Centuries ago, serious religious study was extraordinarily demanding and rigorous; in contrast, anyone could declare himself a scientist and go in the business of, say, alchemy. These days, it\u2019s the reverse. A Ph.D. in chemistry is a rigorous degree, while a preacher can explain the Bible on television without mastering Hebrew or Greek \u2014 or even showing interest in the nuances of the original texts.<\/i><\/p>\n
Those self-appointed evangelical leaders come across as hypocrites, monetizing Jesus rather than emulating him. Some seem homophobic, and many who claim to be \u201cpro-life\u201d seem little concerned with human life post-uterus. Those are the preachers who won headlines and disdain.<\/p>\n
But in reporting on poverty, disease and oppression, I\u2019ve seen so many others. Evangelicals are disproportionately likely to donate 10 percent of their incomes to charities, mostly church-related. More important, go to the front lines, at home or abroad, in the battles against hunger, malaria, prison rape, obstetric fistula, human trafficking or genocide, and some of the bravest people you meet are evangelical Christians (or conservative Catholics, similar in many ways) who truly live their faith.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Bravo Zulu and Amen. Go read the rest.<\/a><\/p>\n
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