Researchers should define Evangelicals by their beliefs, not by their political demographics, the church they attend or what they self-identify as, the NEA and LifeWay Research have determined.
CHR Comment: The researchers began with seventeen statements and narrowed it to four. Oddly, none of the statements of faith are about the Trinity, perhaps assuming that doctrine or trying to accommodate non-creedal groups.
CHR Comment: The Pope recently visited a Lutheran congregation in Rome. According to Rev. Martin Junge, president of the Lutheran World Federation, the last three popes have made such visits and relations are mending between Lutherans and Catholics, working toward intercommunion. Expect significant develops around the time of the 2017 anniversary of the Reformation.
Source: Catholics, Lutherans preparing joint Reformation anniversary event
The remains of St. Maria Goretti, an 11-year-old girl said to have forgiven her attacker, are expected to draw thousands to St. Monica Catholic Church.
CHR Comment: The event illustrates the continued popularity of relics in the Catholic tradition. The article tells Maria’s story and the changed life of the man who abused her. Her remains is on display for the first time in the United States and at 54 places. The Texas Catholic (second link) reports that more than 13,500 people came to see the relic in Dallas.
Source: Dallas church to display remains of young saint killed in rape attempt | Dallas Morning News
http://www.texascatholic.com/2015/11/11/thousands-line-up-to-view-relics-of-st-maria-goretti/
Stolzfus said he turns to running whenever he’s tempted to sin.
CHR Comment: Leroy Stolzfus nearly qualified for the Boston Marathon for his age group! He mixes the modern and American running movement with his traditional Amish beliefs and practices, which results in an interesting expression of faith and culture.
Source: Amish man runs fast marathon in traditional slacks and suspenders
(RNS) The 208-year-old school calls the move part of “a bold new direction” as it vies to stop running big deficits and struggles to find a financially sustainable model.
CHR Comment: Andover-Newton seminary has historic affiliations with Congregationalism, American Baptists, and the United Church of Christ. These denominations are among the mainline Protestant churches experiencing steep decline in membership. Enrollment at mainline Protestant seminaries has dropped by 24% since 2005.
Source: Oldest US graduate seminary to close campus – Religion News Service
Christians mostly welcomed new constitution. Nepal’s main trading partner did not.
CHR Comment: Due to political changes and parliament representation, India has blocked the transport of fuel into Nepal. As a result, fewer Nepalese are able to travel to church as easily as before. Attendance at some congregations has been cut in half.
Source: Church Attendance Plunges after Nepal Becomes a Secular State… | Gleanings | ChristianityToday.com
With all of the many divisions in our world, why wouldn’t people of different faiths want to demonstrate that there is a way for us to come together and pray for peace?
CHR Comment: United Methodist minister, Dave Norman, explains why he thinks interfaith services are good and in keeping with the teachings of Jesus Christ, which means welcoming everyone. He agrees with David Kinnaman, author of “You Lost Me,” that younger Christians are struggling with the idea that Christianity is an exclusive religion.
Source: A Multi-Faith Prayer Vigil for Peace: Why? | Dave Norman
“We must be more forceful in the battle of ideas,” said the Ohio governor, who is seeking the Republican Party’s 2016 presidential nomination.
CHR Comment: The specific values mentioned in the article are not clearly limited to Judaism or Christianity. He mentions: human rights, democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of association. Judaism and Christianity have existed or cooperated with all manner of governments and cultures across the centuries. Kasich is really describing American views of rights, not specifically religious values.
A blast killed in Nigeria killed 32 people and wounded 80 Tuesday at a truck stop in northeastern Nigeria, an emergency official said.
CHR Comment: Yola is a regional capital and a community with many Christians since, for example, it is the location of Concordia College, a school founded by the Lutheran Church. This latest bombing, however, targeted a mosque since Boko Haram also attacks Muslims who do not support their movement.
An awkward, at times profane, exchange between comedy talk show host Stephen Colbert and Bill Maher reflects the conflation of Islam with terrorism – and the debate over how to respond to the terrorist attacks in Paris.
CHR Comment: Maher, a former Catholic, is openly hostile toward religion and blames religion for many of the troubles in the world today, such as terrorism. Colbert, on the other hand, is a sincere Catholic who called Maher to humble himself and return to the Lord during a live broadcast of his program, “The Late Show.”
Source: Awkward exchange: Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher on terrorism and religion – CSMonitor.com
church history review 