Top 100 Theology Blogs

"The study of religion is interesting, and you'll find a variety of blogs devoted to it. . . .Follow this list of top notch theology blogs to gain a deeper understanding of religious studies."

Reasons I Stopped Attending Sports Events

TWELVE REASONS WHY I STOPPED ATTENDING SPORTS EVENTS

~ Every time I went, they asked me for money.

~ The people with whom I had to sit by didn't seem very friendly.

~ The seats were too hard and not comfortable at all.

~ The coach never came to call on me.

~ The referee made a decision with which I could not agree.

~ I was sitting with some hypocrites -- they came only to see what others were wearing.

~ Some games went into overtime, and I was late getting home.

~ The band played some numbers that I had never heard before.

~ The games are scheduled when I want to do other things.

~ My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.

~ Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches anyhow.

~ I don't want to take my children, because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.

Barna Survey on Spiritual Gifts

"Two-thirds of Americans (68%) who say they are Christian noted they have heard of spiritual gifts, according to a national survey by The Barna Group. That represents a small decline from past surveys, which found 72% awareness in 2000, and 71% in 1995. Awareness of spiritual gifts was most common among self-described Christians who live in the South (75%) and West (71%), and least common among those living in the Midwest (63%) and Northeast (58%)."

For Catholics, a Door to Absolution Is Reopened

"The announcement in church bulletins and on Web sites has been greeted with enthusiasm by some and wariness by others. But mainly, it has gone over the heads of a vast generation of Roman Catholics who have no idea what it means: 'Bishop Announces Plenary Indulgences.' In recent months, dioceses around the world have been offering Catholics a spiritual benefit that fell out of favor decades ago — the indulgence, a sort of amnesty from punishment in the afterlife — and reminding them of the church’s clout in mitigating the wages of sin."

Darwin on a Godless Creation: "It's Like Confessing to a Murder"

Here is an interesting article on Darwin and religion.

New Research Explores How Technology Drives Generation Gap

"Technology is fast becoming the latest driving force behind what is often called the 'generation gap.' While Americans of every age have become quite comfortable with and dependent on technology, a new study by The Barna Group explores how technology is shaping different experiences and expectations among generations."

The Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online

The Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online "provides Reliable information on Anabaptist-related (Amish, Mennonite, Hutterite, Brethren in Christ) topics, including history, theology, biography, institutions and local congregations. Secular topics from an Anabaptist perspective and full-text source documents are also included."

Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia

"In 2006, Alice and Moshe Shalvi of Shalvi Publishing Ltd. released Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia on CD-ROM, edited by Professors Paula Hyman of Yale and Dalia Ofer of Hebrew University in Jerusalem and sponsored by the Jewish Women's Archive. On March 1, 2009, in honor of Women's History Month, the Jewish Women's Archive brings the Encyclopedia online. Free. Updatable. Available anywhere in the world where there is Internet access."

A Global Guide to Islamic Art

"This guide to art 'made in societies where Islam was the dominant religion' describes where to view works (such as "calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing," and figural representations, especially of plants). Features an annotated list and map of major museums of Islamic art in the U.S., Europe and the Islamic lands. Also includes links to related sites. From Saudi Aramco World magazine." (Lii.org)

Kibbutz: What, Why, When, Where

"This article provides an overview of the Israeli kibbutz movement, which began with "a small group of young Jewish immigrants from eastern Europe, inspired by Zionist and socialist ideals, set[ting] up the first kvutza ('group' in Hebrew, renamed kibbutz, 'community' when membership grew)" in Palestine. Includes background about the first kibbutz established in 1909, crisis in the 1980s and 1990s, sources of income, labor, family life, and distribution. From the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs." (Lii.org)

Long Hair Humor

A young boy had just gotten his driving permit. He asked
his father, who was a minister, if they could discuss the use
of the car. His father took him to his study and said to him,
"I'll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up, study
your Bible a little and get your hair cut and we'll talk
about it."

After about a month the boy came back and again
asked his father if they could discuss use of the car. They
again went to the father's study where his father said,
"Son, I've been real proud of you. You have brought your
grades up, you've studied your Bible diligently, but you
didn't get your hair cut!"

The young man waited a moment and replied, "You know Dad,
I've been thinking about that. You know, Samson had long hair,
Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair,and even Jesus had
long hair...." To which hisfather replied, "Yes, and they walked
every where they went!"

Study: Religious Teens More Likely to Abstain from Sex

"Religious teens lose their virginity later than those who are not religious — waiting on average three years longer than their peers, a recent study reported."

Survey: Most Americans Believe Many Paths to Heave

"Most American religious believers, including most Christians, say eternal life is not exclusively for those who accept Christ as their savior, a new survey finds."

Survey: Christian Churches becoming More Diverse

"Christian churches in the United States are becoming more integrated, a study by a Duke University sociologist finds. The National Congregations Survey found more Asians, blacks and Hispanics joining predominantly white congregations, the Raleigh News & Observer reported."

Barna Research: Christianity Is No Longer Americans’ Default Faith

"For much of America’s history, the assumption was that if you were born in America, you would affiliate with the Christian faith. A new nationwide survey by The Barna Group, however, indicates that people’s views have changed. The study discovered that half of all adults now contend that Christianity is just one of many options that Americans choose from and that a huge majority of adults pick and choose what they believe rather than adopt a church or denomination’s slate of beliefs. Still, most people say their faith is becoming increasingly important as a source of personal moral guidance."

Barna Survey: Americans and Wicca

"As Americans make lifestyle transitions needed to restore the nation to stability, the nation’s adults are demonstrating their willingness to accept religious perspectives and groups that conflict with some of their core beliefs and lifestyle practices. A new national survey conducted by The Barna Group shows that while many adults are not familiar with Wicca, nearly half of the adult population has reserved having an opinion on that religious group even though its best-known practices directly contradict the religious faith that they personally embrace."

Gallup: Americans See Religious Influence Waning

"Two-thirds of Americans think religion is losing its influence on U.S. life, a sharp jump from just three years ago when Americans were nearly evenly split on the question, according to a new Gallup Poll. Sixty-seven percent of Americans think religious influence is waning while just 27% say it is increasing. That perspective demonstrates a continuing downward trend, Gallup said."

Research: Religious Belief and Piety Promote Self-Control

"In a report in the upcoming issue of the Psychological Bulletin, Michael McCullough and a fellow psychologist at the University of Miami, Brian Willoughby, have reviewed eight decades of research and concluded that religious belief and piety promote self-control."

College Students More Spiritual, But Not in Church

"A national survey of entering college freshmen in 2004 found that most came to college with a goal to grow spiritually. A follow-up survey of students at the end of their junior year this spring suggests that while attendance at religious services sharply declines during college, students do in fact significantly progress along their spiritual quests throughout their first three years – but often without the help of their professors, who most students say never encourage discussions of religious or spiritual matters."

Patterns: Better Health for Religiously Observant

"A new study, which followed the health of more than 90,000 women over an average of more than seven years each, found that those who attended services were one-fifth less likely to die than those who did not."

The Spiritual Life of College Students

This major report provides the "key findings based on data collected in late summer
and early fall 2004 from more than 112,000 students attending a national sample of 236 colleges and universities. Students responded to a six-page survey that queried their backgrounds, educational and occupational aspirations, and values and beliefs with respect to spiritual and religious matters. The study reveals that today’s college students have very high levels of spiritual interest and involvement. Many are actively engaged in a spiritual quest and in
exploring the meaning and purpose of life. They are also very engaged and involved in religion, reporting considerable commitment to their religious beliefs and practices."

Gallup Survey: Mississippi More Religious Than Vermont

"Want to be almost certain you'll have religious neighbors? Move to Mississippi. Prefer to be in the least religious state? Venture to Vermont. A new Gallup Poll, based on more than 350,000 interviews, finds that the Magnolia State is the one where the most people — 85% — say yes when asked 'Is religion an important part of your daily life?'"

Darwin's Birthday Poll: Fewer Than 4 in 10 Believe in Evolution

"A new poll released just in time for Charles Darwin's 200th birthday found that only 39 percent of Americans say they 'believe in the theory of evolution,' and just 24 percent of those who attend church weekly believe in that explanation for the development of life on Earth."

Study: Do Christian Schools Make Students More Religious?

"A new study says they might, but adds that parents and peers have more influence."

Survey: U.S. Protestant Denominational Loyalty

"Some Americans are more loyal to their toothpaste or toilet paper than to their religious denomination, making those consumers more choosy about Charmin or Colgate than they are about church, according to a new survey. According to a Phoenix-based research firm, 16% of Protestants say they would consider only one denomination, while 22% of them would use only one brand of toothpaste and 19% would use just one brand of bathroom tissue."