According to several observers of the Turkish political scene, a current crisis in the nation might lead to an unprecedented success of Islamist parties, due to the fragmentation of the secular political groups and to peculiarities of the Turkish electoral system. Long-time politician and ailing Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit is clinging to power and refuses […]

Just six percent of current evangelical missionaries are focused on Muslims, but there are signs of a breakthrough, reports Christianity Today (Sept. 9). The magazine conducted interview with some 20 well-informed sources. “Most were guarded in what information they would share”, due to risks involved, according to Stan Guthrie, author of the article. While one might wonder […]

The choice of Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury has been hailed or condemned as a victory for progressives over conservatives, particularly concerning the issue of gay rights in the Church of England. But Williams election also signals the ascendancy of Anglo-Catholicism in Britain, writes Theo Hobson in The Guardian newspaper (Aug. 3). Hobson notes that after […]

The World Council of Churches central committee has taken steps to substantially cut its programs, while the ecumenical organization’s general secretary, Konrad Raiser, has blamed global economic conditions for massive revenue shortfalls, reports Ecumenical News International (Aug. 28). It has also called for reforms in the way churches work together to ensure that church bodies remain viable […]

The traditional Catholic social teaching on the just war is coming in for criticism and revision, particularly as the war against terrorism continues. Just war concepts, such as minimal loss of innocent lives, have traditionally served as criteria used to determine if a war can be morally engaged in and supported by the church. The […]

Older, single women often with grown children are among those joining convents, according to the National Catholic Reporter (Aug. 16). The newspaper reports a “small but growing trend that may have a big impact on Catholic ministries. As the number of single women with grown children expands, and the number of young women traditionally entering religious life […]

Hawaii’s ornate Buddhist festivals are increasingly popular among people of all faiths, but Buddhism itself  is in decline in the state. The New York Times (Aug. 10) reports that the Japanese Buddhist ritual known as a bon dance, originally intended to celebrate the annual return of departed loved ones, has become a custom shared by many Hawaiians. Bon […]

A growing number of congregations are dropping the tradition of church collections during services and adopting a soft-sell approach, reports the Christian Science Monitor (Aug. 23). Changing generational attitudes and church scandals have compelled churches to adopt the new approach, though not without struggle. Some congregations, such as a Baptist church in Houston, Texas, provides a central […]

Christian right leaders are gradually giving their support to a movement urging parents to pull their children out of public schools, reports the Washington Times (Aug. 7). Christian leaders, such as James Dobson of Focus on the Family, and Southern Baptist officials, as well as conservatives such as “Dr. Laura” Schlessinger, have reversed themselves in […]

New congregations heavily influenced by hip-hop culture and music are emerging around the U.S., reports Charisma magazine (August). The first hip-hop congregation was established last January in Tampa Florida. Since then, several congregations have been or are being established in New Jersey (Universal Fat House), Ontario (Church Without Limits), Atlanta (Faith International Ministries), Memphis (City of Refuge), […]