August (Web-only) 2013

Religion Runs in the Family
Vern Bengtson’s research shows the surprising resiliency of faith as it passes from parents to children.

Os Guinness: Liberals and Conservatives Are Getting Religious Freedom Wrong
The social critic says a foundational human right really is under threat at home and abroad.

To Kill and To Save
Two new documentaries explore the role of music during the rise of the Third Reich.

How the Seeker-Sensitive, Consumer Church Is Failing a Generation
We don’t need gimmicks; we need the gospel.

Jesus Loves Miley Cyrus
Everyone’s shocked and offended over her VMA performance. As Christians, we can offer another response.

The Women Who Sang Out for Civil Rights
The heroines of the movement followed a call to “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

David Lowery's Ballad of Outlaws and Lovers
A chat with the director reveals that his film "Ain't Them Bodies Saints" hearkens back to classic American obsessions, cinematic history, literature—and the Bible, too.

Why Do We Love to Hate Taylor Swift?
Sweet or sexualized, young female celebrities get subjected to constant criticism.

Why Intelligent People Are Less Likely to Be Religious
And how our expectations for Christians in education are changing.

Coptic Christianity Meets the Modern World
How does an ancient, persecuted faith keep pace with political and cultural change?

The Transformative Heart of 'What Not To Wear'
The long-running TLC series is much more than a makeover show.
The Quick Take for August 23, 2013
THE BUTLER is big at the box office because of churches, BEN-HUR and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD are getting rebooted, and more.

Lee Daniels' The Butler
Juxtaposition—of a father and son, and of a country—captures some of the complex truth of racism and the civil rights movement.

Max Lucado's War Against Despair
How the story of Joseph helps us fight feelings of hopelessness.

The Prosperity Gospel Is Surprisingly Mainstream
Mocked and derided across the cultural spectrum, the message of “health and wealth” enjoys wider support than one might imagine.

To Christian Women Under 40: We're Sorry
It’s time for women of faith to make amends.

The Craziest Statistic You'll Read About North American Missions
An astonishing number of non-Christians in the U.S. and Canada don't know any Christians. Here's why.

I Won't Be My Baby's Only Mother
Othermothers, not-so-attachment parenting, and a vision for shared childrearing.
The Quick Take for August 16, 2013
Our new weekly cheat sheet with streaming picks, movie news, and a roundup of critics' responses to recent releases.

My Cross to Wear
Christian icons are back in fashion… and more subversive than ever.

Our Last-Ditch Summer Reading List
If you can fit in just one more book, we recommend one of these.

The Misguided Theology of Kindness
Why George Saunders’s convocation speech misses the mark for Christians.

Our Experiment in Criticism
Reflections from CT's chief film critic on what we're trying to do.

The Debbie Downers of Christianity
In a culture of constant discontentment, we struggle to realize that Christ is enough.

What the 'Six Types of Atheists' Mean for Christian Outreach
A new study highlights important differences between nonbelievers. But they have many things in common, too.
The Quick Take for August 9, 2013
Our weekly cheat sheet compiles streaming picks, movie news, and a roundup of critics' responses to recent releases.

¡Vivan Los Evangelicos! (a CT classic)
Hispanics are not only spicing up U.S. culture, they are fueling the greatest growth in the North American church.
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The Church Welcome: This Time, With Feeling
It's our job to create the friendly, open atmosphere of heaven… or at least Disney.

Reza Aslan Tells an Old Story about Jesus
The author’s portrait of a would-be political revolutionary relies on outdated scholarship and breathtaking leaps in logic.
Briefly: Rising From Ashes
A quick look at a new documentary that's rooted in risk and delight.

The Myth of the Perfect Millennial Church
After searching high and low, this generation ends up just as lost as most of us once were.

You, Me, and the Heavenly Three?
Why the Trinity can't tell us about gender. A response to Larry Crabb.

Not All Hispanics Eat Tacos
The 20 different Latin American nationalities represented in el Norte have significant differences in food, slang, values, and immigration history.
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Generation Gap
Hispanic and white churches together must face the growing gulf between first- and later-generation Hispanics.
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Last Temptation Turns Twenty-Five
Has the film that spurred boycotts—and one arson attack—stood the test of time?

Even Jesus Didn't Live Like a Christian Celebrity
Our defenses of Christian fame fall flat when we look at the ministry of Christ.

Who Raised These Millennials Anyway?
Boomers: Enough complaining about today’s generation.

The Second Coming Christ Controversy: Company with Ties to David Jang Buys 'Newsweek'
Media group that bought the weekly took part in regular Internet chats with Jang to discuss business.
The Quick Take for August 3, 2013
Our new weekly cheat sheet with streaming picks, movie news, and a roundup of critics' responses to recent releases.

Must the Good Wife Always Stand By Her Man?
Huma Abedin’s choice to stay doesn’t provide a template for unfaithful relationships.

Why Welcome a Same-Sex Couple to Church?
How congregations can reach out to people with same-sex attraction and remain committed to biblical human sexuality.

A Man's Perspective: The History of Lust
Our blame-shifting dates back to Adam and the Fall.

The Spectacular Now
One of the best films of the summer is about real teenagers and learning what maturity means.