January (Web-only) 2015

Christianity and the Camelot Test
David Skeel asks which belief system best accounts for humanity’s great dreams—and failures.

A Different Look at ‘Transparent’
Other people see a pioneering portrayal of the trans experience. I see the rawness of family love.

What Women Want: More Opportunities to Serve
Need Christians to help and lead at church? I know plenty.

I'm a Christian. But I’ve Forgotten How to Belong to the Church.
A millennial diagnoses her generation’s complicated relationship to the body of Christ.

All Is Not Lost: Russia and Ukraine Can Be Healed
Churches are indispensible to lasting peace in the region.

The Day I Became a Man
There is a time for lament, and a time for lament to cease. An excerpt from Peter's new book.

Duck Dynasty Wife: The More Christians on Reality TV, the Better
How unexpected fame and quirky family has helped Jessica Robertson share her faith.

Sundance Diary - Day 6: 'Don Verdean' and 'Digging for Fire'
Greeting all the groups exploring religion and film, and a movie about marriage.

Dealing with ‘Gender Disappointment’
In the age of girl power, many of us want daughters. Here's why I’m happy either way.

Sundance Diary - Day 5: 'True Story,' 'Prophet's Prey,' and 'Listen to Me Marlon'
Playing cat-and-mouse with a serial killer, a dangerous polygamous cult, and Marlon Brando, in his own words.

Sundance Diary - Day 4: 'Mistress America' and 'Last Days in the Desert'
A screwball comedy about what we want and a small drama about Jesus.

Your Next Bible Will Be a Hologram
Microsoft may have just invented the future of intensive Bible study.

Parented by Grandparents
The challenges of caretaking in middle age present new opportunities for outreach.

Sundance Diary - Day 3: 'The End of the Tour,' 'I Am Michael,' and 'Mississippi Grind'
Buddy road trips proliferate, plus a true story about an ex-gay pastor.

Sundance Diary - Day 2: 'A Walk in the Woods,' 'Best of Enemies,' and 'The Witch'
Prepare to wander the Appalachian Trail, begin the slow decline of political media coverage, and get properly frightened in the woods.

Died: Marcus Borg, Liberal Jesus Scholar and Friendly Provocateur
What evangelical scholars are saying about the theologian and his work.

Sundance Diary - Day 1: Film Critic Twitter and 'What Happened, Miss Simone'
Welcome to Park City. Where's my orientation packet?

Miscarriage, and Our Love Affair With Euphemism
A excerpt from Peter's upcoming book, Blindsided By God

What Maternity Leave Policies Have to Do with Christian Witness
Our institutions can—and should— lead the way in supporting new life and growing families.

The Greatest Hits of N. T. Wright
Why his new book is worth reading, even if you know most of the songs by heart.

Is There an "I" in Wife?
Staying true to your identity once you’re married is harder than it looks.

Scores of Churches Destroyed by Charlie Hebdo Protests in Niger
Cover cartoon of Prophet Muhammad unsettles African nation's two largest cities.

Why Faithful Foodies Might Consider Less Meat
Reducetarianism holds a familiar lesson: Everything in moderation.

This MLK Day Feels Different
A reflection on recent tensions and a renewed sense of hope.

What We Talk About When We Talk About Race in Pop Culture
As a young writer and a young Christian, knowing how to discuss race can be a landmine.

Why the Shift from Horror to Terror on 'CSI' Is a Problem
There's graphic, and then there's gratuitous.

The Instant Gratification of #JeSuisCharlie
Waiting for deeper engagement amid our hashtag activism.

The Good News Hiding Beneath the Headlines
As we begin another year, Philip Yancey reminds us: Grace hasn’t vanished.

Fighting Sexism Like a 'Fair Lady'
What the 50-year-old film reminds us about the power of strong-willed women.

You’re Not Too Busy for the Bible
It doesn’t take a special kind of person to read the Scriptures daily.

When Disappointment Is The Best Thing For Us
Disappointment really hurts. But perhaps it hurts for an important reason.

Ewan McGregor and Rodrigo Garcia On Jesus, Satan, and 'Last Days in the Desert'
Our exclusive interview with the star and director of the hotly-anticipated Sundance feature.

When Jesus Says, ‘Don’t Follow Me’
And, instead, return to where you came from.

Dressed for Death: The History of Funeral Fashion
Looking back to when mourning attire was as heavy and dark as grief itself.

An Anointed Trend? Christian Women and Essential Oils
Faithful users rediscover the ancient practice and the healing within God’s creation.

Predestination
Time-travel thriller asks whether our actions are foreordained, or a matter of choice.

Remembering Andrae Crouch, Dead at 72
The gospel music legend combined Saturday night with Sunday morning.

David Oyelowo: 'Selma Was a Spiritual Endeavor For Me'
We talked to the 'Selma' actor about praying on set, playing an icon as a real human, acting as a calling, and why Christians ought to see the movie.

Microfinance Is a Women’s Issue
How our philanthropy can empower our sisters across the globe.

Border Crisis = Church Opportunity
The international difference a local congregation can make.

Why Russia’s Evangelicals Thank God for Putin
Despite the Crimea takeover and Ukraine conflict, many church leaders are grateful for Putin's leadership.

What Happens When We See Women Teach the Bible
A figure like Beth Moore shows evangelical women what’s possible.

Our Battle against Religious Persecution Is Floundering
Rep. Frank Wolf, human rights champion, calls on evangelicals to intensify the fight for religious liberty.

Managing Anxiety and Making Friends
With mental illness, community becomes more challenging… and more essential.

The Long Tail: 'The Sublime and Beautiful' and 'The Pleasures of Being Out of Step'
The first entry in a monthly column on great films to watch at home.

Whatever Happened to Wonder Woman?
Modern female superheroes barely stand for anything. It wasn’t always this way.

Is It God, or Is It Us?
We talked about God a lot this year in pop culture, but not the same way.

Church: Set Up Your Singles
Community matchmaking can do better than online dating.