Here’s the weekly roundup from Word&Way. This week at A Public Witness we published an analysis of Justice Samuel Alito’s misguided understanding of religious liberty, and a report on the Lord’s Prayer sparking controversy in the Australian Parliament.

A Public Witness

Lord’s Prayer Down Under

The new president of the Australian Senate wants to end a 121-year daily tradition for the upper chamber in her nation’s Parliament. She wants that august body to stop saying the Lord’s Prayer. “On the one hand we’ve had almost every parliamentary leader applaud the diversity of the Parliament, and so if we are genuine about the diversity of the Parliam…

12 days ago · 4 likes · Brian Kaylor and Beau Underwood

Support our journalism ministry by upgrading to a paid e-newsletter subscription today!

Top 5 at wordandway.org

Review: Indigenous Theology and the Western Worldview. Robert D. Cornwall reviewed Indigenous Theology and the Western Worldview: A Decolonized Approach to Christian Doctrine by Randy S. Woodley.
The Evangelical Double-Tongue of Hypocrisy. Rodney Kennedy wrote about the theological and rhetorical problem of speakers who will say one thing today and another tomorrow.
Democrats Call on IRS to Review Family Research Council’s ‘Church’ Status. Jack Jenkins reported on the latest twist in the controversy over a prominent conservative advocacy group recently reclassified as a church (a move previously covered at A Public Witness).
Disability Theology: How Religious Beliefs Can Help or Hinder Accessibility. Kathryn Post wrote about how the theology of many Christian worship services can offer little besides condemnation and exclusion for people with disabilities.
At Lambeth, Anglican Communion Abandons Vote on Same-Sex Marriage. Catherine Pepinster reported on how disagreements about same-sex marriage boiled up as Anglican leaders from around the world gathered together.

Like Us on Facebook

Dangerous Dogma

This week: Thomas Lecaque on Apocalyptic Religion & Political Violence

Other good podcasts this week:

Brian Kaylor was a guest on State of Belief to talk about how potential 2024 presidential candidates are already speaking at White evangelical churches and events.
We published two new episodes of Baptist Without an Adjective featuring conversations with Polish Baptist pastors talking about their nation and efforts to minister to Ukrainian refugees. Episode 161 is with Mateusz Wichary of Warsaw, and episode 162 is with Henryk Skrzypkowski of Chelm.

From left: Henryk Skrzypkowski, Mateusz Wichary, and Brian Kaylor at Parkade Baptist Church in Columbia, Missouri, on July 20, 2022.

Follow Us on Twitter

Other News of Note

Brian Kaylor penned a column for Baptist News Global: “News Flash: Not All Baptists are Southern:
Amanda Tyler appeared on MSNBC to talk about Christian Nationalism and U.S. politics.
Katherine Stewart went on CNN’s Reliable Sources to explain Christian Nationalism and how media outlets could better cover the topic.
Frank Lockwood of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported on comments by the United Methodist Church bishop for Arkansas who warned that “there are also parts of the church where I am concerned that traditional Christian orthodox thought is beginning to resemble White Christian Nationalism.”
Sarah Posner wrote for Talking Points Memo about the Christian Right’s politicking to ban same-sex marriage.
Steven V. Mazie wrote for the Boston Globe about recent Supreme Court rulings leading to “the quiet demise of the church-state wall.”
Jeff Brumley of Baptist News Global reported on how the Cuban government is clamping down more on religion.
Adam Macinnis reported for Christianity Today about how more Christian universities are going green, inspired by both mission and money.

by Brian Kaylor, Word&Way Editor-in-Chief

Next week, the latest installment of the “ReAwaken America Tour” (or RAT for short) will occur in western New York. This is a series of events full of Christian Nationalism, anti-vax rhetoric, and election conspiracies headlined by Michael Flynn, Roger Stone, and numerous preachers and political activists. It’s sure to be full of political lies and religious heresies. And it’s already been controversial before it started.

Originally scheduled for Rochester, New York, that fell apart after the entertainment venue set to host canceled amid growing public criticism. Rev. Nathan Empsall, executive director of Faithful America, talked on last week’s episode of Dangerous Dogma about this effort as his group helped pushed for the cancellation.

Undaunted, the RAT organizers rescheduled in Batavia, New York, at a church. Sadly, many of the RAT events have been in churches as people curse and spread lies in the sanctuaries. But this time the church is already facing pushback from others in the community. Some people held a protest outside the church as people showed up for Sunday worship. And several other pastors in town held a protest to express their opposition to the upcoming RAT event.

“We’re not accusing anybody of being hateful, we’re just listening to their words, listening to how they are speaking, how they are expressing themselves,” said Rev. Roula Alkhouri of Batavia First Presbyterian Church. “Look at their track record, go and look at the speeches, listen to what they’re saying in these events and you’ll know.”

She’s right. I’ve listened to many of the speeches (#OccupationalHazard) to write about them. And listening to the events confirms that Christians must stand up to these dangerous heresies done in the name of God. Thankfully, many in New York and beyond are doing exactly that.

Photo of the Week

The Christian Flag is raised at the City Hall Plaza on Aug. 3, 2022, in Boston, Massachusetts. This came after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a case brought by a man with troubling views on Christianity and the Constitution. (Stuart Cahill/*Boston Herald* via AP)

Thanks for reading!

A Public Witness

Word&Way News: Aug. 5