Author: Gordon Govier

Let’s face it: Atheism is in. Not since Nietzsche have disbelievers enjoyed such a ready public reception to their godless message—and such near-miraculous royalties. But even that hasn’t put them in a good mood. Snaps Christopher Hitchens, who wrote God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (although not, presumably, the pronouncements of atheists), "Many of the teachings of Christianity are, as well as being incredible and mythical, immoral." A feuding Richard Dawkins suggests that believers "just shut up." Apparently, they didn’t get the tolerance memo.Read more of this story.

While the ballroom sessions of the first day of the Evangelical Theological Society meeting had more attendees, no session was as packed as J.P. Moreland’s “How Evangelicals Became Over-Committed to the Bible and What Can Be Done About It.” While the average breakout session seems to be attended by fewer than 50 people, easily more than 200 packed the room to hear Moreland’s talk, with dozens standing and more listening outside the door.Read more of this story.

Week after week, the Rev. Rob Bell preaches to thousands of congregants at his nondenominational church, Mars Hill, in Grandville, Mich. He makes Christian-themed short films that are seen by millions. He writes bestselling Christian books. And he tours the country sermonizing to rapt audiences.Read more of this story.

As Olympic organizers in Beijing prepare for the 2008 Summer Games, Steve McConkey is gearing up for the event from his apartment in Madison. As president of 4 Winds Christian Athletics, he is reaching out to Olympic-caliber athletes, especially those in track and field, a sport he coached at the club level in the 1980s.Read more of this story.

RONG DOMRIEX, Cambodia — Tel Im, a barefoot 13-year-old, sat cross-legged on a bamboo bench, eager for her reading lesson. "Please turn to Lesson 33," said a woman’s voice rising from a Sony cassette player powered by two wires clipped to a car battery. The tape was the closest thing to a school in this village shaded by banana trees, where water buffaloes meander in from the lime-green rice paddies. Im and her classmates flipped to Page 134 for a passage from the New Testament.Read more of this story.

The United States is described in mainstream media as largely Christian (between 70 and 80 percent, depending on the study, identify themselves as "Christian"), and compared to the rest of the world, this is certainly the case. However, not all within this vast group of Christians are alike.Read more of this story.

VICTORVILLE, Calif. — Mike Day, singer and guitarist, gathered his rock band around him. Dressed in a faded black T-shirt, jeans and skateboard sneakers, he bent his shaved head. "God," he said, "I hope these songs we sing will be much more than the music. I know it’s so difficult at times when we’re thinking about chords and lyrics and when to hit the right effect patch, but would you just help that to become second nature, so that we can truly worship you from our hearts?" Read more of this story.

Over 3,000 teenagers, parents, and youth leaders are expected to gather this Saturday in Green Bay, Wis., for the 17th annual “Power of One” Christian music festival.Dubbed the state’s largest one-day event of its kind by organizers, the “Power of One: The Big Deal” festival will take place at the Brown County Resch Center and feature twelve hours of music, seminars, food and fun – all purposed to revitalize youth in the region with stronger faith and a sense of purpose, according to a statement released by Life Promotions.Read more of this story.Visit Power of One website.

If there is one edition of The Economist you should pick up off the newsstand, it is this week’s because of its special report on the state of religion in the world. Quite appropriately, The Economist notes that it was wrong when it wrote in December 1999 that God’s career was over.Read more of this story.

As any mom will tell you, pregnancy is tough–especially if you’re single and alone.Paula Reif runs the Elizabeth House and helps single moms-to-be prepare for parenthood.Read more of this story.