Articles — Jonathan Merritt

Thank You: 'On Faith and Culture' Wins Wilbur Award

"On Faith and Culture" wins award for excellence in religion writing. Jonathan thanks readers.

CultureJonathanMarch 5, 2014Jonathan Merritt, journalism, On Faith and Culture, religion, Religion News Service, Wilbur Award, Writing

Can Religious Freedom Laws Come Back to Hurt Christians?

Why would a group who believes they are marginalized want to disempower marginalized people?

CultureJonathanMarch 3, 2014Controversy, Homosexuality, Jonathan Merritt, law, LGBT, politics, religious freedom, religious liberty, Sexuality, The Atlantic

'Jesus is Better Than You Imagined' Trailer Debuts

In his new book, Jonathan argues that "the God who created us is better than the God we've created."

CultureJonathanMarch 3, 2014Bible, books, church, Controversy, Faithwords, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is Better Than You’ve Imagined, Jonathan Merritt, memoir, sacrilege, Sexuality, silence, theology, tragedy

Author Sarah Kovac on Grace and Overcoming Disability

Sarah Kovac uses her feet to drive a car, type on a computer, apply makeup, and change diapers.

CultureJonathanMarch 3, 2014Abingdon Press, disability, inspiration, Jonathan Merritt, parenting, Sarah Kovac, struggle

Pastor Perry Noble Admits Depression, Suicidal Thoughts

A prominent pastor admits his mental health problems while encouraging struggling Christians.

CultureJonathanMarch 2, 2014anxiety, Christianity, church, depression, health, Jonathan Merritt, medicine, mental health, Perry Noble, suicide, Tyndale House Publishers, worry

Theologians Weigh-in on Providing Services for Same-Sex Weddings

Top Christian theologians offer surprising perspectives on recent religious liberty debates.

MLK and Religious Liberties

What might MLK say about the religious liberties debates Americans are having?

CultureJonathanFebruary 27, 2014Andy Stanley, Civil Rights, conservative, Controversy, Gay, Homosexuality, Jim Crow, Jonathan Merritt, Kirsten Powers, lesbian, LGBT, liberal, Marriage, Martin Luther King, MLK, Race, Racism, segregation, Sexuality, USA Today

3 Reasons the Abortion Rate is Lowest Since Roe v. Wade

Insight and analysis on a new study showing that American abortion rates have hit record lows.

CultureJonathanFebruary 27, 2014abortion, abortion rate, abortion rights, christians, church, contraception, data, ethics, Guttmacher, morality, politics, pro-choice, pro-life, Rachel Jones, right-to-life, Roe v- Wade, Science, stats, technology, ultrasound, Washington University

What Would Jesus Do in Arizona?

Does the Bible prohibit Christians from providing services for gay weddings?

CultureJonathanFebruary 27, 2014Arizona, Controversy, Daily Beast, Gay, Homosexuality, Jan Brewer, Jonathan Merritt, Kirsten Powers, lesbian, politics, religious freedom, religious liberty, Russell Moore

How iTunes Radio is Bad for Your Soul

But can overusing this app be spiritually damaging?

CultureJonathanFebruary 18, 2014addiction, Benedictine, Controversy, drugs, itunes, iTunes Radio, Jesus is Better Than You Imagined, Jonathan Merritt, Monastery, Music, mysticism, noise, silence, solitude, technology, theology, Thomas Merton

Philip Yancey on How to Find God in Tragedy

The author shares how faith shapes the way we confront suffering, evil, and tough times.

CultureJonathanFebruary 18, 2014Bible, Christian, church, Death, evil, Jesus, natural disasters, Newtown, Philip Yancey, philosophy, questions, suffering, theology, tsunami, violence, War, Zondervan

‘Abolitionist Mamas’ Fight to End Modern Slavery

Two Christian suburban moms team up to abolish modern-day slavery.

CultureJonathanFebruary 18, 2014Activism, advocacy, Christian, Christianity, church, compassion, Intervarsity Press, Jonathan Merritt, justice, Kimberly McOwen Yim, politics, Shayne Moore, slavery

How to Forgive Your Parents

Leslie Leyland Fields teams up with a psychologist to help people forgive their dads and moms.

CultureJonathanFebruary 13, 2014abuse, bitterness, children, compassion, counseling, Death, divorce, family, Forgiveness, hate, healing, hurt, Jill Hubbard, Jonathan Merritt, Leslie Leyland Fields, Marriage, pain, parenting, parents, psychology

Cadillac Ad Encourages Worship at Altar of Work and Stuff

A Sochi ad promotes an un-Christian message of materialism and workaholism.

CultureJonathanFebruary 12, 2014business, Cadillac, Christianity, church, consumerism, Culture, evangelicalism, greed, Jonathan Merritt, materialism, money, morality, Olympics, poverty, Sochi, society, trends, work, workaholism

Pastor of Church in ‘Gay Mecca’ Speaks about Identity

Dave Lomas wants to help people discover the "truest thing" about themselves.

CultureJonathanFebruary 6, 2014Castro District, Christianity, church, Dave Lomas, David C- Cook, desire, Gay, identity, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jonathan Merritt, lesbian, Reality San Francisco, San Francisco, Sex, sexual orientation, Sexuality, theology

Phyllis Tickle’s Holy Ghost Heresy

The controversial author says Christians are now living in "the age of the Spirit."

CultureJonathanFebruary 6, 2014Age of the Spirit, Baker Books, emergent church, Emerging Church, Great Emergence, heresy, Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jonathan Merritt, Phyllis Tickle, Publisher’s Weekly, Trinity

How Your Power Bill is Connected to Loving Your Neighbor

American's energy use is harming some of our poorest citizens.

‘Christian Humanist’ Daniel Taylor on Freeing Your Inner Atheist

Author says Christians should accept that certainty is a false goal and skepticism is healthy.

CultureJonathanFebruary 5, 2014Atheism, books, certainty, Christianity, Daniel Taylor, faith, humanism, interview, Jonathan Merritt, religion, skepticism, theology

Why Rick Warren is Joining the Hobby Lobby Fight

A new SCOTUS brief adds one more shot across the bow in the religious liberty fight.

CultureJonathanFebruary 5, 2014Affordable Care Act, contraception, Controversy, Daniel Akin, Gender, Healthcare, Hobby Lobby, Jonathan Merritt, politics, public policy, Rick Warren, Scandal, SCOTUS, Supreme Court

New Book Claims Christians Hold Un-Christian View of Future

Skye Jethani challenges Christians to reexamine their vision of both the future and present.

CultureJonathanJanuary 30, 2014Bible, Christianity Today, destiny, eschatology, fate, future, heaven, Jonathan Merritt, Leadership Journal, Skye Jethani, theology