Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'christian'

Preaching The Gospel Of Good Sex

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:22:00 EST

Pastor Carnell Borden is changing the minds of conservative Christians about a topic usually kept behind closed doors. He says sex is good and God said so. Carnell and his wife don't just praise the act, they help other loving and devout Christians spice up their bedrooms through ThePureBed.com.

Laughing From The 'Pulpit To The Pews'

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:46:00 EST

In her new book, Patti Webster explores humorous stories from the Bible, as well as jokes in the Christian tradition. Besides being an author, Webster is the CEO of a public relations firm that represents artists like Ludacris, OutKast and Patti LaBelle. She talks about her book, It Happened in Church.

Violence Rattles Nigerian City

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST

Days of fighting between Muslims and Christians in the Nigerian city of Jos have left an estimated 400 people dead. Constance Okokwu, Washington bureau chief for the Nigerian newspaper This Day, says the religious strife dates back to the creation of the West African country. Okokwu joins Roxanne Lawson, the Director of Africa Policy for the Washington based group, TransAfrica, to discuss the roots of the violence and what it means for Nigeria and the region.

Religious Right Weighs Next Steps

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:34:00 EST

Leaders of the religious right have tied their fortunes to the Republican Party for a generation. Now, with the Democrats in power, some conservative Christians are gearing up to fight the suddenly resurrected culture wars.

Holocaust Survivors Battle Mormon Ritual

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

Observant Mormons symbolically baptize dead people to give them the chance to accept Christ in the afterlife. Holocaust survivors complain that they are sometimes using names of people who died in Nazi concentration camps.

Some Displaced Iraqi Christians Ponder Kurds' Role

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:08:00 EDT

In northern Iraq, thousands of Christian families remain displaced from their homes in the city of Mosul. Many are living with relatives or taking refuge in churches and monasteries in an area north of the city that's known as the Nineveh Plain.

Megachurch Symbolizes Indonesia's Tolerance

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 17:01:00 EDT

Indonesia has gotten bad press for bombings by al-Qaida-linked militants and attacks on Christian churches. But the country is more tolerant than these acts suggest, and that tolerance seems to be growing. One sign: A preacher who waited 16 years has finally opened a Christian megachurch in Jakarta.

Iraqi Christians Flee Violence In Ancient Homeland

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 11:05:00 EDT

Violence has forced thousands of Iraqi Christians to flee their homes in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. The displaced are crowded into churches and homes in villages north of the city, and they're crying out for help.

First Indian Woman Becomes A Saint

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for the canonization of four new saints Sunday. That includes the first Indian woman, Sister Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception. Her sainthood is seen as a moral boost to Christians in India who have been victims of violence by Hindus. Pope Benedict said her short life was marked by, "extreme physical and spiritual suffering." In her own writing, she said, "I consider a day in which I have not suffered as a day lost to me."

Christian Security Forces Growing Stronger In Iraq

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:10:00 EDT

The security forces, organized through local churches, are manning checkpoints in Iraq and working with police. The mystery of where their funding comes from seems to center on a media-shy and reclusive political figure.

Political Endorsement From Tax-Exempt Pulpits

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:47:00 EDT

A conservative Christian group called Alliance Defense Fund is pushing for church pastors to be able to endorse political candidates — while keeping their tax-exempt status. Though this violates IRS rules, more than 30 churches have already endorsed candidates for president.

Jesus H Christ, The Electric Mandolin, More

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:32:00 EDT

The hypnotic Canadian rock trio Land of Talk is about to release its debut full-length CD; we've got a sneak preview. For some, the first recordings of Creedence Clearwater Revival were flat, but newly-mixed versions of the albums let fans hear the band's music in rich fidelity. Hear "Born On A Bayou," from the reissued Bayou Country. Jesus H Christ and the Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse make music that's irreverent to some, but hilarious to others. The band's new CD is Happier Than You. Also on the show: new music from Jesse Sykes, Ray LaMontagne and the remarkable mandolin playing of India's U. Shrinivas.

Palin Helps McCain With Evangelical Voters

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EDT

John McCain's track record with evangelicals has been bumpy at best. But his vice presidential pick is breathing new life into a powerful voter bloc. Marlys Popma, McCain's coordinator of evangelical outreach, explains how the Republican campaign is trying to appeal to conservative Christians.

Questions Abound About Palin's Faith

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EDT

The conservative views of GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin have been scrutinized by the media. Palin's roots in the Pentecostal church are also a matter of interest. The Rev. Cheryl Sanders, a professor of Christian ethics, is joined by the Rev. Hershael York, who teaches Christian Preaching at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary about Palin's religious roots.

Checking In From The Republican Convention

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:42:00 EDT

The New York Times reporter David Kirkpatrick joins us from the Republican Convention in Minneapolis. Kirkpatrick is the author of a series of articles profiling John McCain. He covered the conservative Christian movement during the 2004 election.

Did McCain Play Evangelical Card Right...

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Two weeks ago, John McCain was less than popular with evangelical Christians. The game changed with his selection of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Christian Science Church Sues D.C. Over Church

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Members of a Christian Science church are suing Washington for declaring their sanctuary a historical landmark, preventing them from tearing it down to build a new one. The city wants to preserve the building as an example of Brutalist architecture.

New Spot For Knockoffs In N.Y.: Brooklyn Museum

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:00:00 EDT

You can fool some people all the time. And apparently, some people like to be fooled. The Brooklyn Museum is planning an exhibit of sculptures that were supposedly made by Christians in Egypt more than a thousand years ago — even though 10 of the 30 sculptures are confirmed fakes. The museum says they're popular and increase appreciation for the real art.

Vatican: Pope Does Not Wear Prada

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Esquire magazine gave Pope Benedict the honor of "Accessorizer of the Year" after reports that the Pope's bright red shoes were Prada. But the Vatican's official newspaper says the pope's fashions are not informed by style, but by Catholic traditions. "The pope does not wear Prada, but Christ."

County Clerk Gets an Early Start on Gay Weddings

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Unlike most of her colleagues, a clerk in Yolo County, Ca., didn't want to wait until Tuesday morning to conduct gay marriage ceremonies. The straight Christian clerk started at 5:01 p.m. Monday — the earliest possible time she could. She married 11 couples.

Obama Seen Besting McCain in Church Outreach

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EDT

On Tuesday, Democrat Barack Obama met with a group of Christian leaders to discuss his outreach in their communities. Michele Norris talks with David Brody, senior national correspondent for the Christian Broadcasting Network. Brody says Obama is far outpacing his GOP rival, Sen. John McCain, when it comes to that effort.

S.C. Lawmakers Back 'I Believe' Plates

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EDT

South Carolina lawmakers have approved a bill to create a specialized license plate with an image of a Christian cross and the words, "I Believe." A potential court fight looms.

Teens: Don't Be Lazy

Fri, 23 May 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Twin brothers Alex and Brett Harris are on a mission to inspire. At sixteen, they interned for the Alabama Supreme Court. At eighteen, they became key volunteers in Hucks Army, a grassroots group of young Christians who were backing presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. And now, they've released the new book, Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations. Alex and Brett Harris explain their mission to encourage teens to act responsibly, become leaders and change the world.

Self-Published Christian Novel Sells Millions

Wed, 21 May 2008 07:00:00 EDT

William Young's The Shack became a wildly successful, best-selling Christian novel.

Disaster Tests Local Chinese Congregation's Faith

Mon, 19 May 2008 14:30:00 EDT

A week ago, a massive earthquake hit the province of Sichuan in southwestern China, damaging a Christian church in the city of Chengdu. A recent visit reveals that although the quake also rocked parishioners' faith, it did not destroy it.