---

Prof. Ruth Melkonian surveys the history of Protestantism in Latin America and examines whether evangelicals and Pentecostals in the region share the same political views as their U.S. brethren or whether they appear more similar to non-evangelicals in Latin America. She reveals that Latin American Protestants are more similar to their non-Protestant compatriots in the region than they are to their counterparts in the United States. We also discuss the issue of Latino immigration into the US and how evangelical leaders have viewed this phenemonenon.

Link to us on Facebook and subscribe to our Twitter feed for weekly updates!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

David Gallagher, Director of Communications for Opus Dei in NYC, discusses the history, organization and public perception of Opus Dei, a Catholic movement started in Spain in 1928 with the intent of encouraging holiness in one’s daily life.

For updates about forthcoming podcasts, join us on Facebook and/or Twitter. Click the links below.

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

What are the top mainline Protestant hymns of the past two centuries? Why isn’t “Amazing Grace” on that list? Do Catholics share any common hymns with Protestants? Does the contemporary Christian music scene present a significant challenge to the old, traditional hymns sung in churches over the past two centuries? Robert T. Coote joins us to discuss these questions and more in an extremely interesting episode about the role of hymns in Christianity.

Connect with us on Facebook and tell us what your favorite hymns are!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Buckle your seatbelts. James Brettell — preacher, radio host and jack-of-all-trades — leads us through a critique of contemporary Christianity in the United States. Critical of what he calls the “traditional church,” Pastor Jim details a problematic stagnation in denominational Christianity and advocates for a more evangelical method of reinvigorating spiritual life in America and around the world. He takes us through his personal history, from being raised in a Presbyterian Church to being born-again while on military duty in the Caribbean to his experience as pastor at a number of churches around the country. Pastor Jim also discusses his latest venture, the Little Rock NetChurch (an internet-based ministry), and how that is bringing folks closer to the Word of God.

If you “like” us, please click out Facebook page to get regular updates on guests and topics!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Darin Mather, a PhD candidate at the University of Minnesota, discusses changing racial attitudes among younger evangelicals (defined as being born after 1957) and their elders, showing how the former are much more tolerant than the latter. Mather’s research also demonstrates that younger evangelicals are becoming more tolerant of racial diversity and have a greater sense of racial solidarity much like their younger non-evangelical counterparts. However, we note that younger evangelicals differ from their peers on public policy issues such as affirmative action and economic assistance to historically disadvantaged communities. We explore reasons for these similarities and differences.

“Like us” and link to us on our new Facebook fan page! See the logo below.

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Prof. G. Alexander Ross of the Institute for the Psychological Sciences discusses the decline in female happiness over the past four decades and how it is related to declining religious partipation. Our interview features a general discussion of happiness, the non-religious factors affecting one’s happiness, the general decline in female happiness (relative to males) and how religion promotes general contentment and joy. Prof. Ross notes that recent declines among church attendance, particularly among women, have led to a steeper decline in happiness for females as compared to men. We conclude with a discussion of the role of religion in psychological counseling.

Visit our new Facebook fan page. Search under “Research on Religion with Anthony Gill.”

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Mike Donnelly of the Home School Legal Defense Association and Patrick Henry College recounts the contemporary history of homeschooling, including both its secular and religious origins, and provides listeners with some basic demographic characteristics about homeschoolers. Our discussion then covers various legal challenges that homeschoolers face, culiminating with a discussion of a recent case involving a German homeschooling family seeking asylum in the United States.

Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes or Zune, and tell two of your friends about us!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Prof. Joseph Daniels of Marquette University discusses why the two different kinds of social trust — “bridging” and “bonding” — are important for society and how religion matters in generating and maintaining this trust. It is noted that religious attendance significantly enhances social trust, although there are some denominational effects that temper this increase. We also discuss how different denominations view free trade and immigration.

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Prof. Louis Bolce reveals how the news media view Christian fundamentalists and how that media image translates into elite opinion. Based upon extensive use of survey research, Prof. Bolce notes that even though there has been a growing “religious gap” in the American electorate (larger than the “gender gap”), media outlets did not pick up on this trend in a serious way until the 2004 presidential election. The coverage of fundamentalists and evangelicals at that time tended to reinforce stereotypes about this group among individuals who are most attentive to the news.

Subscribe to Research on Religion via iTunes or Zune … and tell a friend about us!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Historian Matthew Sutton (Washington State University) details the life of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, covering the pageantry and personal tribulations of this charismatic preacher. Known as the founder of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, “Sister Aimee” led an inspirational, colorful, and sometimes contradictory life and became one of the most celebrated personalities of the 1920s and ’30s.

Tell a friend about our podcast and subscribe on iTunes or Zune!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---