---

Do human beings have a cognitive predisposition to believe in the supernatural from birth? In other words, is spirituality a natural tendency in us? Psychologist Justin Barrett (Fuller Theological Seminary) explores some fascinating research that indicates that we have a strong sense of God from birth, and that this innate tendency is actually shared across cultures and historical epochs. While Prof. Barrett argues that religion is natural for humans, he also tells us that theology is “unnatural” and we examine the implications between religion (innate belief) and theology (structured logic).

Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to have each episode delivered to your iPod every Monday!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

What do you need to do to start a church? Moreover, how fast can you do it if you only have one week to get the church up and running? Matt Boswell discusses the frenetic process of setting up a church in a podcast that has the flavor of a reality show. With virtually nothing to their name (including no money, no building, and no name), a small group of individuals were able to go from zero to 562 congregants in one week. How did that happen? What does that tell us about the entrepreneurial spirit within America’s religious economy? (Disclaimer: This podcast involves the congregation that the host of Research on Religion currently attends, though he had no influence on any of the decisions discussed in the podcast.)

Friend us on Facebook by clicking the icon on the right hand side of our webpage. And tell your friends!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

With Mitt Romney making waves as a presidential candidate frontrunner for the Republican Party, we visit with Prof. Patrick Mason to discuss the history of anti-Mormon bigotry in the United States tracing it back to the founding of the faith in the 1820s.

Subscribe to us on iTunes and let your friends know about us by using the social media links below. Thanks!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Prof. Sabine Hyland of St. Norbert College reveals what happens when Jesuits meet Incans in the Peruvian highlands during the 16th century, with a particular focus on the mestizo priest Blas Valera. Our conversation corrects some of the longstanding misconceptions of the role of religion during the Spanish Conquest, as well as misunderstandings about Incan religions. We also chat about how scholars and religious organizations deal with different cultures they encounter.

Make us a weekly habit by subscribing to us on iTunes, the Zune network or our RSS feed!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Douglas Baker (Union University) clarifies the recent debate surrounding “Dominionism” and its relation to various Republican presidential candidates, most notably Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry. He covers the influence of thinkers such as Francis Schaeffer and Rousas John Rushdoony and how their thought has influenced others, as well as how their thinking has been misrepresented in the popular media. We also reflect on the proper role of religion in the public square.

Tell your friends about our podcast using the social media links below!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Prof. Kevin Cooney of Northwest University joins us to discuss his recent trip to the People’s Republic of China where he visited with numerous Chinese scholars to discuss the role of religion and the rule of law in that country. He shares his insights from that trip, including his experiences in touring different parts of the country and learning about the religious landscape. Prof. Cooney contrasts the scene in China today with what he experienced back in the mid-1980s when he was teaching English in that country.

Share our podcast with a friend by clicking on one of the social media links below!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

A week before the 10th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Prof. Monica Toft of Harvard University joins us to discuss what we have learned about religiously-motivated violence over the past decade. She discusses findings from her new book “God’s Century” on terrorism, informal violence, and civil war. Our conversation covers a wide range of geographic territory and faith traditions, touching upon the IRA in Ireland, Hindu nationalism in India, the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, as well as movements in the Arab Middle East.

Subscribe to our series on iTunes and share this podcast with your friends on Facebook and other social media outlets.

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

The rise of megachurches has been one of the most interesting phenomenon shaking up the American religous landscape in recent decades. Dave Travis of the Leadership Network joins us to discuss what thse megachuchs are and look like. Along the way he counters some of the more frequent myths associted with these large congregations, including that they are “too large,” and “too theologically shalow.” We also think about the future of megachuches.

Use our social media buttons below to tell at least three friends about this podcast!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Is the Catholic Church likely to be a force for political liberalization in Vietnam? Prof. Lan Chu takes up this question and also talks about the history of Catholicism in that country with special attention on how the Church has survived under a communist regime. Our discussion also includes various comparisons with Eastern Europe and Cuba, and Prof. Chu provides some speculation about what the future of Vietnam might look like.

Never miss a weekly episode. Subscribe to us on iTunes or via our RSS feed.

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Should pastors know what individual congregants tithe? This question set off a debate on Christianity today and we pick it up with Pastor Larry Osborne (North Coast Church in Vista, CA), who admittedly changed his view on this question. He explains why and our conversation also covers other interesting facets of church financing. We also discuss some of the strategies that Pastor Osborne has used to help his church grow from a small Bible Study to a church that serves over 8,000 congregants each week across three campuses.

Use the social media links below to help us spread word about this free educational resource.

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---