Julia Duin

Secular scribes stunned

The senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas and a Christian lawyer who grew up as a Jew were debating last week on how Christian a presidential candidate needs to be. Published October 2, 2008

DUIN: Innovative services reach young Jews

A lot of Jews are barely aware Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, begins Monday night. "Most American Jews are so ill-educated, they think Rosh Hashana is a party," Roger Bennett, senior vice president of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies — a heavy hitter in the world of American Judaism — told me. "It actually is a time to begin reflecting on your sins." Published September 28, 2008

Churches to defy IRS on sermons

Thirty-three preachers across the country say they will defy tax laws Sunday by endorsing specific political candidates from the pulpit and preaching about their moral qualifications. Published September 27, 2008

Attacks by Hindus focus of protest

About 100 people, holding signs protesting Hindu-on-Christian violence in the Indian state of Orissa, demonstrated in front of the White House on Thursday to get the attention of visiting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Published September 26, 2008

DUIN: Catholic book raises furor

Does the Index of Prohibited Books still exist? Published September 25, 2008

DUIN: Muslim outreach minimal in U.S.

It's Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, and time to remember some of the wild assumptions many folks were making just after Sept. 11, 2001. Published September 21, 2008

Americans leaving churches in droves

"Quitting Church: Why the Faithful Are Fleeing and What to Do About It" (Baker Books) is the new book by Julia Duin, assistant national editor (religion) at The Washington Times. In this excerpt, she details her personal experience and survey numbers showing the difficulties evangelical churches have with keeping their members. Published September 21, 2008

Half of Americans believe in angels

Half of all Americans believe they are protected by guardian angels, one-fifth say they've heard God speak to them, one-quarter say they have witnessed miraculous healings, 16 percent say they've received one and 8 percent say they pray in tongues, according to a survey released Thursday by Baylor University. Published September 19, 2008

DUIN: Ideally, choice is informed

Several years ago, I attended a meeting of single women who were getting pregnant through in-vitro fertilization. Published September 18, 2008

DUIN: Saris reflect Hindu values

Does wearing a sari a Hindu woman make? On one level, no. Lots of Muslim and Christian women in India wear this traditional dress. On another level, however, adopting the sari conveys an ability to coexist with the prevailing Hindu culture. Published September 14, 2008

Catholic bishops call raids on workplaces ‘unacceptable’

America's Catholic bishops on Wednesday called on the Bush administration to stop raiding businesses suspected of hiring illegal immigrants. Published September 11, 2008

DUIN: ‘Healer’ a ‘false prophet’

While the media try to find out whether Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin is a practicing Pentecostal, they're missing the seething frustration in the Pentecostal-charismatic movement over someone else. Published September 11, 2008

Wisconsin bishop joins critics of Biden, Pelosi

An irate Bishop Robert C. Morlino joined a growing number of Catholic prelates bent on criticizing pro-choice politicians when he charged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Sunday with "violating the separation of church and state" and "trampling on the pope's turf." Published September 10, 2008

DUIN: Filling pews through Web

I was thumbing through the pages of Cutting Edge, a magazine for church planters associated with the Association of Vineyard Churches, when I saw a piece about church Web sites. Published September 7, 2008

Pelosi ‘pastor’ asks to meet on abortion

San Francisco Archbishop George H. Niederauer, home bishop to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, released a letter Friday saying that local Catholics are pressuring him to forbid Mrs. Pelosi to receive Holy Communion. Published September 6, 2008

Joel Osteen’s still the name leaders know

The Rev. Joel Osteen, the Houston-based pastor of America's largest church, has plenty of powerful friends: Bill and Hillary Clinton, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee of Texas and the Rev. Billy Graham. He wasn't always so sought after. Published September 5, 2008

DUIN: Flocking away from churches

What's wrong with America's churches? I've been reading former Dallas Morning News reporter Christine Wicker's book, "The Fall of the Evangelical Nation: Published September 4, 2008

DUIN: Dates Catholics should know

Are Catholics ignorant about their history? Absolutely, says Diane Moczar, a medieval history expert who teaches at Northern Virginia Community College. Published August 31, 2008

Catholic lawmakers decry Pelosi ‘error’

Nineteen Roman Catholic Republican members of Congress have written to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, urging her to "correct the public record" on remarks she made a week ago on NBC's "Meet the Press" about the Catholic Church's teaching on abortion. Published August 30, 2008

Congress Catholics want Pelosi to “correct” abortion remarks

Nineteen Roman Catholic members of Congress have written to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging her to "correct the public record" on remarks she made a week ago on NBC's "Meet the Press" about the Catholic Church's teaching on abortion. Published August 29, 2008