“God so loved the world—That is, all men under heaven; even those that despise His love, and will for that cause finally perish," John Wesley wrote.

Proper catechesis of new converts is essential; both Candace Owens and Carrie Prejean Boller are prime examples of a failure to do so, writes IRD's Sarah Stewart.

"Imagine a social force, a potent X factor, that underpins democracy, bolsters civil liberties, builds citizen loyalty, undermines religious fanaticism, reduces societal violence, improves women’s status, fosters economic development, spurs uplift for the poor, & nurtures international peace."

The unfolding war in Iran shows American Christians divided not only politically, but philosophically and theologically as well.

From small beginnings, something much larger began to flourish as the early Methodists chased after the “showers of grace” that were falling across the British Isles and beyond.

Influence carries proportionate responsibility, Simone Rizkallah writes. When influence is wrapped in Catholic identity while gravely misrepresenting Catholic teaching — particularly in ways that contradict the Church’s explicit moral and doctrinal commitments — the damage isn't merely political.

How should American Christians think about Iran, which U.S. and Israeli forces are now attacking with the stated aim of overthrowing its Islamist regime? @markdtooley.bsky.social writes in @christianitytoday.bsky.social.

Ancient communities face the reality that their survival now hangs in the balance.

The modern, global human rights regime sits on the foundation of Hellenistic stoicism and medieval Christendom, where natural law morally unified humanity.

While Americans’ overall attitudes towards religious liberty remain positive, a new report from a law firm specializing in religious freedom highlights an emerging divide between the men and women of Generation Z.

A ruling by the Supreme Court of Liberia effectively permits Global Methodists there to assume possession of disputed properties, pending any further legal adjudication.

Amidst grave concern about religious freedom for minorities in Syria, it is difficult to see how the new government’s Islamist goals can be reconciled with either religious freedom or democracy.

The decline of Dispensationalism’s influence does not signal an evangelical retreat from the public square, but rather a fundamental reorientation of it, writes Albert Thompson.

“We could not rejoice that there is a God, were there not a Mediator also; one who stands between God and men, to reconcile man to God, and to transact the whole affair of our salvation.” -John Wesley

Across the Levant, Christians find themselves caught in the middle of larger confrontations and marginalized as victims of lawfare in countries across the region, writes William Roberts.

Among the most prominent influencers on the new right are some who trade in Catholic identity as currency to push ideas in conflict with church teachings. Sarah Stewart argues that, while the Church isn’t capable of responding to every bad actor, these four have a prominence necessitating response.

Jesse Jackson, writes @markdtooley.bsky.social, was an icon of the old Religious Left and, for the historic black church, from a world that is fast receding if not already gone.

Join us March 7 for our Professional Women’s Brunch featuring Dr. Susan Yoshihara of the American Council on Women Peace and Security. There will be food, mimosas, and time for networking. Guests encouraged! This event is for women and will take place 11am–12:30pm. RSVP: theird.org/events/ird-p...

IRD is starting a new initiative making the Christian case for capitalism and free markets, which @markdtooley.bsky.social discusses with Jack Fowler on the Victor Davis Hanson Show.

now that we’re just about to Ash Wednesday, and therefore Lent, it’s time to think about fasting.

Postliberal tribalists point to a nastier world in which religion becomes largely a self-defensive tribe constantly warring against other tribes, writes @markdtooley.bsky.social on Postliberal Catholic social influencer Carrie Prejean Boller.

The Rev. Robert Hasler of Christ Presbyterian Church in Burke, Virginia joined us on February 11 for our “Wednesday Worship” noonday prayer and luncheon preaching on Psalm 21 themed “God Is Strong to Save.”

Will you be in the D.C. area this Friday? Please join us for a traditional Jewish Shabbat dinner with Alexander Raikin, Jewish writer and visiting Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center on February 13 at 6:30 p.m. For more info and to RSVP, see: theird.org/events/shabb...

A lawsuit brought by nearly three dozen West Virginia United Methodist congregations is being appealed and reassigned to a new judge after an initial dismissal of the case. As IRD's Sarah Stewart reports, the disaffiliation issue is not going away.

Author @karenswallowprior.bsky.social discusses her new book “You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful”.

Not every tradition within Christianity places such emphasis on experience. But as the Wesley brothers (and many others) were swept up in the Evangelical Revival, experience became a hallmark of the movement.

"Feminism has created a shadow church," assesses Institute for Human Ecology scholar Carrie Gress at the Catholic University of America. But the two cannot be fused, she insists, finding that feminism is concerned with “control and power,” whereas Christianity focuses on charity and humility.

“Individual fulfillment is an oxymoron; we are not designed to find fulfillment in ourselves,” Vaughan Roberts shared at Mere Anglicanism. As Christians contest an alternative gospel of Expressive Individualism, the Church where humanity is realized.

Will you be in the Washington, D.C. area next week Please join us for a traditional Jewish Shabbat dinner on Friday, February 13th at 6:30 p.m. More at:

Clergy and laity need to prepare their local churches to address the ethical ramifications of conceiving children outside of the womb. What does it mean to be human?

How are we Christians to bring their faith to bear in public life without forcing Scripture and Our Lord into the service of our preferred conclusions?

Wuthering Heights is often discussed as a love story. Is it?

Scripture is beautiful, a masterpiece of God’s handiwork, but also beautiful in that it lays out God’s vision for our salvation and how he will ultimately make all things new, writes the John Wesley Institute's Dr. Ryan N. Danker.

On January 14, the Department of Homeland Security issued guidelines easing the employment of foreign clergy, a move praised by church leaders, though concerns remain about their sufficiency.

Give thought to what C.S. Lewis shared and demonstrated on the value of children, Sarah Stewart writes.

Pope Leo has positioned the Vatican as a force to maintain the rules-based order of the last century. He also expresses dismay at heritage institutions like the United Nations.

Often, IRD's @markdtooley.bsky.social asks teachers and others who work among young people if they see evidence of more religious belief and almost always, they say yes.

Slow, small practices gradually shape our souls like water flowing over a rock across many decades.

Is nationalism inherently antisemitic?

Evangelical, Catholic, and Muslim spokespeople are opposing removal of religious exemption from a Canadian hate speech law, reports Rick Plasterer.

Apps offering the ability to hear from and relate to those who have passed appeal to an urge to connect with those we have lost. But as Sarah Stewart writes, this technology comes at a price.

God can use us, broken vessels, as willing partners in his providence.

Western Christians don’t know enough about Eastern Orthodox public theology tradition. IRD's @markdtooley.bsky.social chats with Acton Institute's Dylan Pahman on his new book “The Kingdom of God & the Common Good: Orthodox Christian Social Thought.”

IRD's @markdtooley.bsky.social shares with young men on Capitol Hill his thoughts on groyperism vs Christianity.

Two things can be simultaneously true: The Anglican Church in North America is in a profound trouble, and the ministries of its local churches are in many cases thriving, writes IRD's Jeff Walton.

Mainline Protestant churches have long sided with leftist governments in Latin America, sometimes citing liberation theology that presents Jesus as political revolutionary seeking to overthrow forces of “Empire.”

Fallout from the United Methodist split, Baylor University’s decision to decline an LGBTQ+ program grant, flamboyant White House Faith Advisor Paula White-Cain’s return to DC, and an unfolding split amongst Anglican chaplains were among readers’ favorites.

A prohibition against public prayer looms on the horizon in the struggle over religious freedom in the Western world. IRD's Rick Plasterer reports on legislation in Quebec likely to be enacted soon.

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

What does the theology and practice of physicality reveal of our implicit beliefs about human nature?