I'm looking for book recommendations for a young woman who has recently become interested in religion. Ideas please! [more inside]
posted by schmoo on Nov 22, 2009 - 20 answers

Please give advice on how to accept my atheism, let go of God and the need for one, how to get over the fourth stage of grief/letting go (depression), and how to find my passion for life again! [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 18, 2009 - 45 answers

I'm looking for citable print and online references about Christian mysticism. [more inside]
posted by pahool on Oct 27, 2009 - 9 answers

What is a good Bible Based DVD or movie that I can offer to my five year old daughter. I want her to get more knowledgable about the bible, but at her age, I'm not looking for a lot of blood or violence. Also, she asks me a lot why there are not girls in the stories. So maybe you know of a good movie that has Mary or Ruth in it? I want her to learn, but I need it to be age appropriate. She likes animation or live people. Thanks, Lynnie-the-pooh
posted by lynnie-the-pooh on Aug 8, 2009 - 17 answers

Is the name/label "Protestant" generally considered derogatory by non-Catholic/non-Eastern Rite Christians? [more inside]
posted by snachodog on Jul 18, 2009 - 43 answers

Can I get in trouble for performing a wedding without a wicense? I would not sign the wedding certificate or any other paperwork. Just "perform". [more inside]
posted by Matt Arnold on Jul 3, 2009 - 18 answers

How exactly did Christianity come to dominate the Western world to such an extent? [more inside]
posted by timepiece on Jun 24, 2009 - 42 answers

I'm meeting with Mormon missionaries tomorrow for a religious discussion, and they want me to come prepared with questions about Mormon history/ belief/ doctrine, etc. I'm looking for a list of questions that will give me interesting answers and lead to longer discussions about the nature of Mormonism. I'm very interested in their religion, I just don't know enough to know what to ask, and I have three hours with them so I need a good amount of discussion questions. Thanks!
posted by howgenerica on Jun 16, 2009 - 75 answers

How can I avoid straining the relationship between my girlfriend and her sister, who disapproves of us? Also, what are some good religious / psychological / philosophical texts to help me understand and (gently) argue against the sister's point of view: that my girlfriend and I are living in sin by having sex out of wedlock? [more inside]
posted by radiosig on May 13, 2009 - 38 answers

My husband, who has been agnostic since we met and hasn't attended church in years, has rather suddenly decided to pursue a career in the ministry. I don't know what to do or who to talk to about my concerns. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 23, 2009 - 32 answers

I'm trying to find a good atlas that shows all of the Roman Roads built throughout the Roman Empire for my pastor friend. I think there were some 53,000 miles of highway built by the Romans, and, as he is preaching through Acts and following Paul's journeys, he'd like to have a good atlas that shows the period Roman district names, cities, terrain features, and especially the roads. Do you have any idea where he might find something like that?
posted by snap_dragon on Feb 6, 2009 - 5 answers

I really want to watch some films that explicitly riff on New Testament events/verses/speeches, but which aren't "New Testament Movies," like Jesus of Montreal, Passion of the Christ, etc. The closest I've found yet is the "Two Cathedrals" episode of The West Wing. Catholic/Orthodox liturgy, unless based directly on the New Testament, isn't quite right. Could you suggest some movies or TV episodes?
posted by flibbertigibbet on Jan 29, 2009 - 29 answers

What christian tenets are NOT in the bible? [more inside]
posted by theholotrope on Dec 26, 2008 - 36 answers

Can I be a member of a Christian church when I don't believe the Christ story? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 25, 2008 - 67 answers

What are people doing to get back to the roots of Christianity? I vaguely remember reading about one or more groups who were trying to get back to the original spirit of Christianity, loving one another, being charitable, all that. Who am I thinking of? [more inside]
posted by curious_yellow on Nov 30, 2008 - 21 answers

Christian-faith-filter: What do evangelicals think of Catholics? What sorts of things would be good to emphasize, or, conversely, to avoid mentioning, as a Catholic who wants to be taken seriously as a Christian by a group of evangelically-oriented Protestants? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 29, 2008 - 39 answers

I've never read the Bible, and I'd like to. Which version should I read and what resources are good ones to help me understand and historically contextualize what I'm reading?
posted by arcticwoman on Oct 16, 2008 - 25 answers

After living most of my life in a secular bubble, I've been asked to fill in as a producer for a religion-focused public radio show. Religious folk: please help me to do the best job I possibly can. What's going on in your religion or faith community right now? And what should I, as a secular humanist journalist, know in order to broadcast respectfully about your faith? (anonymous because my question relates to my job and employer, which could be identified from my posting history) [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 12, 2008 - 27 answers

Who decides what passages of the Old Testament are no longer relevant in Christian theology, and who grants this authority of interpretation?
posted by plexi on Jun 24, 2008 - 30 answers

What are some common arguments against religious evangelism/proselytism? [more inside]
posted by aheckler on Apr 19, 2008 - 26 answers

Has there been higher criticism (such as the documentary hypothesis) or textual criticism of religions other than Christianity and Judaism?
posted by Pants! on Jan 10, 2008 - 10 answers

Can you refer me to sophisticated discussions of violence that is driven by hybrid forms of capitalism and religion? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 16, 2007 - 2 answers

How can I help a friend who is leaving a fundamentalist Christian church? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 2, 2007 - 38 answers

Is Divine Grace an exclusively Christian idea? [more inside]
posted by greytape on Aug 13, 2007 - 31 answers

Are there any churches in the U.S. whose services follow the 1662 edition of the Book of Common Prayer, as opposed to the American 1979 edition?
posted by Aloysius Bear on May 2, 2007 - 15 answers

What is a devout Christian to do that doesn't believe in the divinity of Christ? [more inside]
posted by psmealey on Apr 7, 2007 - 83 answers

A Christian group claims that "Jesus" is the most-watched movie of all time. They cite the New York Times, July 22 2003 article titled "1979 Bible Film is the Most-Watched Movie of All Time", on page "1AR". Looking through the New York Times's archives, both on the web and microfilm, I can't find the article; only an obituary for William R. Bright which mentions the film without making the claim in question. Is the article they cite real? What does AR refer to? Also, is the claim accurate?
posted by thirteenkiller on Apr 2, 2007 - 11 answers

Church/State, creationists, private education in the US; why don't all the "intelligent design" folk just send their kids to private religious schools? [more inside]
posted by Jimbob on Feb 17, 2007 - 23 answers

I'd like to read about the beliefs and lifestyles of denominations in the US that teach about Christ. Basically, their beliefs, history, and organization in the US, focusing on who they are today and how they got there. [more inside]
posted by freddymungo on Dec 31, 2006 - 15 answers

I used to be a devoted catholic. I quit the church years ago, but still miss the spirituality. Buddhism should fit me, but I feel like such a poser. [more inside]
posted by davar on Nov 25, 2006 - 36 answers

Churches in Seattle? [more inside]
posted by bamassippi on Sep 14, 2006 - 12 answers

Where can I find a line-by-line interpretation/explanation of the biblical Song of Solomon online?
posted by zembla3 on Sep 14, 2006 - 3 answers

Is there some reason that christians support Israel? I was browsing the Rapture Ready message boards, and while I realize they are a bit of a fringe, they seem to be fanatically pro-israel (see this signature), and that sentiment seems to be echoed amongst many other christians I know. I would have figured christians to be mildy anti-israel, as it's inhabitants sort of shunned their prophet/savior. What gives?
posted by phrontist on Jul 20, 2006 - 40 answers

Is God perfect? [more inside]
posted by fatbobsmith on Jun 25, 2006 - 32 answers

Please help convince me to become a Christian. Or not. [more inside]
posted by ibmcginty on May 15, 2006 - 109 answers

I am searching for my spirituality. I suppose I never lost it, but I yearn to pinpoint what it is I actually believe... [more inside]
posted by orangeshoe on Mar 11, 2006 - 25 answers

Why don't Christians keep kosher? [more inside]
posted by i love cheese on Sep 25, 2005 - 14 answers

Christian forums? [more inside]
posted by bonaldi on Aug 31, 2005 - 9 answers

Christian beliefs logical question..... [more inside]
posted by TheFeatheredMullet on Jul 20, 2005 - 38 answers

Should I tell my parents I'm agnostic? Well, with the question out of the way, here's some background. I'm 27 and I grew up Catholic. My parents are in their upper-50s and they're not the bible-beating type but they do go to church a few times a month. [more inside]
posted by Alex Handcoding on Apr 10, 2005 - 26 answers

Does the deification of a religious authority (such as the pope or in Hasidism, the rebbe) take away from the message of the religion itself? [more inside]
posted by turbanhead on Apr 4, 2005 - 18 answers

Why was (is) 666 the number of the beast? Revelation says that the number of the beast is six hundred threescore and six; I know the verse, but I'm curious as to why that's the number and not, say, 555, 637, or 8. [more inside]
posted by Yelling At Nothing on Mar 26, 2005 - 27 answers

The Christmas holiday is fast approaching as we all know. My fiancee is Muslim, and we have always celebrated religious holidays separately. This year, I would like him to be a part of the family celebration. For my family it is more of a family bonding time (and become more of an American Tradition) than a religious event. If I'm correct, the celebration of Christmas is for the birth of Jesus. From what my fiancee has told me of Muslims, they believe in Jesus as a prophet, but have many differences in beliefs from Christians overall about who he was.

So would there be a debate between the two religions over the actual birth of Jesus (how he was conceived, is he the son of God....etc.) that would be conflicting for him to join us for dinner and this particular holiday itself? I want to be well informed when talking to him about it, and try to find a way to celebrate the holiday.
posted by Gooney on Dec 8, 2004 - 20 answers

Ok, so we all saw the hilarity that ensued the last time someone posted a contemporary religion vs homosexuality thread on the blue. My question is strictly academic. Does christianity truly object or is that a more modern concern based on mistranslation?

Points of discussion say one thing and then the other . I, for one, do not have the linguistic background to isolate the wheat from the chaff, and so I ask metafilter. Queer - damnable sin, or something to cleanse yourself of before you go to temple if you're jewish.
posted by Sparx on Nov 29, 2004 - 20 answers

Is there a resource out there that handicaps the various Christian demoninations, or provides a matrix summary of the various tenets of each? [more inside]
posted by psmealey on Jun 14, 2004 - 19 answers

Religious Question: If Jesus knew Judas was going to betray him before he did betray him, and Jesus is God because he's part of the holy trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), doesn't this prove that there is no such thing as free will? [More Inside]
posted by banished on Mar 2, 2004 - 40 answers

Is there any historical evidence of the existence of Jesus?
I ask this because I don't think there is, but would be interested to find out if there was. Please, no religious flame-wars; I'm not asking about whether he was the son of God, just whether he existed.
posted by jpburns on Dec 21, 2003 - 44 answers