Jonathan Merritt
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Jonathan Merritt

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America’s Epidemic of Empty Churches
America’s Epidemic of Empty Churches

Three blocks from my Brooklyn apartment, a large brick structure stretches toward heaven. Tourists recognize it as a church—the building’s bell tower and stained-glass windows give it away—but worshippers haven’t gathered here in years. Read more…

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Maegan SchwindlingMarch 28, 2019
Why I'm Feeling Insecure about the Publication of My Best Book (Favorite Things Giveaway #3)
Why I'm Feeling Insecure about the Publication of My Best Book (Favorite Things Giveaway #3)

Jonathan explains why he is experiencing so much anxiety and gives away some of his favorite things.

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MediaJonathanJuly 25, 2018giveaway, Scott Erickson
A Creativity Secret I Learned While Writing My Best Book (Favorite Things Giveaway #2)
A Creativity Secret I Learned While Writing My Best Book (Favorite Things Giveaway #2)

A sneak peek into Jonathan's creative process, plus an exclusive giveaway of one of his favorite things.

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MediaJonathanJuly 16, 2018giveaway, Writing
How I Wrote My Best Book (Favorite Things Giveaway #1)
How I Wrote My Best Book (Favorite Things Giveaway #1)

A sneak peek into Jonathan's writing process and an exclusive giveaway of one of his favorite items.

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Media, TrendsJonathanJuly 9, 2018giveaway, Learning to Speak God from Scratch, Writing
From dating to the workplace, the ancient Enneagram can transform relationships
From dating to the workplace, the ancient Enneagram can transform relationships

An ancient personality typing system called the Enneagram has recently developed a cult following among the religious in America.

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CultureJonathanJune 26, 2018
Southern Baptists Call Off the Culture War
Southern Baptists Call Off the Culture War

It was immediately clear that change was afoot in Dallas. I’ve attended the annual gatherings of the Southern Baptist Convention dozens of times, but walking around the convention center this week, I was struck by how unfamiliar it all felt.

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CultureJonathanJune 26, 2018
Paige Patterson has resigned. Imagine if he were Tim Cook.
Paige Patterson has resigned. Imagine if he were Tim Cook.

In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s embattled president, Paige Patterson, was relieved of his duties following more than 13 hours of deliberation by the school’s board of trustees.

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Current EventsJonathanMay 23, 2018
What Alcoholics Anonymous could teach Paige Patterson
What Alcoholics Anonymous could teach Paige Patterson

Jonathan Merritt, who writes On Faith & Culture for RNS, invited Seth Haines — author of "Coming Clean: A Story of Faith" — to write this guest column on his blog.

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Current EventsJonathanMay 18, 2018
On Mother’s Day, let’s listen to our moms’ cries for justice
On Mother’s Day, let’s listen to our moms’ cries for justice

Jonathan Merritt, who writes On Faith & Culture for RNS, invited Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove — to write this guest column on his blog.

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ChurchJonathanMay 18, 2018
‘Doubting Thomas’ story is about gratitude, not doubt
‘Doubting Thomas’ story is about gratitude, not doubt

Jonathan Merritt, who writes On Faith & Culture for RNS, invited Diana Butler Bass — to write this guest column on his blog.

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TheologyJonathanMay 18, 2018
How American Christians can break free from ‘slaveholder religion’
How American Christians can break free from ‘slaveholder religion’

It’s been a century and a half since the American Civil War ended, but according to Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, the slaveholder religion of that era has quietly persisted until today. But to understand this development, a history lesson is in order.

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CultureJonathanMay 18, 2018
From hell to atonement, musician Audrey Assad has been quietly evolving
From hell to atonement, musician Audrey Assad has been quietly evolving

Four years have passed between spiritual songwriter Audrey Assad’s last studio album and her new, highly anticipated record, “Evergreen.”

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Arts + EntertainmentJonathanMay 18, 2018
Why Paige Patterson’s apology may not be enough
Why Paige Patterson’s apology may not be enough

In just two weeks, Paige Patterson has done what none could have predicted: He’s given America’s largest Protestant denomination two black eyes.

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Current EventsJonathanMay 18, 2018
In a #Metoo moment, will Southern Baptists hold powerful men accountable?
In a #Metoo moment, will Southern Baptists hold powerful men accountable?

The Southern Baptist Convention’s statement of faith calls on its members to “contend for the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death.” But the nation’s largest Protestant denomination must now decide whether that includes situations in which respected men have abused their power with women.

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Church, Current EventsJonathanMay 18, 2018
‘Glorious glitter bomb’: Critics loved ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ but much of religious America was unimpressed
‘Glorious glitter bomb’: Critics loved ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ but much of religious America was unimpressed

New York isn’t thought of as an exceptionally Christian town. But as I sat in the Marcy Armory on Easter Sunday night live-tweeting NBC’s broadcast of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” you could have fooled me.

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Arts + EntertainmentJonathanMay 18, 2018
The Scandal Tearing Apart America's Largest Protestant Denomination
The Scandal Tearing Apart America's Largest Protestant Denomination

Over the past 20 years, the Southern Baptist Convention has weathered an onslaught of controversies, from renaming the denomination to repudiating the Confederate flag. But in the end, all it took to potentially rend the organization in two was a single quote about domestic violence from a solitary leader that most Americans have never even heard of.

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ChurchJonathanMay 18, 2018
Why isn’t there a ‘War on Easter’ like Christmas?
Why isn’t there a ‘War on Easter’ like Christmas?

In a moment when breathing air seems to stir controversy, Easter has somehow avoided it.

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CultureJonathanMarch 28, 2018
Can former journalist Lee Strobel make a convincing case for miracles?
Can former journalist Lee Strobel make a convincing case for miracles?

A few years ago, I experienced a miracle at a writing conference outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Following a talk I gave on storytelling, a group of women approached me and one stepped forward: “We have a word from God for you.”

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TheologyJonathanMarch 27, 2018
Advice for dealing with critics – from a religion writer with plenty of them
Advice for dealing with critics – from a religion writer with plenty of them

A few years ago, I experienced a miracle at a writing conference outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Following a talk I gave on storytelling, a group of women approached me and one stepped forward: “We have a word from God for you.”

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MediaJonathanMarch 9, 2018
Responding to American Christianity’s obsession with youth
Responding to American Christianity’s obsession with youth

Centuries ago, some of our ancestors powdered their wigs in order to appear older and wiser. Today, adults dye their hair darker to seem young and relevant. It’s difficult to dispute that, as Simon Donnan put it, “Youth is the new global currency.”


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CultureJonathanMarch 7, 2018
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