The Ever-Evolving Church

A couple of church-related stories from the past week…

‘Great Sex Sermons’ Cause Controversy in Alabama

“Daystar Church, whose congregation has grown dramatically under pastor Jerry Lawson, has run up against the sensibilities of a conservative north Alabama community with a monthlong focus on sex.

Sex just isn't an appropriate topic for church, some say, and others are upset over the church's signs, which advertise the sermon series and accompanying Web site.

‘It's really stirred up the people here,’ said Good Hope town clerk Joann Jones.”

“The controversy is a bit ironic considering the church's overall point is about as straight-laced as they come: That God intends for sex to be enjoyed solely within a heterosexual marriage, and that anything else - adultery, pornography, homosexuality, even "sexual arousal" outside of marriage - is sin.”


God-less 'congregations' planned for humanists

“Greg Epstein, the humanist chaplain at Harvard University, is building a God-free model of community that he hopes helps humanists increase in numbers and influence.

Epstein sees potential in research showing that there are more people with no religion. In the latest American Religious Identification Survey, released this month, 15 percent of respondents in 2008 said they had no religion, compared to 8.2 percent in 1990. Epstein believes that group includes large numbers of people who are humanist, but have never identified themselves that way and can be reached.”

“Epstein wants to plant local humanist centers nationwide that perform many of the community-building functions of a church, only in service of the humanist creed. He will promote his idea as he tours the country to promote his book, "Good Without God," which is scheduled to be published by HarperCollins later this year.”

“While many humanists reject anything that hints at organized religion, Epstein is freely borrowing from it _ from the "small group" format familiar in evangelical churches to calling his group a ‘congregation.’”

“To those who say it can't be done, Epstein points to his community at Harvard, and nonstop requests for more services, as a rebuttal. He believes humanists are responsible to make sure their community grows more.”

‘Salvation is here on earth,’ he said. ‘We have evolved over 14 billion years without purpose. Now we want purpose, we need to build it into our own lives.’"