Supreme Court lets prayer decisions stand

Written by K. Hollyn Hollman, BJC General Counsel
Recent decisions reflect a proper application of religious liberty case law, recognizing that sectarian prayers by public officials undermine religious liberty and degrade religion by entangling it with government. The Supreme Court was right to deny the public officials’ request for review — in one case, a school board, and in another, a county board of commissioners.

Book review: Roger Williams and liberty

Written By J. Stanley Lemons
In Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul: Church, State, and the Birth of Liberty, Barry argues that one of the great fault lines in American history has been the relationship of church and state and the individual and the state.

From the February 2012 Report from the Capital.

Pagans, atheists, Christians and the battle for equal treatment

Written by Charles C. Haynes, Director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum
Religious freedom is hugely popular in America — until, of course, it’s applied to unpopular groups. Consider North Windy Ridge Intermediate School in Buncombe County, N.C. In December, school officials arranged for students to come by the office during break to pick up Bibles donated by the Gideons.

Leonard installed as Dunn Chair of Baptist Studies at Wake Forest

Written by Don Byrd
Baptist historian Bill Leonard was officially installed Jan. 24 as the first James and Marilyn Dunn Chair of Baptist Studies at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity. Named in honor of the Dunns of Winston-Salem, N.C., the endowed chair will provide an ongoing Baptist studies faculty presence at the divinity school.