Entertainment
‘Machine Gun Preacher’ Poses Tough Questions
A new faith-based film starring Gerard Butler presents an unsanitized portrayal of conversion, but it also poses challenging questions about “redemptive violence.”
Truth at a Beauty Pageant
Miss Universe winner Leila Lopes of Angola highlights her nation’s troubles, says she’s happy with the way God made her, and declares racism so last century. Is her win redemptive?
Rooting for Celebrity Marriages
Black celebrity marriages are making headlines this week: musical duo Ashford and Simpson's for its endurance and Will and Jada Smith's for its possible breakdown. How important are these relationships to the African American community? Beautiful Songs Emerge from a...
When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong
Nivea’s controversial ad campaign, “Look Like You Give a Damn,” has the black community up in arms. Here’s my take.
Evaluating ‘The Help’
People are flocking to movie theaters to see The Help. But is the story inspiration or exploitation?
Why ‘The Help’ Works
If you’re one of the few people in America who haven’t read the book (and are wondering whether you should see the movie), here’s a helpful primer.
‘There’s a Purpose Behind the Funny’
Comedian Michael Jr. on faith, race, and the difference between getting laughs and giving people the opportunity to laugh.
The Inevitable Amy Winehouse
Perhaps the most tragic thing about the singer’s sad and untimely death is how unsurprising it was.
A ‘Portal’ to Truth
Why the sequel to the popular video game pulsates with biblical insight into the human experience.
Gospel Identity Crisis, Part 4
Why we must get away from using terms like “secular” and “Christian” to label the music recorded by and marketed to Christian people. Some final thoughts on Tonéx and the end of “Christian” music as we know it.
This Week’s Pendulum
The Pendulum is your weekly survey of America’s top trending topics. This week: Is the media an appropriate referee for politics; HTML5 may put Apple and Google app stores out of business; Chris Rock stars in a ROMCOM about pregnancy and fatherhood; 7 online courses worth the money; and much more.
Michael Tait: ‘Living Integration’
The dc Talk veteran and current Newsboys singer on race, politics, and the beauty of diversity in Christianity, music — and food.
This Week’s Pendulum
The Pendulum is your weekly survey of America’s top trending topics. This week: More states have legalized gay marriage; a new generation of gospel; what does Bad Teacher say about America’s education; The BET Awards: the good, the bad, and the why?; and much more.
The Unreality of ‘Single Ladies’
VH1’s new urban soap about the romantic misadventures of a group of women in Atlanta fails the sniff test when it comes to real female relationships.
Beware ‘The Book of Mormon’
The Book of Mormon, which racked up big at Sunday’s Tony Awards, resurrects a troublesome racial and religious history in more ways than one.
Hezekiah Walker Is Lovin’ It
The gospel music star on the McDonald’s Gospel Tour, the challenge of balancing music and ministry, and his first movie role.
This Week’s Pendulum
The Pendulum is your weekly survey of America’s top trending topics. This week: Are Newt Gingrich and Tracy Morgan finished?; brush up your foreign language skills on BBC.com; Amazon lowering price on Kindle?; Facebook to start scanning and identifying your photos; and much more!
A Word to Rihanna
The singer’s latest video has critics fearing that she’s sending the wrong message to her fans, especially teenage girls. But maybe she’s simply trying to heal.