Mind, Body & Spirit
What You Need to Know About the Affordable Care Act
Open enrollment for the ACA begins on October 1, but do you know some of the finer points about the plan? Find out here.
The Kermit Gosnell Case: America on Trial
Dr. Kermit Gosnell, the former operator of the Women’s Medical Society, is currently on trial for the deaths of four infants and a woman. What does his trial reveal about who we are as a country?
Rethinking Sacrifice
Through the lens of the cross, Rev. Toby Sanders invites us to reimagine what a healthy notion of sacrifice would mean for our vocations and our communities
Black Churches Host Kidney Sunday
African-Americans are 13 percent of the US population, but represent 32 percent of kidney failure cases nationally. To combat this public health issue, black churches are hosting Kidney Sundays to raise awareness and highlight solutions to the problem.
Common Grace Flowing at the Jersey Shore
Hurricane Sandy did a lot of mischief at the Jersey Shore, but common grace is flowing like a flood.
Pink Ribbon Warriors
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among African American women — and their most common cause of cancer death. Here are tips for reducing your risk and winning the fight.
Undecided Voters Get a Voice in 2nd Debate
Undecided voters will have the opportunity to press the candidates on domestic policy tonight, but will they get the answers they need in a tight race?
When Politicians Want It Both Ways
At religion reporters meeting, surrogates for Obama and Romney seemed to want to woo faith voters, but limit reporters’ faith questions. Should faith be off-limits?
Obama v. Romney, Round 1
President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney face off for their first debate tonight. What won’t they be talking about?
Real Girls in a Photoshopped World
A 14-year-old student’s protest against the unrealistic bodies of models in teen fashion magazines leads to a mini-revolution. But can it tamp down our culture’s obsession with idealized and overly sexual images in the media?
Obama Lets Others Outshine Him in Charlotte
Michelle Obama and Bill Clinton delivered speeches that outshined the president, and there was a lot of God-talk. What was the political message?
Meeting Dad in Bill Milliken’s Rearview Mirror
How I became reacquainted with my late father through urban ministry pioneer Bill Milliken’s new memoir, ‘From the Rearview Mirror.’
What Does It Mean to Be ‘Pro-Life’?
Why I don’t think my position on the legality of abortion defines me as a ‘pro-lifer.’
Responsibility and the Affordable Care Act
FOLLOW UP: A response to critics of my ‘Obamacare’ post and a challenge to Christian colleges that are suing over the contraception mandate.
Is Black Church Culture Unhealthy?
OPINION: From the looks of the overweight bodies in the pews and the high-fat soul food meals in our church basements, it’s hard to escape the possibility that many of the practices and traditions of the black church may be killing us.
Jesse Jackson Jr.’s Mystery Mood Disorder
Stigma and shame are common barriers to treatment for mental illness, especially in the Black community. Therapist LaTonya Mason Summers says this could be one reason Jesse Jackson Jr.’s mood disorder diagnosis remains a mystery.
Seven Olympians to Watch
Here are seven Olympians we’ll be following closely at the London Games.
Questions for Conservatives About Healthcare Reform
As a freedom-loving pro-lifer, I want to know why my conservative friends don’t seem to care about women like me when it comes to healthcare reform.
‘Obamacare’ Prevails: Supreme Court Upholds Healthcare Law
The Roberts Court ruled the controversial Affordable Care Act as a constitutional law. But what does it really mean for our nation moving forward?
Asian Americans Object to Pew Survey
Asian Americans are on the rise demographically, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. But some activists object, saying the community is not monolithic.
Listening to Immigrant Children
The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Conde-Frazier discusses her new, award-nominated book, ‘Listen to the Children: Conversations with Immigrant Families.’
Teen Birth Rates at Historic Low
Contraception and sex education are cited as reasons for historically low teen birth rates, but there is still cause for concern.
Who Will Speak Up for Murdered Children?
Violent crime is down nationally with the exception of family violence, says journalist Karen Spears Zacharias, author of a new book that tells the story of one child murder in order to bring attention to them all.
Cory Booker’s ‘Come to Jesus’ Heroism
Newark Mayor Cory Booker calls saving his neighbor from a firey blaze a ‘Come to Jesus’ moment and thanks God that they’re both alive to talk about it.
Can Bullying Lead to Murder or Suicide?
From the Oikos University shooting to Tyler Clementi’s suicide to the new film, ‘Bully,’ the ‘bullied into it’ narrative is a common one. But could this storyline do more harm than good?
Divining the Fate of the Affordable Care Act
After three days of U.S. Supreme Court testimony about the Affordable Care Act, pundits sound ambivalent in their predictions about its fate.
Taking Stock of the Trayvon Martin Case
Now that the road to justice has been cleared, perhaps it’s time to calm down and consider how we got here.
Supreme Court to Judge Affordable Care Act
It’s been two years since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law. Will it survive Supreme Court scrutiny?
Good Hair Days
The long, twisted journey of a Black woman’s hair — from cornrows to Halle Berry and back.
Defending President Obama’s Faith
Renewed questions about President Obama’s Christian faith inspire a group of influential leaders to defend him.
Obama Birth Control Compromise Take 2
Activist Lisa Sharon Harper and ethicists Cheryl J. Sanders and Charles C. Camosy weigh in on the Obama administration’s contraception mandate accommodation.
Obama’s Contraception Decision
Response has been fast and furious to the Obama administration’s announcement that there will be no conscience exemption in its health care law for religious organizations that oppose birth control. Here’s a round-up of opinions.
Whose Fault Is the ‘Cultural Divide’?
When conservative pundits can’t agree on the dynamics of ‘lower-class’ dysfunction, perhaps it’s time to bring in Cliff Huxtable and the queen of talk.
Immigration News: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly
News on the immigration front has been ugly this week, with deportation mistakes making headlines, but it’s not entirely bad. Here’s our round-up:
2011 News Highlights
We didn’t cover all the top news of 2011 at UrbanFaith, but we did shine our own unique spotlight on much of it. Here are some highlights.
UrbanFaith’s 2011 Hit List
Articles about single ladies, Zachery Tims, black hair, Steve Jobs, Detroit, Gadhafi, and the ‘Rainbow Right’ were among our most popular of 2011.
MTV’s Mixed Messages About Females and Teen Sexuality
A new Parent’s Television Council report says MTV’s reality shows disparage females, so why do some feminists offer conditional support for these shows?
Sponsoring a Resonse to HIV/AIDS
Could child sponsorship be a manageable way for ‘people in the pew’ to make a long-term difference in the lives of those impacted by HIV/AIDS?
Protecting the Children
The Penn State tragedy is an important opportunity to shine needed light on the pervasive crime of child sexual abuse. Tips for recognizing and confronting the problem.
Blacks Are Better Off, New Measure Says
The U.S. Census Bureau’s new Supplemental Poverty Measure says African Americans are better off than previously reported, and a bureau official attributes the difference to alternative living arrangements and government benefits.
The Breast Cancer Reality Check
One in eight women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. With stats like those, I had to start paying attention — as every woman should.
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?
Is That Hair Killing You?
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, some women are jeopardizing their health in order to protect their hairstyles.
Venus Williams’ Toughest Match
Her withdrawal from the U.S. Open because of Sjogren’s syndrome brings attention to the plight of autoimmune disease sufferers.
Church & State Fighting Obesity
Do Churches Have a Role to Play in Fighting Obesity? Long before First Lady Michelle Obama began advocating the Let's Move anti-obesity campaign, Rev. Michael O. Minor, pastor of Oak Hill Baptist Church in the Mississippi Delta, was convincing his congregation and...
Who’s Fault Is the Achievement Gap?
On August 28, a monument to civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. will be unveiled in our nation's capital, but two new polls suggest that White Americans still see the African American experience through a privileged lens. Cross-Racial Consensus/Discord With the...
Is Anti-White Racism Growing?
A new study finds that white Americans believe they are victims of racism more often than blacks.
The Crass Supper
Food, Inc. is a difficult but necessary film for anyone who eats food.
Recession Depression
The nation’s economic woes are taking a toll on our mental health. A Christian counselor shares her insights on coping with financial frustration.
What Have You Done for YOU Lately?
When was the last time you actually set aside time to do something nice for yourself? If you're like many mothers, it may have been quite a while. With all the tasks and chores that are typically on the average mom's "to do" list in a given week, it's no wonder that...