Culture Archives - Page 3 of 21 - Baptist & Reflector

GENDER NEUTRAL DOLLS: MATTEL MUDDIES THE WATERS

October 2, 2019

By Todd E. Brady
Assistant Professor of Ministry and Vice President for University Ministries, Union University

In 1949, George Lemer invented the Mr. Potato Head doll — a plastic body of a spud that could be decorated with various interchangeable parts like ears, eyes, shoes, a hat, a nose, and a mouth. As a kid, I had a Mr. Potato Head. My kids have a Mr. Potato Head. It’s funny to design silly faces with different pieces. Lemer, who died in 1995 probably never imagined that people would be picking and choosing preferential parts and specially-designing their own human being dolls. If he were alive, he’d probably laugh that there are actually people who are serious about this.

With Mattel’s latest line of dolls called Creatable World, that seems to be exactly what is happening. Mattel once divided the doll world into Kens and Barbies, but now they are putting forth gender-neutral dolls for “boys, girls and children in between.” These dolls are “designed specifically to have a youthful gender neutral appearance.” [Read more…]

WHEN A TOY IS NOT A TOY

September 30, 2019

The world is getting crazier by the day.

When I was a kid, toys were a luxury. You usually received them on Christmas and birthdays. Now, kids get toys year-round, mainly from grandparents who spoil their grandkids (and I confess that I am among that number). Shame on us.

But one toy my grandkids won’t be receiving is the new gender-fluid Creatable World doll from Mattel (see BP story). Barbie, Hot Wheels and countless other toys have worked well for Mattel for years. The long-time toy company certainly didn’t need to join the gender debate. [Read more…]

2020 ELECTIONS: MOST EVANGELICALS WANT TO PLAY NICE

September 30, 2019

By Aaron Earls
Baptist Press

NASHVILLE — Most American evangelicals believe Jesus’ Golden Rule — “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” — applies to politics. Some, however, see the political realm leading up to the 2020 elections as no place for niceness, according to a new study.

A LifeWay Research study sponsored by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention (ERLC) conducted in November of 2018 explored the perspectives of American evangelicals on civility, politics, media consumption and how likely they are to engage with views different from their own. [Read more…]

SURVEY REVEALS 90 PERCENT OF CHURCHES MEET ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

September 17, 2019

By Aaron Earls
Baptist Press

NASHVILLE — What began as midweek prayer meetings in the 18th century have become an accepted part of congregational life in the vast majority of Protestant churches in America, a study released Tuesday (Sept. 10) shows.

Nine in 10 Protestant pastors say they have some type of activity on Wednesday night, according to LifeWay Research’s survey. Only 10 percent say they have no regular events on Wednesday evening.

“Church leaders frequently discuss the difficulty of getting people to participate in church activities multiple days each week,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. “Yet the vast majority of churches are still open and active on Wednesday nights.” [Read more…]

RANDY DAVIS’ STATEMENT TO THE SENATE STUDY COMMITTEE

August 12, 2019

Editor’s note: The following is the full text of TBMB President and Executive Director Randy C. Davis’ statement to the Senate Study Committee delivered in support of pro-life legislation proposed in SB 1236. Full news coverage of Davis’ appearance before the committee can be found here and the audio podcast of his testimony can be found here.

It was a shocking scene. New York governor Andrew Cuomo stood at the podium defiantly poking his finger toward his audience; the audience responding with enthusiastic cheers. He had just signed into law one of the most comprehensive pro-abortion bills in our nation’s history. I thought, “God help us. That man has just signed the death sentence of thousands upon thousands of children.” I’ll never forget the disbelief, devastation, and disgust I felt in that moment. [Read more…]

DAVIS CHALLENGES LEGISLATORS TO STAND FOR LIFE

August 12, 2019

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

TBMB President and Executive Director Randy C. Davis testifies during the Senate Study Committee, advocating senators advance SB 1236, a strongly pro-life bill that acknowledges life begins at conception. To support his position before the senators, Davis referenced the binder that has the names of more than 16,000 Tennessee Baptists and nearly 1,000 Tennessee Baptist pastors who signed the “I Stand for Life” petition over the past three weeks.
Photo: Screen shot from TN General Assembly web video.

NASHVILLE — When New York governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law one of the nation’s most comprehensive abortion laws earlier this year, he “woke a sleeping giant,” declared Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

Davis was one of five pro-life proponents who appealed to a nine-member Tennessee Senate Judiciary Summer Study Committee Aug. 12 to join thousands of Tennessee Baptists and other evangelical Christians in standing for life in the Volunteer State. Longtime observers of the Tennessee Baptist Convention believe it may be the first time that a representative of the convention has addressed Tennessee senators on a major legislative issue. (Read the full text of Randy Davis’ statement to the Senate Study Committee and the audio podcast of his testimony can be found here.)

[Read more…]

CHURCHGOERS HOLD CONFLICTING VIEWS ON THE NEED FOR OTHER CHRISTIANS

August 7, 2019

By Aaron Earls
LifeWay Christian Resources.

NASHVILLE — Protestant churchgoers say they can walk with God just fine by themselves, but they also say they need other believers to help them do it.

A LifeWay Research survey sponsored by the Center for Church Revitalization at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary finds majorities of those who attend U.S. Protestant or non-denominational churches at least monthly agree with the two sentiments that are seemingly in conflict. [Read more…]

ARE WE WISELY USING THE TIME GOD GIVES US?

August 6, 2019

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

It’s hard to believe that summer is nearly over. When I was a kid, we usually did not return to school until later in August or even after Labor Day. Now, most schools across Tennessee already have begun.

It is a reminder that time is fleeting.

We think we have plenty of time, but unfortunately, too many of us waste valuable time that God gives us, myself included. James 4 (HCSB) reminds us, “… For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.” [Read more…]

DAVIS URGES TENNESSEE BAPTISTS TO JOIN THE FIGHT

August 6, 2019

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — In the days leading up to his appearance on the floor of the Tennessee Senate, Randy C. Davis continues to encourage Tennessee Baptists to be active participants in the “I Stand for Life” campaign.

Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, is scheduled to address the Tennessee Senate on Monday, Aug. 12. When he does so, he plans to present the “I Stand for Life” petition to state officials. [Read more…]

AMERICANS MOST LIKELY TO FIND IDENTITY IN FAMILY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

July 30, 2019

By Aaron Earls
LifeWay Christian Resources

NASHVILLE — In “Overcomer,” a new film from Alex and Stephen Kendrick opening August 23, a young girl struggles to understand where her identity is grounded. Most Americans say they find their identity in relationships and achievements, according to a new study.

Nashville-based LifeWay Research asked 1,010 Americans about their sense of identity and what matters most about themselves. These are important questions to ask, said Alex Kendrick, director of “Overcomer.” [Read more…]

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