If you need to get a daily fix of religious-related news, where are you going to go? Real Clear Religion, of course! Jeremy Lott, the editor of Real Clear Religion and other related news portals, joins us to chat about how the Interwebs have changed the way we hear about religious news. He reveals the history of the “Real Clear” network of news sites (or “intelligent aggregators”) and how RCR fits into that general model of internet sites. We then talk about the various media trends Jeremy has seen over the years, including some discussion on the state of religion & politics and the upcoming election.

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What does religious faith have to do with environmental stewardship? Rev. Fletcher Harper of GreenFaith joins us to discuss the history and work of his ecumenical environmental advocacy organization. We cover the biblical basis for environmental stewardship and explore why religious groups have been relative latecomers to the “green movement.” Rev. Harper also discusses the various projects GreenFaith has been involved in and how his group has been received by members of other religious communities and the secular environmental movement. Our podcast also explores the relationship between religious individuals and the government when it comes to improving environmental quality. Rev. Harper makes the case that it is important not only to change the culture, but to get the incentives right if Christians and other faith traditions want to make a positive impact on society.

Know of anybody you think should appear on the show? Email the host at tgill (at) uw (dot) edu.

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Pastor Doug Johnston of the First Baptist Church of Redmond (Washington) recalls various tales about his six mission trips to Romania. These short trips, each roughly ten days, were designed to support the Emmanual Baptist Church, its orphanage, and the Timisoara Bible Baptist Institute. Pastor Doug relates the purpose of those trips, various observations he made about Romanian religiosity and culture, and even tells us how an inflatable, remote-controlled shark becomes a vital missionary tool.

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Back in the fall of 2011, we visited with Pastor Matt Boswell about his effort to create a church within a week’s span of time. We pay a return visit with Pastor Boswell to see what the next several months of church-building entails. We discuss the need to create a set of by-laws, define the requirements of membership, and find ways to establish some permanance even though the congregation meets in a high school auditorium. This is part of our ongoing examination of Redemption Church and its week-to-week and month-to-month operations. Note: This is the church that your host attends on an almost weekly basis.

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What is it like to go on a Mormon mission to Russia? Allison Pond, recently of the Pew Forum and now a journalist with the Deseret News, recounts her two-year religious sojourn to southern Russia. We learn about why she went, her preparation for the trip, what the first day on the ground was like, and the various ups and downs of mission life. We also discuss the changing religious landscape in Russia and what that meant for Latter Day Saints who were in the field.

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Scott Thompson, the youth pastor at Redemption Church in Duvall (WA), reveals his insights into running a youth ministry. We discuss the daily operations of a youth ministry as well as some of the challenges facing junior high and high school students and how a congregation in a rural Washington town attempts to attract and retain students in religious life. This is the third in our series of interviews looking at Redemption Church and includes a special guest appearance by the host’s eleven year old son.

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Join Research on Religion for a very special live musical recording of “With Us” by Ryan Habig. We also talk about the importance and details of running a music ministry. This is part of a series examining Redemption Church, a congregation of 500 or so folks in the small town of Duvall, WA. Ryan discusses what drew him to music ministry, his background, and his weekly routine that not only includes making music but running anything and everything from the church website to organizing the ushers. We also include a rendition of “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” just in time for the holidays!

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What would you do if you were a street preacher and someone poured beer on your head, blew smoke in your face, and threatened you with a knife? Jeff Rose of JeremiahCry Ministries has had that experience and he reveals his response in this fascinating interview that covers Jeff’s path to the street preaching profession and what it takes to be a street preacher.

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What do you need to do to start a church? Moreover, how fast can you do it if you only have one week to get the church up and running? Matt Boswell discusses the frenetic process of setting up a church in a podcast that has the flavor of a reality show. With virtually nothing to their name (including no money, no building, and no name), a small group of individuals were able to go from zero to 562 congregants in one week. How did that happen? What does that tell us about the entrepreneurial spirit within America’s religious economy? (Disclaimer: This podcast involves the congregation that the host of Research on Religion currently attends, though he had no influence on any of the decisions discussed in the podcast.)

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Should pastors know what individual congregants tithe? This question set off a debate on Christianity today and we pick it up with Pastor Larry Osborne (North Coast Church in Vista, CA), who admittedly changed his view on this question. He explains why and our conversation also covers other interesting facets of church financing. We also discuss some of the strategies that Pastor Osborne has used to help his church grow from a small Bible Study to a church that serves over 8,000 congregants each week across three campuses.

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