Top Religion Stories of 1997

(as selected by CT editors and writers)

1. Promise Keepers’ Stand in the Gap draws 1 million men to Washington, D.C.2. Gender-inclusive New International Version canceled.3. Supreme Court rules RFRA unconstitutional.4. Churches worldwide unify against religious persecution.5. New Russian law restricts freedom of religion.6. Oregon favors first law for physician-assisted suicide.7. U.S. State Department notes global religious persecution.8. New Era’s John Bennett imprisoned for fraud.9. Disney boycott gathers momentum.10. Partial-birth abortion battle moves to states.

Copyright © 1998 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

Cuba's Next Revolution: Christians are transforming Castro's Communist stronghold. But will the Protestant-Catholic relationship bred by persecution withstand the pope's high-profile visit?

Cover Story

Cuba's Next Revolution

John W. Kennedy in Havana and Miami

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from January 12, 1998

Pottery Shard Points to Temple

Gordon Govier

Born-again Christians Lead Norway

Tomas Dixon

Christians Protest Trade Embargo

Suit Challenges Religion Classes Credit

The Apostle Shows Grit, Grace

Steve Rabey

Swift Growth Shapes Potter's House

Jim Jones in Dallas

Sandi Patty Stages Comeback

Timothy C. Morgan

Madison Avenue’s Spiritual Chic

CHARLES COLSON & Nancy Pearcey

China’s Leaders Critical of ’Clandestine’ Missions

Ken Walker, with reports from Compass Direct news service

Internet: IRS Spurs Nonprofit Disclosure on Internet

News

Vineyard: Vineyard Founder Wimber Dies

Joe Maxwell, with Heather Johnson and John Geary in Anaheim

Spiritual Mapping Gains Credibility Among Leaders

by Art Moore in Tacoma

Why Evangelicals Have the Biggest Seminaries

News

News Briefs: January 12, 1998

Billy Graham Had a Dream

Vishal Mangalwadi

The Only Way

Daniel B. Clendenin

Roe v. McCorvey

Gary Thomas

Wanted: A New Pro-life Strategy

Bittersweet Cuban Memories

John W. Kennedy

Santeria Holds Cuba in Thrall

Brothers to the Rescue Pawn in Policy Discord

John W. Kennedy in Miami

Editorial

What Really Died in Oregon

A Hundredfold Return

How Should We Pray for Cuba?

Michael G. Maudlin, Managing Editor

Wire Story

Evangelicals, Catholics Issue Salvation Accord

Randy Frame, with reports from Martin King, Baptist Press

News

News Briefs: January 12, 1998

View issue

Our Latest

Make Faith Plausible Again

Bryce Hales

A peculiar hospitality can awaken faith in our secular contexts.

Public Theology Project

Russell Moore’s Favorite Books of 2025

CT’s editor at-large recommends a handful of biographies—from Augustine to Robert Frost—along with sci-fi, Stephen King, social media, and more.

The Priest and Social Worker Deradicalizing Jihadists in Prison

One Catholic and one Muslim, they disagree on the role of religion in their work in Lebanon, but are united in their aim.

News

Hong Kong Church Rallies After 60 Congregants Lose Homes in Deadly Fire

Joyce Wu

The territory’s worst fire in decades claimed more than 150 lives.

The Russell Moore Show

 Listener Question: N.T. Wright on the Parable of the Talents

N.T. Wright takes a listener’s question about the parable of the talents told in Luke 19, and why it’s not all that it seems.

Celebrating Christmas with Hot Chai and Crispy Murukku

Amid rising persecution, Indian Christians share Jesus’ love with friends and neighbors through delectable dishes.

My Top 5 Books on Christianity in Southeast Asia

Compiled by Manik Corea

Explore how the faith has flourished in Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and other countries in this religiously diverse region.

Review

Today’s Christians Can Learn from Yesterday’s Pagans

Grace Hamman

Classicist Nadya Williams argues for believers reading the Greco-Roman classics.

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