Top Ten Stories of 2006

The events, people, and debates of the past year that Christianity Today‘s editors and writers believe have shaped, or will significantly shape, evangelical life, thought, or mission.

1. Sex Scandal Fells NAE President Ted Haggard Shocking admissions of immorality from New Life Church pastor shake evangelical world. Debate ensues over direction of nae and the temptations of high-profile ministry.

2. Israel Invades Lebanon Hezbollah incursions across the Israeli border trigger a bold military response. Christian voices from Lebanon plead for prayers and protest.

3. Court Decisions Favor Traditional Marriage State court decisions across the country shift momentum in debate over same-sex marriage. However, New Jersey Supreme Court requires legislature to allow for either same-sex marriage or civil unions.

4. Muslims Riot over Pope’s Comments West shocked by response to Pope Benedict XVI’s Regensburg address on faith and reason.

5. Religious Left Declares Victory in Midterm Election Democrats ride gains among frequent churchgoers and Catholics to take control of House and Senate.

6. Violence Sends Christians Packing from Iraq Small Christian community shrinks further as sectarian attacks worsen.

7. Southern Baptists Crack Down on Tongues After the International Mission Board in 2005 banned missionaries from praying in tongues, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary bars professors or administrators from endorsing charismatic practices.

8. Immigration Debate Splits Evangelicals Advocates swap proof texts on welcoming the stranger and obeying civil authorities as Congress debates illegal immigration.

9. Ministry Leaders Sign Evangelical Climate Initiative Observers say global warming debate signifies broadening political agenda.

10. Christians Flock to See The Da Vinci Code Engagement trumps boycott as phenomenon peaks with boffo box office.

Copyright © 2007 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

Christianity Today has collected its coverage of Ted Haggard, the Israel-Lebanon Conflict, Gay Marriage, Election 2006, Iraq, Immigration, Global Warming & the Environment, and The Da Vinci Code.

Weblog (9/15/2006 and 9/21/2006) kept up with the news coverage of Muslim riots over Pope Benedict’s speech, which recently won an award.

For more on Southern Baptists’ stance on speaking in tongues, see ‘Tongues Tied‘ and December’s News Briefs.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

News

Red-Light Rescue

The Problem with Hating Religion

Don't Mess with Missions

An Upside-Down World

Creation or Evolution? Yes!

Mega-Headache

Family Feud

News

Surprised by Friendship

The Story of America?

Give Parents a Say

<em>Ricardo the Fierce</em>

Dethroned

Simple Process, Vibrant Church

Signs of the Church

Mere Mission

The Beatles' Spiritual Journeys

Faith-Based Activism

Editorial

Go Gently into That Good Night

Sex Isn't Work

News

Child Sex Tours

The Scandal of Forgiveness

A Tale of Five Herods

Editorial

Reviewing the Fundamentals

News

Passages

News

Christianity Today News Briefs

News

Quotation Marks

Fleeing Nineveh

Blue Law Special

News

Go Figure

News

Status Quota

Ghost Growth

The Year Conservatives Saved Christmas

Spoils of Victory

The Pain at New Life

Devastated by an Affair

Salvation Army Wins Battle

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The Bulletin

Young Republican Texts, Anglican Split, and George Santos Released

Controversial Republican texts, Anglican Communion splits, and George Santos’s sentence is commuted.

Review

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A Lutheran pastor identifies five false teachings that threaten to corrupt the church’s public witness.

Highlights and Lowlights of 1957

In its first full year of publication, CT looked at Civil Rights, Cold War satellites, artificial insemination, and carefully planned evangelism.

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Will There Be a Christian Super Bowl Halftime Show?

Conservatives suggest country and Christian artist alternatives for game day.

News

As Madagascar’s Government Topples, Pastors Call for Peace

Gen Z–led protests on the African island nation led to a military takeover.

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Amid Fragile Cease-Fire, Limited Aid Reaches Gazans

Locals see the price of flour rise and fall as truce is strained and some borders remain closed.

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Federal Job Cuts Hit Home as Virginia Picks Its Next Governor

Meanwhile, the GOP candidate draws from Trump’s playbook to focus on transgender issues in schools. 

Religious OCD and Me

Scrupulosity latches onto the thing we hold most dear—our relationship with God.

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