News

Quotation Marks

Recent remarks on book titles, weight loss, and more.

“On the Origin of Species … uh … with … oh God.”Richard Dawkins, when asked for the full title of Charles Darwin’s famous book (On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life). Dawkins was promoting a poll that found two-thirds of British Christians cannot name the first book of the New Testament.Source: BBC Radio 4

“To those Christians who have venomously and vomitously [sic] cursed the Court family and threatened bodily harm and assassination: In His name, I forgive you.” U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, approving the settlement of a Texas school board’s prayer lawsuit. The settlement lets students lead prayer at graduation but not football games, and bars teachers from participating.Source: Religion Clause

“Changing the name of the convention would require a great cost in dollars and in energy.”Jimmy Draper, chairman of a Southern Baptist Convention task force that recommended keeping the denomination’s name but encouraging the informal moniker “Great Commission Baptists.”Source: Baptist Press

“I am overweight. I am a terrible example to our people.”Rick Warren, who lost 60 pounds last year and hopes to lose another 30 in 2012. He has encouraged his congregation to participate in a massive weight-loss campaign.Source: USA Today

“We seem to be the first.”Niklas Raadstroem, playwright for the Gothenburg City Theatre in Sweden, on performing both the Old and New Testaments. In The Bible, a five-hour production, 15 actors play about 90 roles.Source: AFP

Copyright © 2012 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

Past “Quotation Marks” columns are available from March 2012, February 2012, January 2012, December 2011, November 2011, October 2011, September 2011, August 2011, July 2011, June 2011, May 2011, April 2011, March 2011, February 2011, and earlier issues of Christianity Today.

Check back for more from our March issue.

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

Is the Lord's Prayer a Christian Prayer?

News

Nontraditional Believers Recover Christian Community

Defending Scripture. Literally.

News

Violence in Nigeria: Breaking the Country's Fatal Deadlock

Discipling the Eyes Through Art in Worship

Review

Polarizing Politics by Defending the Declaration

Chuck Colson: Evangelicals Should Be Uniters, Not Dividers

'God Is Not a Genie in a Bottle': Ways We Misuse the Bible

My Top 5 Books on Christianity in North Korea

Review

Tolerance—Or Else: Coercive Attempts to Impose Secular Beliefs

Editorial

How Pastors' Ponzis Affect Our Gospel Witness

News

Mass Appeal: Evangelicals Copy More of Catholic Playbook to Oppose Contraception Ruling

Review

Blue Like Jazz

Do Pets Go to Heaven?

Becoming Donald Miller

What Good Grief Looks Like When a Daughter Dies

Excerpt

Connecting Christ

News

Sex Sect The Family Cleans House

News

Go Figure

Jesus Disappoints Everyone

Proof of a Good God: 'Crucified Under Pontius Pilate'

News

The Problem 'Son': Debate Continues Over Translating 'Son of God' for Muslims

News

Passages

Letters to the Editor

Journaling Grief: How Web-Based Publishing Is Changing Everything

Jesus Through Jewish Eyes

Books to Note

Wilson's Bookmarks

Employers Can Limit Employees' Speech, TBN’s Lawsuit, Bar Boots Catholic Group, and More News

News

Contract Concern: USAID Policy on Hiring Alarms Charities

Review

October Baby

Jeremy Lin, Tim Tebow, Josh Hamilton: Muscular Christianity's Newest Heroes

Interview: Why Sarah Macintosh Ran Away from CCM and Went Back

Review

Wrecking Ball

Review

The Clearing

Review

Feathers & Twine

Review

Songs of Praise & Scorn

View issue

Our Latest

High Time for an Honest Conversation about THC

Legal cannabis may be here to stay, but the Christian conversation is just getting started.

The National Guard Debate Needs a Dose of Honesty

Criticizing federal overreach while remaining silent about local failures does not serve the cause of justice.

News

Saudi Arabian Prison Frees Kenyan After ‘Blood Money’ Payout

A Christian mother relied on the Muslim practice of “diyat” to bring her son home alive.

Why Fans Trust Forrest Frank

The enormously popular Christian artist says he experienced miraculous healing. His parasocial friends say “amen.”

How a Missionary Family in Lebanon Produced an American Hero

Bill Eddy’s Arabic acumen served US interests and forged Middle East ties.

Eight Divine Names in One Glorious Passage

Hebrew terms for God appear across the Old Testament. The prophet Isaiah brings them all together.

The Bulletin

Venezuelan Boat Attack, Payday Loans, and USAID Fire Sale

The Bulletin discusses the attack on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat, predatory lending, and the destruction of items from cancelled USAID projects.

Why an Early American Missionary Family Was Beloved in Lebanon

Over five decades of multigenerational ministry, the Eddys pioneered health and educational outreach.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube