American Idols and Saints

Newsweek, Fox News, and others debate whether the “Christian viewer vote” has become too powerful.

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Previous Christianity Today articles on television and American Idol include:

An ‘Idol’ with Soul | Jason Castro only finished third on ‘American Idol,’ but this fan favorite—and committed Christian—is a solid songwriter whose debut album recently released. (April 27, 2010)

Behind the Idols | An interview with Mandisa and Phil Stacey. (May 1, 2008)

Idol Worship? | Christians continue to shine on American Idol even as Christian alternatives to the popular show crop up. Can they co-exist? Can both bring glory to God? (December 17, 2007)

CT previously spotlighted Haiti, Robert Park, persecution, Supreme Court and crosses, international religious liberty advocates, and church violence.

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.

May

Christianity Today May, 2010

Cover Story

A Candle in the Darkness

Review

Living God's Ongoing Story

A Family Affair

Joseph H. Hellerman

Get Thee Behind Me, Insecurity

Interview by Sarah Pulliam Bailey

My Top 5 Books on Prayer

Why Johnny Can't Read the Bible

News

Go Figure

Compiled by Ted Olsen

Review

Cross-Cultural Manners

Aaron M.G. Zimmerman

Origins and the Scientific Community

Karl Giberson, Stephen C. Meyer, and Marcus Ross

The Mission of Art

News

Asylum Surprise

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra

Wilson's Bookmarks

Faithful Presence

Interview by Christopher Benson

Ardor and Order

Excerpt

A Positive Life

News

Moroccan Crackdown

Books to Note

Same Sex, Different Marriage

Mollie Ziegler Hemingway

A Badly Broken Boarding School

From Bottom to Top

News

Court Says 'Under God' May Remain, Australia Bans ID, and Other News

Compiled by CT Staff

News

Passages

News

Sexual Slavery on Main Street

Elissa Cooper in Asheville, North Carolina

News

Quotation Marks

Compiled by Ted Olsen

Readers Write

News

Idaho's Impact

Editorial

The End of Religious Freedom?

A Christianity Today Editorial

Our Latest

Members of the National Guard patrol the National Mall on September 1, 2025.

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.

A prison wall with barbed wire

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.

Forrest Frank

Why Fans Trust Forrest Frank

Kelsey Kramer McGinnis

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

William Alfred Eddy

How a Missionary Family in Lebanon Produced an American Hero

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

A sparkling gold name tag

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

Mike Cosper, Clarissa Moll, Russell Moore

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

William King Eddy

Why an Early American Missionary Family Was Beloved in Lebanon

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

Glowing makeup brushes and lipstick.

Are Christians Hotter?

Kelsey Kramer McGinnis

The social media “Jesus glow” trend is just another kind of prosperity gospel.