2006 in Review, Part 1

Crosswalk News, a Christian news outlet, has made a list of the Top 10 Religion Stories of 2006, and it seems to me to be a bit problematic. It should be qualified that the perspective is distinctly American conservative evangelical.

10) Navy chaplain’s fight to pray in Jesus’ name
9) Darfur conflict ongoing; some Christian ministries leaving the area
8) Christian movies keep coming (End of the Spear, The Nativity, Facing the Giants)
7) Israeli/Lebanese conflict
6) Gnosticism Returns (Gospel of Judas & Da Vinci Code film)
5) Muslims offended by Danish cartoons; Pope’s speech
4) Episcopal Church divisions & losses
3) Rick Warren in the middle of divisive issues (global warming, AIDS, etc.)
2) Ted Haggard steps down from pastorate and Nat'l Assoc. of Evangelicals
1) Amish response to Pennsylvania schoolhouse shooting

I am pleased with their #1 choice, which should teach the Church a great deal about vengeance and forgiveness, but I am curious about a few omissions.

Certainly, Iraq was still a major faith issue in 2006. Where is it on the list?

How about the 2006 elections, in which evangelicals bolted the GOP in large numbers to hand Congressional control to the Democrat party?

Or the global warming debate, which was all over the news as never before?

Or the ongoing waste of time that is the "intelligent design" debate"?

Or the continuing problems associated with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina?

Or the ongoing problems with global poverty and AIDS?

I suppose no list is perfect, and if Crosswalk's list helps to spur reflection, then it may yet be a positive list.

On to Part 2 (Barna) or Part 3 (Western PA Conference).