DinnerDialogue.com is a free service of Family Matters. Its purpose is to bring deeper and more open discussions to your family. Every weekday brings new news that opens up topics for discussion on moral, ethical and spiritual issues.

TODAY'S DIALOGUE - December 4, 2002
This page is updated weekdays by 2 pm PT.

Surprisingly Few Adults Outside of Christianity Have Positive Views of Christians - Barna
One reason why evangelical churches across the nation are not growing is due to the image that non-Christian adults have of evangelical individuals. In a nationwide survey released by the Barna Research Group of Ventura, California among a representative sample of people who do not consider themselves to be Christian, the image of "evangelicals" rated tenth out of eleven groups evaluated, beating out only prostitutes. The non-Christian population was not as dismissive of all Christians or religious people, however, as ministers and "born again Christians" were among the three highest-rated segments evaluated.

Also, check out where clurgy ranks in the latest Gallup study.

• Looking at the results of these studies, why do you think clergy and evangelicals ranked where they did?
  
  
• Should the public's view of Christians be high or low? Explain. What would it reveal about Christians if they ranked high? What if they ranked low? How does 1 Corinthians 2:14-15, 1 John 3:13 and Matthew 10:34-36 affect your views?
  
  
• Can you live a life that glorifies God and still give Christianity a good name among non-Christians? Explain. (Matthew 22:34-40)
  

Check out the Home Grown Heroes by Tim Kimmel (proceeds go toward DinnerDialogue and Family Matters).

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SIDE ORDERS - other news

Reagan is 'greatest living American' - Washington Times
Indeed, former President Reagan was voted top dog, followed by former President Jimmy Carter, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, "my dad" and finally former President Bill Clinton, respectively.

Christian Music Gets Hip -
The rhymes of Jay-Z and Eminem may be burning up the charts, but there's something else that's taking teens — and the business — by storm: Christian music.

A New Crusade? -
The nation's leading evangelical Christians have been thundering against Islam, both from the pulpit and on television.

Radio City Christmas is a treat -- until it decends into preachiness - Star-Telegram
But to lure spectators of all faiths (and non-faiths) with the promise of an entertaining holiday revue, and then to ambush them with Christian theology, is dated and borderline offensive, especially at a time when understanding of other cultures and beliefs is more important than ever.

Judge's Biblical Monument Is Ruled Unconstitutional - New York Times (free registration required)
Civil liberties groups accused Justice Moore of turning a courthouse into a church. But his popularity only grew. Not long ago, Justice Moore was a little-known county judge with a homemade plaque of the Ten Commandments tacked to his courtroom wall. Now he was an Alabama folk hero.

LEFTOVERS - previous dialogues

Monday - December 2, 2002

Choosing Virginity

Tuesday - November 19, 2002

Study finds steady fall in benevolence

Monday - November 18, 2002

Cell Phone Users Need to Call Miss Manners

Thursday - November 14, 2002

New Cars Include Black Boxes

Wednesday - November 13, 2002

Party planning Potter protest

Monday - October 21, 2002

Cosmetic Surgery

Tuesday - October 15, 2002

This Just In: Skunks Stink

Thursday - October 10, 2002

Apparently, money can buy happiness.

Click here for more Leftovers