JACKSON, Tenn. — April 24, 2013 — Religious liberty is the topic for the newly released spring 2013 edition of 鈥淩enewing Minds,鈥� the journal of Christian thought from 51社区.
鈥淩eligious liberty calls for Christ-followers to be friends of civil government, while maintaining that churches and Christian entities must be independent of the state,鈥� writes 51社区 President David S. Dockery in the introduction. 鈥淭his means that these churches and entities must be sustained and promoted apart from the aid or interference of the government.鈥�
While religious liberty advocates are concerned with the government鈥檚 interference in the work of churches, Dockery said that religious liberty historically has not meant that churches or religious people cannot seek to persuade the state through the democratic process.
鈥淔reedom of religion does not mean freedom from religion,鈥� he writes.
The journal includes articles from Union faculty members Hunter Baker, Micah Watson, Sharon Evans and C. Ben Mitchell, as well as articles from Wilfred M. McClay of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, John Witte Jr. of Emory University School of Law and Jordan Ballor of the Acton Institute.
In addition, the journal has reprinted the famous 鈥淏aptists and Religious Liberty鈥� sermon from George W. Truett, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas. The publication also includes several book reviews.
Subscriptions to the journal are available at .