The discourse of "sin" has no place in the political culture of a liberal democracy. Such discourse lends support to the historical fiction of America as a "Christian nation," and limits morality as the special province of the religious.

This year, change.org had a petition drive to protest Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz' plans to speak on leadership at Willow Creek, which was described as having a "long history of anti-gay persecution."

Moral Debt, Prayer, Abortion, Evolution, Homosexuality, Scripture, Wisdom, and Gabby Giffords -- it has been a busy week on HuffPost Religion.

Baptists have been talking a lot about sexuality lately. And for once, I'm slightly more hopeful and impressed than I am frightened and appalled. Though, the messages are still mixed.

We can stand for love and responsible relationships, in all its shapes and sizes, as a positive moral force, or risk losing the gains of the past half-century to fear and control.

When it comes right down to it, we'd all like to have a purpose, a reason for being here. Yet, when some are told that they aren't what God intended, the pain is raw, their purpose ostensibly less so.