The good news: Editors and publishers now know that their readers want to read about religion. The bad news: Editors and publishers now know that those readers are more likely to click on an inflammatory rehashed column on homosexuality, Islam, atheism, or evolution than on a deeply researched report that illuminates important but less controversial issues.

With fewer professional religion reporters on the beat, mainstream religion coverage is falling back to tropes and shop-worn narratives that we thought were being laid to rest, especially, “Religious people sure are crazy,” and, “Religious leaders condemn [insert current outrage here].” It’s not surprising that Jones’s name first spread through a wire service story prompted by a press release from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a group known for perpetual outrage.

A good op-ed piece. Read it all.