Before we get to the serious part of this post, this seems like the perfect time to ask: Have you read Eric Metaxas' humorous take on the #TrumpBible?
Back in the less-funny world, The Donald's faith — or lack thereof, depending on whom you ask — is making headlines again this week.
Thank Republican challenger Dr. Ben Carson for that.
Anaheim, California (CNN) In the end, it was the most mild-mannered of the presidential candidates who may have dealt the most searing blow so far to Donald Trump.
In a fascinating twist to the 2016 Republican presidential race, neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson essentially threw down the gauntlet Wednesday and asked evangelical Republicans to choose sides by questioning the authenticity of Trump's faith. Speaking to reporters before a large rally here in Anaheim, Carson was asked by a reporter how he was different from Trump.
His answer was short and direct.
"Probably the biggest thing -- I've realized where my success has come from and I don't in anyway deny my faith in God," Carson said.
He explained what he meant by quoting what he said was one of his favorite bible verses.
"By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life and that's a very big part of who I am. I don't get that impression with him," Carson said of Trump. "Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't get that."
For my tastes, that lede is too opinionated. An impartial journalist ought to report what the candidates said, put the statements into proper context and let the audience decide whether someone dealt a "searing blow." Right?
Meanwhile, did you spot the pesky, recurring journalism style issue in that opening section? One that we highlighted here at GetReligion just last week?
Once again, we have a mainstream media report referring to a lowercase "bible" — even though the Associated Press Stylebook calls for capitalizing it. (Later in the story, CNN does capitalize Bible. So maybe somebody was typing in a hurry?)
Keep reading, and CNN commits a few more sins against the AP Stylebook — known as "the journalist's bible." (And yes, lowercase "bible" is proper when using that word as a nonreligious term.)
See if you can identify the style error here:
Carson, who is a Seventh Day Adventist, has made faith a cornerstone of his campaign message. Powered by the backing of evangelicals, Carson is polling highly in Iowa, a state where about half of caucus-goers this winter are expected to be born-again Christians.
Is the lowercase "evangelicals" the problem? Nope, that's the correct AP style (someone might want to let Trump know):
Here's the issue: "Seventh-day Adventists" with a hyphen and lowercase "d" is the right usage for that denomination, according to the stylebook.
One more style sin from CNN:
Trump said people had been shocked when they found out that he was protestant. "I am Presbyterian. And I got to church and I love God and I love my church."
Yes, Presbyterian is rightly capitalized. But "Protestant" should be, too.
Here's the AP Stylebook entry:
Protestant, Protestantism Capitalize these words when they refer either to denominations formed as a result of the break from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century or to the members of these denominations.
Church groups covered by the term include Anglican, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Quaker denominations. See separate entries for each.
Protestant is not applied to Christian Scientists, Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons.
Do not use Protestant to describe a member of an Eastern Orthodox church. Use a phrase such as Orthodox Christian instead.
Got all that?
Ain't religion journalism style fun?
Granted, it's not nearly as fun as the #TrumpBible. But we can't help it. Sometimes, we just like to #PartyLikeAJournalist.