(ANALYSIS) When I was in graduate school our program required each student to have two majors and a minor field. I knew one of my major fields was going to be American politics — that was an easy choice. I was also made aware that it was easier to get a job teaching public administration than traditional political science because the positions were relatively plentiful and the number of grad students with training in PA were low, so I picked that up as a second major.
Read MoreWeekend Plug-in columnist Bobby Ross Jr. is passionate about Major League Baseball. In recent years, his love for the game has inspired him to delve into the trend of MLB teams hosting faith days.
Read MoreThe Texas Rangers’ recent “Faith and Family Day” was not the team’s first. But for multiple reasons, the latest one became a culture war flashpoint — stirring debate across the country and on social media, sparking comments by everyone from the governor of Texas to the Catholic bishop of Fort Worth. June is dedicated to LGBTQ Pride, and other sports teams often set aside a night to celebrate.
Read MoreBethany Christian Services has reversed its 2021 policy allowing LGBTQ couples to foster and adopt, reaffirming a traditional Christian definition of marriage. The decision raises questions about religious liberty, employment and legal challenges, media coverage and the broader struggle of faith-based organizations navigating cultural and political conflicts.
Read More(REVIEW) “Just One More” has its heart in the right place. But it is held back by a preachy Christian filmmaking culture that leans on telling, not showing.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Clashing rainbow symbols recently created a storm in Major League Baseball when powers wielded by team owners clashed with the religious beliefs of players. The big question: Can the biblical rainbow coexist on the same Pride Night baseball cap with the today’s rainbow celebrating LGBTQ+ rights?
Read More(REVIEW) Steven Spielberg’s latest film “Disclosure Day” asks how people of faith would deal with finding out aliens are real. Sadly, one gets the distinct impression that Spielberg didn’t talk to any religious people when deciding his answer. Spielberg is responsible for some of the most iconic movies about aliens and faith ever made.
Read MoreA federal judge dismissed a class-action lawsuit accusing Texas megachurch Gateway Church and former senior pastor Robert Morris of misrepresenting tithing expenditures, marking a significant legal victory for the scandal-plagued congregation.
Read MoreA Rastafarian lost his challenge before the U.S. Supreme Court to seek monetary damages against Louisiana prison guards who forcibly shaved his head, in a case that saw the trio of liberal justices upholding religious liberty.
Read MoreThe faith of Generation Z frequently draws them to church on Sunday but often fails to shape their lives during the week.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The Kane Parsons film “Backrooms” has captivated audiences since it hit theaters in May. The movie — a horror film about liminal spaces based on internet mythology — also taps into a series of religious ideas that have existed for centuries, particularly concepts such as purgatory, limbo and salvation.
Read MoreAfter decades of silence, Spain and the Catholic Church have agreed on a compensation deal for victims of clergy sexual abuse. For survivors, it is a long-awaited recognition—but also a reminder that justice remains incomplete.
Read More(ANALYSIS) For decades after Supreme Court rulings barred school-sponsored prayer and Bible reading, faith remained present in public schools through student-led religious expression and community culture. Now, a series of new state laws mandating displays like the Ten Commandments are testing long-standing church-state boundaries and reigniting debate.
Read MoreAs we celebrate the U.S.’s 250th birthday, the question of whether or not America is a Christian nation continues to show its face. Three professors try to provide an answer in Religion Unplugged’s latest podcast.
Read More(OPINION) In their legitimate efforts to oppose tyranny, many Iranian Christians are dangerously mixing politics, nationalism and their Christian faith. Christian leaders present Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as the best, or even the divinely appointed, option for Iran’s transition and churches are displaying the Iranian flag during worship services.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Whether cities or villages, many communities across Europe spend the day and night of June 24 celebrating Midsummer. Congregating around bonfires, or sometimes maypoles, sporting handwoven wreaths of wildflowers or oak leaves, they’ll sing, jump, dance, eat, drink, catch up and celebrate the arrival of the longest day of the year.
Read MoreFinding a lifelong partner is no easy feat — but finding someone who shares the same morals and values is all the more challenging. A series of dating apps across several religions are combining tradition and technology to match singles with a desire for marriage built on a shared faith foundation.
Read More(ANALYSIS) One lesson from the study is that people may apply political principles differently depending on where they see their own group in a conflict. Indian American politics therefore cannot be understood only through U.S. party identity. A person may support the Democrats in the United States and Modi in India because the two political settings place that person’s group in different positions.
Read MoreNine members of Beijing’s Zion Church have been released on bail after more than eight months in detention, while nine remaining church leaders now face more serious criminal charges in one of China’s most closely watched religious freedom cases.
Read MoreThe Iran war has triggered several instances of unity among Sunnis and Shiites — two major Muslim groups that have historically been at odds. Young people lead the displays of solidarity, finding a common cause in the wake of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s assassination.
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