UNC Grads Cheer Eric Church’s Message On Faith And Finding Purpose

(ANALYSIS) When addressing the 2026 graduates of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, country music star Eric Church used words rarely heard in secular campus rites, such as “faith,” “family,” “grace” and “soul.”

2 Years Later, Opinions On Trans Rights Have Barely Budged

(ANALYSIS) If one were to ask 100 informed voters about the types of issues at the center of the Culture War debate, I think that 20 years ago two would clearly be the front runners: Gay marriage and abortion.

San Diego Mosque Shooting Shows How Online Hate Contributes To Islamophobia

(ANALYSIS) Many Muslim Americans are fearful following a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego that left three worshipers dead. Investigators reportedly found hate speech and anti-Islamic writing inside the vehicle of the suspected shooters, who killed themselves soon after the attack.

‘Rededicate 250’: 5 Things We Learned From The Prayer Rally

(ANALYSIS) “Rededicate 250” was billed as a prayer rally celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. But the event on the National Mall also became a revealing snapshot of how faith, politics and national identity are increasingly intertwined during the Trump era.

America’s Musical Founding Father: How ‘Liberty Songs’ Helped Fuel Revolution

(ANALYSIS) As July 4, approaches, Americans will be paying more attention than usual to events of 1776: the year the American Colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. Public historians, including filmmaker Ken Burns, have tried to offer a more inclusive view of the American Revolution, highlighting lesser-known patriots.

AI Can Generate Text, But Is It Really Writing?

(ANALYSIS) From Enheduanna to Plato and Aristotle, ancient thinkers viewed writing as a deeply human act that expresses experience and transforms audiences. AI may generate convincing text, but lacking thought, emotion and lived experience, it may produce something closer to “generwriting” than true writing.

Trump’s ‘Rededicate 250’ Prayer Gathering Highlight’s US Divisions

(ANALYSIS) As the United States approaches its 250th birthday this summer, the fight over “Rededicate 250” underscores a deeper question about the future of American democracy: Can a nation that is religiously diverse maintain a shared civic identity without elevating one tradition — in this case Christianity — above all others?

‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ Shows How Christian Imagery Circulates In Unusual Ways

(ANALYSIS) While neither of the “Devil Wears Prada” movies revolve around Christianity, the invocation of the devil taps into an older moral rhetoric. For centuries, fashion was cast as the troublesome, if not villainous, enemy of a pure and spiritual Christianity — a symbol of putting material desires before holy ones. For example, 18th-century cleric and founder of Methodism John Wesley urged his followers to show their faith by dressing “plainly.”

Crossroads Podcast: Trump’s China Trip And Questions About Religious Freedom

The Big Idea for this podcast? The social-credits system shifted into high gear the year after China, in 2018, launched sweeping new regulations to crush religious activities that lacked formal government approval. Digital technology is at the heart of China’s efforts to control the beliefs of its citizens.

The Cherokee Bible Offers A Window Between Spiritual Worldviews

(ANALYSIS) Perhaps even more importantly, the Cherokee Bible offers insight into Cherokee-specific meanings, interpretations of spiritual concepts and a benchmark for understanding how the language has changed. Though the history of the relationship between Christian missionaries and Indigenous people is complex, this historic text is supporting an impressive contemporary wave of cultural renewal.

Angels, Demons And Lots Of Theological Questions About UFOs

(ANALYSIS) For centuries, stargazers of many kinds have debated the meaning of unidentified objects in the heavens and encounters with mysterious beings on earth. “Each new discovery, even every new theory, is held at first to have the most wide-reaching theological and philosophical consequences.

Are Big Churches As Healthy As Small Ones?

What does a Church's size say about its health? Matthew Peterson speaks with Karl Vaters, author of "De-Sizing the Church" to find out in this week’s podcast.

The Anti-Abortion Democrat Has Become A Politically Endangered Species

(ANALYSIS) Abortion has become a defining partisan issue, with Republicans generally anti-abortion and Democrats pro-abortion rights. Yet lawmakers like Charlie Baker, Susan Collins and Bob Casey show exceptions can succeed in some states. At the same time, long-term polling reveals growing support for abortion access across most religious groups.

Theocratic Visions and Liberal Vacuums: Iran’s Crisis of Meaning

(ANALYSIS) Liberal democracies promise freedom and prosperity, yet they often struggle to answer a deeper question: What is this freedom for? When shared narratives and moral horizons fade, individuals may experience fragmentation and a loss of meaning. Politics shrinks into technocratic management.

‘Joke Is On Me’: Russell Brand’s Salvation Tour Comes With A $33 Price Tag

(ANALYSIS) Russell Brand, the erudite Englishman, is scheduled to stand trial in the U.K. on three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He has pleaded not guilty to everything. He has also, in the meantime, become a Christian, moved to Florida and now he wants you to buy his book.

How Birth Control Became Part of America’s Midcentury Protestant Family Values

(ANALYSIS) Mother’s Day seems like a strange time to celebrate birth control, which, on its most basic level, is about helping people to not become mothers — or not become mothers again.

How Does Faith Influence Decisions About Marriage And Family?

(ANALYSIS) The general admonition is the same in many faith communities: Try to marry someone who shares your faith background. That’s certainly a well-established norm in Jewish communities.

Crossroads Podcast: How Much Does Faith Really Impact Mental Health?

Polls and news coverage explaining the voting habits of “evangelicals” are haunted by the same kinds of questions. Define an “evangelical” voter. Please.

A Chronic US Blind Spot: Iran’s Religious Motivations For War

(ANALYSIS) The United States is on the verge of being burned again for not seeing the importance of religious belief driving human behavior in global conflicts. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is not defending Iran as a state but its version of Islam as a global religion.

An Orthodox Monastery Builds An American Tradition Deep In West Virginia

(ANALYSIS) There is nothing unusual about turning a corner in West Virginia's maze of rough mountain roads and seeing churches with plain white walls and big porches. The new sanctuary at the Hermitage of the Holy Cross — 10 miles of twists and turns into a holler outside the town of Wayne — offers a variation on that vision. Its green-metal roof has domes resembling medieval Russian helmets, topped with golden cupolas and soaring Slavic crosses.

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