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Crossroads Podcast: Have Abortion Clinics Become More Sacred Than Churches?

Crossroads Podcast: Have Abortion Clinics Become More Sacred Than Churches?

On Jan. 18, a cell of anti-ICE demonstrators crashed a Sunday service at the Cities Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in St. Paul, Minnesota. Debates about the legality of this protest have been defined by the Red vs. Blue divide in American politics, which has dominated the Donald Trump era. On the cultural right, this protest was seen as a violation of the First Amendment religious-liberty rights of the worshippers. On the left, efforts to prosecute the activists were seen as a violation of their First Amendment free-speech rights.

Grassroots Push To Designate June As ‘Fidelity Month’ Expands

Grassroots Push To Designate June As ‘Fidelity Month’ Expands

A grassroots movement to designate June as “Fidelity Month” is gaining support from faith leaders, public officials and advocates who say it promotes faithfulness to God, family, community and country, encouraging Americans to reclaim values they believe are foundational to a thriving society.

Chatbots And The Soul: Has AI Transformed Religion?

Chatbots And The Soul: Has AI Transformed Religion?

(ANALYSIS) It seemed inevitable that the first encyclical from the first American pope, the forward-looking and worldly-wise Leo XIV, would focus on the growing furor over artificial intelligence. The pope’s encyclical comes as the culmination of various articles during recent weeks about the implications of AI on faith, ethics and morals.

More Than Just A Game: Why Soccer Is Very Much Like A Global Religion

More Than Just A Game: Why Soccer Is Very Much Like A Global Religion

Soccer’s global reach and emotional intensity have long invited comparisons to religion. Both scholars and fans testify that the analogy is more than just a metaphor. From local club loyalties to the sweeping unity of the World Cup, the game functions in ways that closely resemble systems of shared belief, ritual and identity.

Why Is The Church Ignoring The Growing Sports Gambling Crisis?

Why Is The Church Ignoring The Growing Sports Gambling Crisis?

Online sports gambling is sweeping the nation, luring Americans with promises of harmless fun, easy money, and community. And Christians are not immune — many have embraced it as morally acceptable. But as addiction rates climb, few ministries or churches appear to be stepping in to help.

Christianity, News, North America, Solutions, Society, SportsMakella KnowlesMay 30, 2026Makella Knowles, news, sports, sports gambling, churches, Christianity, sport, recharge, Secondary featureComment

A Faith-Based Movement Is Destroying Guns — And Making Them Garden Tools

A Faith-Based Movement Is Destroying Guns — And Making Them Garden Tools

Guns to Gardens has been turning unwanted firearms into garden tools and art for over a decade. Since 2013, this faith-based safe disposal movement has destroyed and repurposed an estimated 13,000-plus guns across the country. The guns are clamped to a table, cut apart and transformed into a pick mattock — a hand tool for loosening soil.

Christianity, Crime, News, North America, Society, SolutionsAlma BeauvaisMay 30, 2026Alma Beauvais, Christianity, news, Menonite, guns, violence, Primary feature, recharge, Secondary feature Comment

‘Show Us!’: The Myth Of The ‘Real Catholic’ Voter

‘Show Us!’: The Myth Of The ‘Real Catholic’ Voter

(ANALYSIS) In the data from 2024, 57% of white evangelicals were weekly attenders compared to 25% of white Catholics. So not controlling for attendance gives us a much different sample when analyzing evangelicals and Catholics.

Crossroads Podcast: The Pope, The Press And AI

Crossroads Podcast: The Pope, The Press And AI

In this week’s episode, we tackle Pope Leo’s first encyclical and what it means for AI, politics and, more importantly, Catholic doctrine.

📰 Lessons Learned In High School Journalism Class Still Resonate 🔌

📰 Lessons Learned In High School Journalism Class Still Resonate 🔌

At the 40th anniversary of his 1986 high school graduation, our Weekend Plug-in columnist reflects on the journalism lessons he learned as a student — and which still resonate with him four decades later.

Pope Leo Positions AI As The Biggest Test Of Christian Ethics

Pope Leo Positions AI As The Biggest Test Of Christian Ethics

(ANALYSIS) With the release of his encyclical letter “Magnifica Humanitas” on May 25, Pope Leo XIV has signaled that he wants the church to respond to artificial intelligence much as a predecessor, Pope Leo XIII, responded to upheavals during the Industrial Revolution over a century ago.

Are Americans Hearing More About Politics From The Pulpit?

Are Americans Hearing More About Politics From The Pulpit?

A new Pew Research survey shows that at least some political messages emerge during sermons or formal teaching from clergy — but most churchgoers aren’t aware of their pastor’s political leanings.

Meet The Basketball-Loving Nuns Who Are Taking The NBA Playoffs By Storm

Meet The Basketball-Loving Nuns Who Are Taking The NBA Playoffs By Storm

The NBA playoffs are not usually the place where one finds Catholic nuns. But that’s exactly what happened after a group of Salesian Sisters from San Antonio were spotted courtside in Spurs jerseys. In an era when viral moments are often manufactured, the sisters’ online popularity has resonated because of its sincerity. Videos circulating across social media captured their enthusiasm.

Parental Challenges And Stress Impact Bible Engagement

Parental Challenges And Stress Impact Bible Engagement

Parents are open to Scripture engagement, but are stymied by challenges including work/family balance, fatigue and financial provision, the American Bible Society said in its latest release from the 2026 State of the Bible.

Canadians See Split Between Religious Beliefs and Truth

Canadians See Split Between Religious Beliefs and Truth

The new State of Theology in Canada Study surveyed more than 3,000 Canadians on 35 questions. Conducted by Lifeway Research and sponsored by Ligonier Ministries, the study sought to gauge the theological and cultural beliefs prominent in Canada.

‘Cast Aside The Clouds’ Shines A Light On Iran And The Bahá’í Faith

‘Cast Aside The Clouds’ Shines A Light On Iran And The Bahá’í Faith

(REVIEW) A “Romeo and Juliet” style love story, “Cast Aside The Clouds” that protests how religious intolerance — such as the kind regularly levied against the Baháʼí people in Iran — threatens love by targeting innocent people for oppression.

Pope Leo Declares AI The Moral Crisis Of The Modern Age

Pope Leo Declares AI The Moral Crisis Of The Modern Age

(ANALYSIS) In his first encyclical, Pope Leo XIV warned that artificial intelligence poses a profound threat to human dignity, labor and global stability if left unchecked. Calling for strong regulation and ethical oversight, he condemned AI-driven warfare, corporate concentration of power and profit-first development, framing AI as this century’s Industrial Revolution.

When Religion Is Missing: The Trouble With Measuring Happiness

When Religion Is Missing: The Trouble With Measuring Happiness

(ANALYSIS) Measuring happiness is a real problem for social scientists. It’s an area of intense interest because I think all of us would like to be just a little bit happier. But it all seems pretty subjective and transient at some level, right? Take the often hyped-up “World Happiness Report,” published annually by Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre in partnership with Gallup.

Analysis, News, Religion, SocietyRyan BurgeMay 25, 2026Ryan Burge, analysis, happiness, faith, wealth, Primary feature, rechargeComment

What Jefferson And Madison Would Have Thought About ‘Rededicate 250’

What Jefferson And Madison Would Have Thought About ‘Rededicate 250’

(ANALYSIS) Thousands of Americans prayed on the National Mall on May 17, during “Rededicate 250”: a day-long rally to “come together in prayer and worship ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday,” as organizers described it. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, one of many Republican politicians and conservative Christian leaders to speak, led a prayer to “rededicate the United States of America as one nation under God.”

Crossroads Podcast: Alex Cooper Is Pregnant, But What Do Her Disciples Say?

Crossroads Podcast: Alex Cooper Is Pregnant, But What Do Her Disciples Say?

No one who has followed trends in the powerful world of podcasting was surprised by the headlines following Alex Cooper’s announcement that, after raising eyebrows by getting married to a stud Hollywood producer, she is now happily pregnant. Consider the following background information from the buzzy New York Times story that served as the hook for this week’s “Crossroads” podcast.

New Study Shows Christians Trust AI For Their Spiritual Growth

New Study Shows Christians Trust AI For Their Spiritual Growth

Move over, pastors. New research reveals your counseling and pastoral care may no longer be needed. A new study shows that congregations might increasingly be turning to AI to deal with their spiritual needs and help with personal growth. The research shows 1 in 3 adults now believes AI's spiritual guidance is just as trustworthy as that of a pastor.