📰 ‘Our Job Is Not To Cover Up Sin’: Reporter Jerry Mitchell On Faith And Journalism 🔌

Legendary journalist Jerry Mitchell reflects on faith and journalism. “The church is supposed to take care of sin,” Mitchell says. “We’re not supposed to wink at it or cover it up.”

Crossroads Podcast: Marriage Isn’t Dead — But Reporting On It Might Be

This old-school journalism issue loomed over this week’s “Crossroads” podcast as we discussed a new essay in The Atlantic — “Why Marriage Survives” — by sociologist Brad Wilcox, director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia.

Understanding Who — And What — Chaplains Are Varies Widely

(ANALYSIS) There is an ongoing push to make chaplains available in public schools across the United States. Chaplains, also called spiritual caregivers, are religious professionals who work in secular institutions and can be of any tradition or none at all. Indiana is currently considering a bill that would allow chaplains in public schools to provide “support services.”

Beyond Brute Strength: A New Look At Samson’s Search For Intimacy

(ANALYSIS) By reevaluating the Samson narrative, readers can move beyond the one-dimensional portrayal of him as an overly masculine brute. His story is not just one of strength but also of longing and deep emotional vulnerability. His riddle may not be a challenge meant to humiliate his enemies, but an expression of personal connection.

On Religion: How The Trump Era Transformed Colbert’s Satire Into Sermon

(ANALYSIS) While Stephen Colbert retains a faithful congregation, some fans who loved his sly blend of satire and progressive Catholicism mourn his decision to preach to only half of America, said media scholar Terry Lindvall, author of "God Mocks: A History of Religious Satire from the Hebrew Prophets to Stephen Colbert,” published in 2015.

Dealing With Harsh Realities Of Life: Being Thoughtful With Christian Ethics

(REVIEW) The book presents a Christian framework for everyday life that may resonate with readers of various faiths. However, the writing quality is uneven; while some chapters are accessible, others use complex language that may be challenging for some readers. Despite its limitations, this collection is worth reading in an age marked by AI, anxiety and burnout.

Tribunal Launched To Confront Taliban’s War On Afghan Women

(ANALYSIS) A coalition of civil society organizations announced the launch of the People’s Tribunal for Women of Afghanistan, an initiative to address the impunity for the dire situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.

Another 2024 Election Surprise: US Muslims (Also) Shifted Republican

(ANALYSIS) Among the little-noticed aspects of the 2024 U.S. election is Muslims’ substantial 33% vote for Donald Trump — with a remarkable 42% backing from those who attend mosque weekly. That’s an increase from past elections.

When Shepherds Are Hunted: The Killing of Priests in Kenya’s Kerio Valley

The murders this past May in Kenya of two Catholic priests reflecst a global context in which clergy, who have always lived among the poor and on the peripheries, are now being hunted. In many areas around the world where the state has receded, faith often becomes the last visible institution — and the first to be attacked. From the Americas to Africa, religious workers have become marked men and women.

First Amendment Fight: Football And Faith Could Return To The Supreme Court

The case of a high school football coach praying on the field has been in the spotlight since the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling. But another football controversy first emerged in 2015, when two Christian schools made it to the state championships. The games were run by the state’s athletic association. Officials barred them from conducting a prayer over the loudspeaker before kickoff.

🗞️ My 35 Years In Full-Time Journalism: What’s Changed And What Hasn’t 🔌

Weekend Plug-in columnist Bobby Ross Jr. reflects on his 35 years in full-time journalism. It started with the editor of a small-town Oklahoma newspaper taking a chance on him.

Crossroads Podcast: Apparently, More Americans Are Attending Church

In the post-pandemic era, it appears that more and more Americans are conducting their spiritual searches in multiple sets of pews or, perhaps, attending one church in person and another via digital streaming. It’s a seeker-friendly, mix-and-match approach.

Analysis, Christianity, North America, SocietyTerry MattinglyAugust 8, 2025church attendance, news, Christianity, podcast, analysis, Terry MattinglyComment

Why ‘Young Washington’ And ‘The Resurrection Of The Christ’ Are Bigger Than You Think

(ANALYSIS) Two recent announcements about two upcoming faith-based releases that could be game-changers for the industry: Angel Studios and The Wonder Project’s “Young Washington” and Mel Gibson’s “The Resurrection of the Christ.” While the announcements have mostly gone under the radar, they have the potential to upend the Hollywood landscape as we know it for a long time to come.

Holy Shirt: Wearing Your Faith — And Letting It Speak

(ANALYSIS) What’s your most evangelistic T-shirt? I’ve got a bunch from my church — youth camps where I was a counselor, mission trips, Leadership Training for Christ. But the T-shirt that gets the most comments simply says “Jesus ♥ You.”

Analysis, Christianity, Culture, News, North AmericaErik TryggestadAugust 7, 2025Erik Tryggestad, news, Christianity, Secondary featureComment

On Religion: Vatican Gathers Global Creators To Rethink Online Evangelism

(ANALYSIS) With a nod to digital life, Merriam-Webster has expanded its “influencer” definition to include a “person who is able to generate interest in something (such as a consumer product) by posting about it on social media.” Pope Leo XIV didn't use that term in his latest remarks on faith in the internet age, even while addressing the recent Vatican Jubilee for Digital Missionaries and Influencers.

Pope Leo XIV Urges Youth Toward Real Relationships In A Digital Age

(ANALYSIS) In a summer when world leaders debate regulation of artificial intelligence and digital platforms scramble to retain user trust, Pope Leo XIV is offering a different vision — rooted not in control but in communion, not in efficiency but in encounter. Over a million young people under the Roman twilight, that invitation resonated — not as nostalgia, but as a hopeful step into the future.

How Do We Find Happiness?

(ANALYSIS) Ask Harvard University. But first, British philosopher John Locke said each person has God-given rights to life, liberty, and property. America’s Declaration of Independence replaced “property” with “the Pursuit of Happiness” as among humans’ “unalienable Rights … endowed by their Creator.” On the brink of the Declaration’s 250th anniversary, just how can happiness be pursued?

Analysis, Society, Religion, ScienceRichard OstlingAugust 6, 2025richard ostling, Richard Ostling, Dick Ostling, analysis, happiness, religion, HarvardComment

The Situation In Gaza Requires Urgent International Attention

(ANALYSIS) The situation in Gaza requires urgent attention and response from the international community — to prevent further civilian suffering and death. While some steps have been taken to provide humanitarians assistance, as it stands, the steps appear to be too little and too late to address the current and ever-growing needs of the population.

Why Christian Transhumanism Is Neither Christian Nor Human

(ANALYSIS) Christian transhumanism sounds like a contradiction — because it is. For years, transhumanism has been tied to atheism. Man becoming god. Machines replacing miracles. But now, a strange movement is growing in America. Some believers argue that resurrection and uploading your mind aren't so different. That eternal life through tech is an upgrade, not heresy.

A Deep Dive Into The Presbyterian Church In America

(ANALYSIS) PCA folks, it’s your moment — few denominations punch above their weight online like you do. Here’s why.

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