The Afterlife Isn’t Going Away: ‘Do You Believe People Have A Soul’

(ANALYSIS) One thing I am always probing the edges of is how deeply religion is embedded in each one of us. There’s a saying that bounces around the sociology of religion: “you may be done with religion but religion is not done with you.”

Lessons Learned After the Bomb Thrown Outside Mamdani’s Home

What can news consumers learn from this complicated drama? Surely it is a commentary on the age in which we live that many Americans laughed when they read the early New York Times headline about the terrorist attack that fizzled near the New York home of Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

🌎 Godbeat Globetrotting: 5 Memorable Moments In World Religion Reporting 🔌

Inevitably, international reporting trips produce a memorable moment, be it frightening, frantic or funny. Sometimes, the notable occurrence relates to the actual story. Other times, an indelible personal experience stands out.

As Iran War Expands, Some Christians See The Conflict Through Biblical Prophecies

(ANALYSIS) As the American and Israeli war with Iran unfolds, some American Christians are speaking of the conflict in biblical terms — mapping end-time prophecies on to current events in the Middle East. In a sermon on March 1, for example, John Hagee, founder of Christians United for Israel, described the war as part of a divine plan.

Medieval Europe’s Ideas About ‘Christendom’ And Power Were Not So Simple

(ANALYSIS) During the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 5, Paula White-Cain, senior adviser to the White House Office of Faith, introduced President Donald Trump as “the greatest champion of faith that we have ever had in the executive branch.” Taking the podium after her, Trump declared, “I’ve done more for religion than any other president.”

Episcopal Church Faces Stark Demographic Reality As Membership Declines

(ANALYSIS) Political scientist Ryan Burge warns the aging Episcopal Church faces steep membership decline, with two-thirds of members over 60 and few young adults joining. Leaders acknowledge shrinking numbers but reject predictions of institutional collapse, urging renewal and outreach as part of a broader decline among America’s mainline Protestant denominations.

Reel Faith Vs. Real Faith: Catholicism In The Movies Through The Years

(ANALYSIS) “Write what you know,” is advice given to many who feel inspired to take up the pen — or, these days, sit at a computer. When it comes to writing about religion, though, including the Catholic Church, it’s amazing how little some writers know (including those who are Catholic themselves). This is evident, where scenes depict liturgies or other expressions of faith and get them wrong.

Rich Irony: How A Marxist Philosopher Discovered The Limits Of Godlessness

(ANALYSIS) Alasdair MacIntyre’s journey from Marxism to Catholicism wasn’t a retreat from critique but its completion. He concluded that moral language collapsed without God, that virtue needs tradition and that societies survive only when they share a vision of what human life is ultimately for.

Church Leaders Call For Christians To Protest Trump

(ANALYSIS) Our polarized era features unique and quasi-religious devotion toward President Donald Trump from his MAGA base, set against profound hostility from foes of his words and deeds. Church leaders in that second camp, mostly mainline and liberal Protestants, have issued a new plea worth noting for the extent of its supporters and a markedly fierce denunciation of America’s “cruel and oppressive government.”

USCIRF’s Religious Freedom Report Sparks Dispute Over US Policy Critique

The report critiqued other branches of the U.S. government that have undercut protections for religious freedom. It criticized, for example, cuts to USAID programs, since many of those programs were specifically aimed at protecting religious freedom.

A New Supreme Leader: What Mojtaba Khamenei’s Rise Means For Iran

(ANALYSIS) The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader on Sunday marks a pivotal moment for the country’s political and religious future — and for the religious minorities who have long lived under the constraints of the Islamic Republic’s theocratic government. As the war rages on, it remains to be seen what his elevation means for Iran and the region.

The Moral Reasoning Gap In American Christianity

(ANALYSIS) One of the books I’ve read in the last couple of years that has really stuck with me is Jonathan Haidt’s “The Righteous Mind.” It’s a distillation of a lot of his work on how people manage to puzzle their way through tricky moral situations. For instance, he discusses the classic Heinz dilemma.

Analysis, Christianity, North America, Jewish, Judaism, IslamRyan BurgeMarch 7, 2026Ryan Burge, analysis, news, religion, Christianity, Jews, MuslimsComment

For Lou Holtz, Football Was His Job — But Faith Was The Real Purpose

(ESSAY) Lou Holtz’s story was about more than football. The sideline antics, his gravelly voice and the championships made him one of the most recognizable men in college football. To measure Holtz only by wins and trophies would miss the deeper truth about him. His life was built on something stronger — a Catholic faith that shaped nearly every decision he made.

🇨🇺 Feeding Bodies And Souls: Faith Sustains Cuban Farmer During Time Of Crisis 🔌

It’s a tough time for Christian farmer Jorge Sanchez. A U.S. blockade on oil shipments to this Caribbean island nation has spurred Cuba’s deepening humanitarian crisis.

Supreme Court Decision On California Gender Policy Highlights Media Divide

Coverage of a Supreme Court decision blocking a California policy on student gender identity reveals starkly different media frames. Some outlets emphasize protecting transgender students from being “outed,” while others stress parental rights and religious liberty. The contrasting headlines highlight how newsrooms shape public understanding of contentious legal and cultural debates.

Duvall’s Relentless Research Gave Hollywood Its Most Human Portraits Of Faith And Flawed Men

(ANALYSIS) The actor visited many churches. Research with believers immediately bled into the screenplay he wrote for “The Apostle,” which Duvall directed and financed. The movie earned him another Academy Award acting nomination, one of seven during a career that ended on Feb. 15, when the 95-year-old screen legend died at home on his Virginia horse farm.

How The 2026 Academy Awards Was Able To Pit Faith Against Religion

(ANALYSIS) This year’s nominees’ bias toward personal faith over organized religion reflects the move our own society is making in that direction. It remains, however, to be seen whether that spirituality will evolve to meet the challenges of hyper-individualism, or if organized religion will simply outlast it. The Academy Awards will be handed out March 15 in Los Angeles.

‘Bringing People Together’: A Church Concert Echoes The Paralympic Spirit

(ANALYSIS) Before the start of the Winter Paralympics, a 70-member choir from Abbiategrasso performed in Milan, promoting inclusion of people with disabilities. Backed by the archdiocese’s outreach, the concert highlighted unity over segregation, echoing Paralympic values and urging communities to “change the game” so everyone can participate.

The Sunni-Shi’a Muslim Divide: Why It Matters In The Iran War

(ANALYSIS) Understanding this distinction can help get past oversimplified narratives. The Middle East’s conflicts are not simply ancient religious feuds. They are modern political struggles shaped by history, identity and political interests. Here’s what you need to know about Sunni and Shia Islam — and how it impacts Iran and the current situation there.

What Maduro’s Capture Means For Religious Freedom in Venezuela

Venezuela's president has been in U.S. custody for two months now. But has the situation in Venezuela improved, and what does it mean for religious freedom? We talk with human rights experts about concerns for Latin American liberty at large.

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