The 7,600-island nation of the Philippines — a country known for its warm hospitality and love for celebrations — hosts a unique and extraordinary tradition each year: The longest Christmas celebration in the world. Known by Filipinos as the “BER-Months,” the holiday celebrations start as early as September.
Read More(REVIEW) In 2023 there were several books released that can help ministers think through recent challenges. While the year was filled with many outstanding publications, I found these five particularly helpful for navigating this cultural moment, and all of these are worth the pastor’s time:
Read MoreThe October elections in Mozambique — now confirmed to have been rigged in favor of President Filipe Nyusi’s ruling FRELIMO party — have left the head of the Anglican church in the southern African nation fighting for survival, while a Muslim cleric has already been sacked for endorsing the dubious poll results.
Read More(ANALYSIS) In cultures linked to centuries of Christian tradition, the feast of Christmas — the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ or Christ Mass — was on Dec. 25, the start of a festive 12-day season that ended with the Feast of the Epiphany. Many Eastern Orthodox churches continue to use the ancient Julian calendar, celebrating Christmas on Jan. 7.
Read MoreChristians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are seeing improved efforts by the government of the DRC to improve the security situation of their communities. As elsewhere in Africa, faith-based organizations provide much of the educational, health and other social opportunities. Yet, it is precisely for those reasons that Christian groups have often been targeted.
Read More(REVIEW) There’s a picture-perfect version of Thanksgiving that exists in cartoons of overflowing cornucopias and naively cheerful turkeys. It’s meant to celebrate a bountiful harvest, a good meal and time together with loved ones. The real Thanksgiving is a lot more complicated — and unpleasant. A new movie out now captures just that.
Read MoreLibertarian economist and former soccer player Javier Milei was elected Argentina's president, a result that in many ways can be seen as a referendum on Pope Francis’ social agenda in his home nation.
Read More(REVIEW) While “The Shift” takes exciting steps in reviving the faith-based science-fiction genre, it never develops its ideas well enough to rise to the level of its own concepts.
Read MoreThe work of five Ukrainian artists, whose art varies across artistic tradition and highlight the beauty of Ukraine and its people, is currently on view at the Sheen Center’s Janet Hennessey Dilenschneider Gallery. The exhibition, “Beauty During Wartime and Before,” is particularly meant to honor resilience and faith during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Read MoreThe High Court in Uganda has directed members of the Anglican Church to use canon law to resolve conflicts arising from the process of electing their bishops instead of petitioning the country’s courts for legal redress.
Read MoreAyaan Hirsi Ali, a critic of Islam and vocal atheist, has gone through a new conversion — revealing that she’s now a Christian for spiritual and cultural reasons. "I still have a great deal to learn about Christianity,” she said. “I discover a little more at church each Sunday.”
Read More(REVIEW) “Journey To Bethlehem” is a musical heavy on cheesy jokes, but lacks the heart that we expect from a family Christmas movie, including the sacredness we expect from a film about Jesus. Of course, this movie is not without controversy.
Read More(OPINION) What St. John Paul II taught was so wondrously beautiful that it took listeners some time to begin to grasp the significance of it. One of the first was his biographer, George Wiegel. He described the theology of the body as “a kind of theological time-bomb set to go off with dramatic consequences … perhaps in the 21st century.” I hope he’s right.
Read MoreAn alternative funeral for a top United Methodist Church pastor who committed suicide last month following a sex scandal has highlighted a clash between religion and culture in Zimbabwe.
Read MoreOnly a few scholars and researchers have a comprehensive understanding of the religious aspects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There are not many Orthodox theologians and journalists who delve into discussions about Orthodox Christianity and its compatibility with Western values.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Pope Francis wanted a media blackout at the recent Synod on Synodality. As a result, a meeting meant to inspire open dialogue was held under a veil of silence. This did not go unnoticed by those of us in the press who cover the church. But some seemed more upset than others.
Read MoreThe Vatican’s meeting of bishops — the second phase of a multi-year effort that began in 2021 known as the Synod on Synodality — concluded amid a growing debate regarding a number of key issues. The meetings this month centered around the future of the Catholic church and has put progressives and conservatives at odds when it comes to doctrinal issues.
Read MoreJohnson made ELCA history when he was elected on the fifth ballot to serve a six-year term as bishop of ELCA’s Sierra Pacific synod, which includes Northern and Central California and Northern Nevada. As a result, Johnson is the first openly gay man to be elected bishop in the synod.
Read MoreFor years, school board campaigns remained non-partisan. However, with education issues taking center stage regarding such contentious issues as transgenderism, school boards have emerged as new political and cultural battlegrounds between the political left and right.
Read MoreAs tensions between Moscow and Washington, D.C. rise along the Ukrainian border, an officer responsible for some of the most powerful weapons in the U.S. arsenal tells his men that he knows how to respond to the situation because he has seen it all before — in the Book of Revelation. While the scenario sounds like the plot of a Tom Clancy novel, this is no work of fiction.
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