Jewish Atlanta Remembers John Lewis With Affection, Respect

John Lewis, who died on Friday, played a large role in faith communities in Atlanta—such as with the Atlanta Black-Jewish Coalition formed in 1982. Jews in Atlanta remember his legacy.

News, North AmericaDave SchechterJuly 22, 2020Dave Schechter, Secondary Feature, Jewish, Jews, Rep. John Lewis, John Lewis, Civil Rights, Atlanta, race, RabbiComment

Kenya’s churches reopen cautiously as COVID-19 infections are on the rise

Churches in Kenya are slowly reopening during the coronavirus pandemic, though some church leaders think their religious freedom is coming under fire with restrictions, including a limit of one hour for a worship service and a ban on adults 58 and older and youth younger than 18.

Navajo Nation, a COVID-19 hotbed, is facing extreme isolation, loss of tradition

The Navajo Nation is seeing an abrupt change to their way of life. Burial rituals are changing. Food insecurity is growing. Traditional ceremonies and religious services are cancelled, and without Internet (and without electricity in some homes), no virtual experiences can even attempt to break the isolation.

Worship services continue despite COVID-19 threat

From the Bahamas to the Midwest, South and East Coast of the U.S, here’s how different houses of worship are handling the decision to reopen safely during the coronavirus pandemic or reach their communities online amid concerns of rising mental health problems during a lockdown and high unemployment.

Hindu woman lost for 43 years, adopted by Muslim village, reunites with her family

An unbelievable story of reunion after 40 years is being hailed as an example of religious harmony in India. A Muslim truck driver found a mentally disabled Hindu woman on the side of the road near his village and gave her shelter. He and his family searched for her relatives, until finally during a COVID-19 lockdown, a breakthrough in the mystery came.

Hindu pilgrimage in Kashmir takes new meaning during pandemic

A popular Hindu pilgrimage to a cave where Lord Shiva is believed to have dwelled has been a display of Hindu-Muslim unity. That is changing this year, as the Indian government allows pilgrims to travel to the Muslim-majority region despite a COVID-19 lockdown that ensures mosques stay shut.

Despite Petition, Harding To Keep George S. Benson’s Name On Its Chapel Venue

Harding University alumnus Jackson House began a petition to remove the name of George S. Benson’s name from the school’s chapel. The school’s president announced that they will keep the name on the chapel, but that the school will take efforts to amplify Black voices on campus.

Catholic Church says its payroll loans are keeping thousands employed to serve millions in need

Thousands of Catholic organizations in the U.S. received over $1.4 billion in small business paycheck protection loans under a religious exemption that qualifies them. The church says the loans have protected more hundreds of thousands of jobs in the social services sector, in which the church is the largest non-government employer.

Jews Push Back On #JewishPrivilege, Share Stories Of Anti-Semitism

Alt-right Twitter users created the hashtag #JewishPrivilege to spread anti-Semitic messages, and the hashtag surged to the top trending phrase in the U.S. Sunday night. Jews soon began to populate the hashtag with stories from the Holocaust, recent hate crimes and crime records showing rising cases of anti-Semitism in the U.S.

NewsJillian CheneyJuly 13, 2020Jillian Cheney, Jewish, twitter, Jews, Jewish privilege, Primary Feature, secondary feature, Secondary FeatureComment

Revisiting Christian Art History In Discussions To 'Cancel White Jesus'

Many Christians in America first think of Jesus as white, thanks to a widely reproduced Christ portrait from the 1940s. In the calls to tear down offensive statues, activists have called to “cancel white Jesus.” But the tradition of painting Jesus inaccurately isn’t just limited to America. Many images throughout art history have interpreted Jesus in a way that reflects their own culture.

The Faith of the Black Lives Matter Movement

While the Black Lives Matter movement has caused controversy in religious circles because of its support for non-traditional families and Marxist philosophy, researchers who study the movement say it is spiritual even with an antipathy for organized religion. Many activists want to explore their ancestors’ African spirituality, and Black churches and mainline Protestants are also influencing the movement.

Supreme Court rules in favor of Catholic nuns for contraception exemption

The Little Sisters of the Poor claimed victory at the U.S. Supreme Court July 8 after the Court upheld 7-2 the Trump administration’s contraceptive exemption. This allows healthcare providers to opt-out of providing birth control with religious or moral objections.

Popular Christian youth camp source of COVID-19 outbreak

At least 82 positive COVID-19 cases link back to Christian youth camp Kamp Kanakuk’s site in Lampe, Missouri. The camp has now shut down for the season.

Why the Black Lives Matter movement is controversial to many Christians

Some Christians are strong supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement. Others believe it’s a radical movement opposed to the goals of Christians. How are they combining the goals of their churches with the racial justice of the Black Lives Matter movement?

In Rural Uganda, Churches Provide Speakers To Safely Unite Communities During COVID-19

While urban churches in Uganda have moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic, churches in rural areas with less Internet access have become more creative, using “horn” speakers to broadcast preaching, prayers and music to their communities inside their homes and allowing community leaders to give health announcements and guidance.

Africa, NewsJohn SemakulaJuly 8, 2020John Semakula, Uganda, online church, covid-19, coronavirus, Primary Feature, Secondary FeatureComment

U.K. report on Nigeria's religious violence skirts around the word 'genocide'

(ANALYSIS) Nigerian diaspora academics discussed the findings of a U.K. government report on July 6, concluding that several factors like water scarcity are affecting violence in Northern Nigeria, complicating a designation of genocide. Many acts of violence carried out by Boko Haram against Christians bear Quranic punishments for so-called infidels, and the Nigerian army is struggling to contain the violence.

Wheaton Fires Chaplain for 'Inappropriate Comments and Actions of a Racial and Sexual Nature'

Wheaton College last week fired its chaplain Tim Blackmon for “inappropriate comments and actions of a racial and sexual nature towards specific staff members” in violation of the school’s policies.

Former Assemblies of God official captures Malawi presidency

In his third attempt, Lazurus Chakwera, not unlike his biblical namesake, resurrected his political fortunes and was sworn in as president of Malawi. Apart from a senior leadership role in the Assembly of God as bishop, he was a sought-after theology professor supervising PhD candidates as far as Kenya and other African countries.

Supreme Court Rules For School Choice, Religious Liberty

The U.S. Supreme Court gave religious liberty advocates a victory by ruling 5-4 that Montana’s no aid clause, also known as the Blaine Amendment, cannot exclude religious schools from public programs that provide scholarship to students attending private school. The ruling makes it easier for families to obtain tuition help for religious schools of their choice.

NewsWalker SmithJuly 3, 2020Secondary Feature, Supreme Court, Religious Liberty, schools, Religious Freedom, Walker SmithComment

These Christian women of color are juggling business ambition with Biblical submission

While cultural norms shift more egalitarian, Black Protestants are more likely than white mainline Protestants and evangelicals to align with conservative theological views on gender roles. But that may look different than it sounds.

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