Wheaton College scholar seeks to shelve Old Testament moral rules

(COMMENTARY) A new book attempts to answer what the Bible’s authors intended to say to both ancient and modern audiences. In sum, there’s no formula.

Books, Culture, Opinion, North AmericaRichard OstlingFebruary 26, 2019Richard Ostling, Old Testament, Wheaton College, biblical interpretation, Torah, UMC, United Methodist Church, The Lost World of the Torah, Christianity, Protestantism

David M. Bailey On How Racial Reconciliation Heals While Colorblindness Harms

David M. Bailey stood at the podium in the City Room of The King’s College in lower Manhattan, expressing his initial frustration with being black and Christian in America.

Catholic beat memo: Fuzzy math and estimating the number of gay priests

(COMMENTARY) There is an old newsroom saying that I have found often holds true: journalist + math = correction. This comical equation exemplifies how often people working in newsrooms just get math wrong in their stories. From polls and surveys to trying to quantify something by way of statistics, most reporters and editors find themselves befuddled — even fooled — by numbers.

Analysis, Religion, Opinion, Europe, North AmericaClemente LisiFebruary 21, 2019catholicism, Catholic church, Clemente Lisi, journalism, LGBTQ, Pope Francis, polls, surveys, Vatican, gay priests, Christianity, Catholicism

Jackie Robinson's forgotten Christianity: How being a devout Methodist impacted his life

A lot has been said and written about Jackie Robinson. The baseball legend — famous for breaking baseball’s color barrier — was known for many things. His athletic abilities, courage in the face of racism and the dignity with which he went about it all remain the focal points. What is often ignored — even forgotten — is Robinson’s Christian faith.

A migrant photographer’s guide to survival from Bangladesh to New York City: 'Do it yourself'

Long before he became an esteemed, internationally-recognized photographer — or even long before he owned a camera — Amir Hamja spent his college years in pharmacy school absorbing articles, books and tutorials of photography online.

News, North America, AsiaAnastassia GliadkovskayaFebruary 19, 2019Bangladesh, Sony World Photography Awards, DSLR Canon 600D, News, New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Amir Hamja, Secondary Feature, Anastassia Gliadkovskaya, photography, photojournalism

PBS’ 'Sacred' documentary gives intimate glimpses of faith around the world

(COMMENTARY) A new documentary film recently aired on PBS beautifully shows faith as something lived-- not just a set of beliefs, traditions or doctrines on paper.

Entertainment, Religion, Film & TV, Culture, Opinion, Africa, Asia, North AmericaPrincess JonesFebruary 16, 2019Buddhism, Sacred, PBS, Thomas Lennon, Thomas Balmes, religion documentary, documentary, Judaism, Princess Jones, Secondary Feature, Islam, Christianity

How will the Pope’s Arabian adventure affect global Islam?

(COMMENTARY) A joint declaration from the Vatican and Al-Azhar University, seen as the intellectual hub of Sunni Islam, called upon world leaders “to stop using religions to incite hatred, violence, extremism and blind fanaticism, and to refrain from using the name of God to justify acts of murder, exile, terrorism and oppression.”

Middle East, North America, Opinion, PoliticsRichard OstlingFebruary 16, 2019Pope, terrorism, United Arab Emirates, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, Sunni Muslims, Catholic media, Richard Ostling, Pope Francis, Islam, sexual abuse, Catholicism, Muslim

Who are The Evangelicals? Frances FitzGerald studied American history to explain

Historian Frances Fitzgerald reported on white evangelicals for The New Yorker. Now she’s written a book delving into their place in America’s founding and history, long before President Trump.

Hard to avoid religion when fighting about 'fourth-trimester abortions'

(COMMENTARY) Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) favored a state bill that would allow ‘super’ late-term abortions. President Trump has since called for legislation to ban late-term abortions because the child can feel pain in the mother’s womb.

What do Valentine's Day, Jeff Bezos and Catholicism have in common? Time to read some 'explainers'

(COMMENTARY) Complex issues and topics have always been boiled down for ordinary readers to understand. After all, that’s what journalism is really all about. The same goes for understanding religion — and this is where journalism can be a wonderful tool to help people understands different belief systems, traditions, how they intersect with politics and how it impacts our culture and society.

Analysis, Religion, Opinion, North AmericaClemente LisiFebruary 14, 2019Clemente Lisi, Pope Francis, Catholic, priests, The New York Times, Valentine's Day, Jeff Bezos, Catholicism, Christianity

George Washington’s forgotten legacy: Defense of religious freedom

(OPINION) What has largely been forgotten over the course of the last two centuries is George Washington’s faith and dedication to religious freedom. Although he was a member of the Anglican church, Washington recognized America’s pluralism and the constitutional role of religion in public life.

Analysis, North America, OpinionClemente LisiFebruary 12, 2019George Washington, Presidents Day, religion, Christianity, Primary Feature, Clemente Lisi, religious freedom, Anglican Church, American Revolution

Catholic beat memo: Don't ignore facts about church tradition when reporting on priest shortage

The mainstream media’s response has been to try and get Pope Francis to talk about — and even endorse — the notion of married priests, with no regard for the Catholic church’s Roman rite traditions.

Analysis, Religion, Opinion, North AmericaClemente LisiFebruary 11, 2019Clemente Lisi, Catholic Church, journalism, Catholic, Catholicism, Christianity

My visit to a Black Hebrew Israelite meeting in Harlem

(OPINION) There are faiths that people may be hesitant to understand. Some wouldn’t dare walk through the church doors because of the group’s radical theology. And the Black Hebrew Israelites are one of those faiths that many would pass by.

New Frederick Douglass biography makes the abolitionist a prime Black History Month feature

(COMMENTARY) A new biography on the famous African-American abolitionist explores his public and private life, including his Protestant (and anti-Catholic) faith.

Books, North America, Opinion, CultureRichard OstlingFebruary 7, 2019Richard Ostling, Frederick Douglass, black history month, black church, African American, abolitionist, slavery, reconstruction, Black History Month, Protestant, anti-Catholic, Christianity

Real news about Global South missionaries that 'The Economist' missed

(COMMENTARY) How have generally more traditionalist Africa, Asian and Latin American missionaries fared in the Global North? The recent Economist article hints at problems, but fails to explore them in any depth.

Europe, North America, Religion, OpinionIra RifkinFebruary 6, 2019global south, missionaries, The economist, Ira Rifkin, Rev. Nnaemeka, post-Christian age, Africa, Asia, Latin America, Religion reporting, Christianity, The Economist

Catholic Leah Libresco writes book for young believers turned accidental hermits

(COMMENTARY) Libresco wants to encourage Christian hospitality to go beyond typical young adult gatherings offering shallow chitchat over wine and cheese.

Religion, North America, Books, Opinion, CultureTerry MattinglyFebruary 6, 2019Terry Mattingly, Leah Libresco, Benedict Option, Rod Dreher, All Saint's Day, Catholicism, Benedict monk, solitude, St. Mary, feast day, community, Catholic, Christianity

Will the Catholic Church excommunicate Andrew Cuomo over abortion law?

Politics and religion have come to loggerheads after Catholic conservatives called for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to be excommunicated, splitting the church’s hierarchy on how to deal with politicians who further an agenda contrary to the traditional teachings of the church. The call came after Cuomo signed into state law a measure that expanded abortion rights across the state.

Health, North America, Politics, Religion, Science, Society, NewsClemente LisiJanuary 31, 2019Catholic church, abortion, Pro Life, pro-choice, Andrew Cuomo, Secondary Feature, News, Clemente Lisi, Orthodox Christianity, Christianity

At March for Life, embracing ancient doctrines reveals modern tensions

(COMMENTARY) While the United Methodist Church homepage notes a tension between upholding the sanctity of unborn human life and also the life and well-being of the mother, Bishop Timothy Whitaker spoke out against abortion referencing the Didache, a doctrinal statement on “gross sins” like murder.

Conservative columnist David French defends religious liberty while opposing Trump

It may be the one issue in America capable of uniting Mormons, Native Americans, Roman Catholics and Evangelical Christians. The issue of religious liberty has, in recent years, increasingly galvanized people of many faith traditions in the United States to unite against secular forces. One of its most-vocal backers and eloquent advocates is opinion journalist David French.