Posts in North America
Biden-Harris inauguration hosts interfaith prayer service

Faith leaders from a handful of different religions and traditions prayed for the unity of the country and President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in a virtual prayer service broadcast from the Washington National Cathedral Jan. 21.

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‘We will be judged’: Biden asks Americans to step up together to crises

Leaders of America gathered on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday morning to witness the inauguration of Joseph R. Biden and Kamala Devi Harris as the President and Vice President of the United States. Here’s the faith moments of note.

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Kamala Harris Picks Bible of Civil Rights Justice (and Saint) for VP Oath

When Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was sworn in on Jan. 20, she placed her hand on two Bibles — one that belonged to a family friend and one that belonged to a saint. That second Bible was the personal property of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American on the court who struck down the doctrine “separate but equal” to desegregate public schools.

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Mike Lindell Falsely Claims New Election Fraud ‘Proof’ on the Eric Metaxas Show

Mike Lindell, MyPillow CEO and now-popular Trump supporter, appeared on the Eric Metaxas Radio Show to discuss more “proof” he’d discovered about widespread election fraud. “God’s got his hand in all of this,” he said.

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The first virtual MLK Day aims to renew hope in America 

Faith leaders around the country are participating in virtual events to commemorate the life of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. after a violent attack on the nation’s Capitol Building and just days before Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration. King's words and legacy are giving them renewed hope.

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Flags, Faith and Fury: Christian Nationalism On Display In U.S. Capitol Riot

As thousands rallied in Washington to support President Donald Trump’s unproven claim of a stolen election — a protest that turned deadly as an insurrectionist mob stormed the U.S. Capitol — many carried signs and flags linking the Republican political leader to their Christian faith.

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The History Behind That Strange Animal Horn At Political Rallies

Of the many Christian flags, insignia and sacred objects seen outside the Capitol Building Jan. 6, there is one that deserves more attention— the shofar, an ancient Jewish instrument traditionally made from a ram’s horn. The shofar has become a common protest tool in some circles, framing political battles as spiritual battles.

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Religious Freedom Lately: Open Doors Report, Booze On Planes And Title IX

This week while much of the media dissected why some Christians were drawn to QAnon, investigated pastors’ links to the rioters, and examined the Christian symbols present in photos from the protest, smaller but important stories slipped through the cracks.

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Religious freedom is central to the Epiphany (and condemns the Capitol violence)

(OPINION) This season of Epiphany, which we are now in, affords us the opportunity to honor Christ’s manifestation and ministry in the world. Epiphanytide invites us to reflect on the role of religious freedom and religious literacy in Christ’s manifestation to the world. This is perhaps even more relevant in light of the Capitol violence last week.

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One In Eight Christians Worldwide Live In Countries Where They May Face Persecution

The World Watch List 2021, a list compiled by Open Doors, an international NGO advocating on behalf of persecuted Christians, paints a concerning picture of the situation Christians face around the world. The most likely and violent place for Christians to be located is in North Korea, though the list grows daily as countries shift towards religious persecution.

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Pope Francis changes canon law: What it means for the Catholic Mass

(ANALYSIS) The move — in the wake of a decades-old priest shortage — will grant women the chance to serve as lectors, read Scripture and serve as eucharistic ministers. The changes, however, will continue to forbid women from being made deacons or priests.

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Televangelist Bob Rodgers ‘Curses’ Those Who Voted on the ‘Wrong Side’ in ‘Stolen Election’

Louisville televangelist Bob Rodgers cursed those who voted on the “wrong side” of the “stolen election” at his service this past week, condemning them to poor health and poverty. Members of the church cheered at the curses— affirming his notion that those who voted on the “wrong side” deserve punishment.

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The Solution to Christian Nationalism? Better Theology

(OPINION) To combat a plague of Christian nationalism, seen on display in the recent Capitol violence, Christian leaders should teach the right Christian theology: that Christians should never seek to have the government privilege one religious group over another, God gives good ideas to all people, not only Christians, and our advocacy in the public square should not pretend everyone believes the Bible.

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Q&A with Rev. Paul Abernathy, an Orthodox priest combatting vaccine skepticism

Antioch Orthodox priest Rev. Paul Abernathy is on a mission to provide resources to skeptics in his Pittsburgh, Pa. parish and community—skeptics of the COVID-19 vaccine. For months, Abernathy has visited majority Black communities door to door, discussing their views on the COVID-19 vaccine, answering questions and even ushering in a Moderna vaccine trial. Religion Unplugged spoke with him about his work, the role of faith-based organizations in the pandemic and how a spiritual life fuels a medical mission.

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Charismatics are at war with each other over failed prophecies of Trump victory

A day of reckoning has come for modern-day “prophets” in the Pentecostal/charismatic movement who falsely foretold a victory for President Trump in 2020. Privately and on social media, these prophets and their thousands of followers are slugging it out in an orgy of self-blame, recriminations and fantastical hopes that somehow before Jan. 20, God will bring about a victory for Trump. Others who’ve apologized for getting it wrong have gotten accusations, curses and even death threats.

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'We must all repent': Pastors address their flocks after Capitol siege

On the first Sunday since a pro-Trump insurrectionist mob sieged the U.S. Capitol, pastors offered comfort and some rebuke to their congregations concerned for the future of American democracy. “The American nation will be healed when the American church repents. We must repent for making the person who occupies the White House more important than the one who occupies our hearts,” said Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference who became known for his support of Trump.

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Capitol Violence Calls Us To Recommit To Redeeming Institutions, Not Tearing Them Down

(OPINION) The violence at the Capitol on Wednesday was a horrific assault on our essential democratic institutions, but it calls attention to the importance of sustaining the institutions of government, even when those institutions themselves are flawed.

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