Posts in North America
Columnist Rod Dreher Talks Orthodox Christianity And Nationalism

Rod Dreher, a senior editor and blogger at The American Conservative and a convert to Orthodox Christianity from Catholicism is one of the most influential voices in the conservative movement who has moved further right in recent years and argued for Americans to look to nationalist examples in Europe, like Victor Orban’s Hungary, for solutions.

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Presbyterian Church Will Gather Nonbinary/Genderqueer Membership Stats

The mainline Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) announced this week it will change the way it reports statistical information about the denomination’s membership to now include a category for nonbinary/genderqueer adherents. The Office of General Assembly said the new reporting will more accurately reflect the makeup of the denomination.

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There’s No One ‘Latino Vote’: Religion And Geography Add To Voter Diversity

(ANALYSIS) Nearly 1 in 5 people in the United States today are Latino, and “the Latino vote” has attracted significant news coverage as their political voice grows stronger. But the U.S. Latino population is extremely diverse. As scholars who study immigration in the fields of sociology and religious ethics, we are especially interested in the growing religious diversity and often overlooked geographical diversity among Latino populations.

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Catholic Voters In Battleground States Favor GOP In Upcoming Midterms, Poll Finds

A majority of Catholic voters in six key battleground states say they plan to vote for Republican candidates in the upcoming midterm elections, a new poll reveals. A majority of voters in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada listed the economy, jobs, inflation and rising interest rates as their top concern.

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Christ for All Peoples Pares Back Mission To ‘Bring The Gospel Of Christ To Every Door’

A newer web page says the Saturate campaign no longer seeks to reach every door in the country by 2020, instead seeking to reach fewer households over a longer time frame: “Christ For All Peoples and Saturate USA Is Dedicated To Reaching 120 Million Homes In The U.S. By 2027.”

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Pope Francis Extends The Synod On Synodality To 2024: What Does It Mean For The Church's Future?

(ANALYSIS) Pope Francis decided to divide the church’s Synod of Bishops into two sessions, one next October and a second in October 2024, in order to “help everyone to live it as the journey of brothers and sisters who proclaim the joy of the Gospel.” What does it mean for the future of Catholicism?

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Evangelicals Often Feel Misunderstood: What Helps Boost Understanding Between Students Of All Faiths?

(ANALYSIS) Our findings about students’ attitudes underscore important lessons about fostering tolerance and appreciation on campus for any group. Views of evangelicals are particularly interesting, since they highlight the complexities of social privilege: how individuals can feel discriminated against, even when their community as a whole is influential.

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San Francisco Pauses Program Forwarding City Workers’ Donations To Christian Groups

San Francisco has put a pause on its annual Heart of the City Combined Charities Campaign after questions about whether city employees’ donations should flow to Christian nonprofits that support biblical views on human sexuality, according to articles in The San Francisco Chronicle and The San Francisco Standard.

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Texas Megachurch Announces Decision To Leave United Methodist Denomination

A Dallas-area church, St. Andrew United Methodist Church of Plano, with more than 6,500 members said it will disaffiliate with the United Methodist Church and will remain independent while it investigates alliances with other Methodist denominations.

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5 Books About Orthodox Christianity To Read During Orthodox Awareness Month

Orthodox Awareness Month aims to serve as a reminder of the long and rich history of Orthodoxy in America and the contributions Orthodox Christians made to American culture, history and public life. Here are five books to read for insight into the history and theology of the Orthodox Church, the lives of saints and the evolution of the Orthodox faith in America’s northernmost state.

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Meet The Chaplain For Norwegian Students In The United States

As a college student, Odd Inge Tangen found comfort with his university chaplain during his seminary years, confiding his biggest secret to her. Now, Tangen is a chaplain to Norwegian students in North America working for the Norwegian Seamen's Church.

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GOP Hoping To Surf On Red Wave Of Catholic Support During Midterms

(ANALYSIS) Whether it’s on issues like abortion or same-sex marriage, transgenderism and school curriculums, faith voters will play their part. If the recent past is any guide, Catholics will play an outsized role in the outcomes depending on the state, especially in the so-called swing states.

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The Buddhist Monk Blogger Tackling Abuse By Gurus

Tenzin Peljor runs a popular Buddhist blog that addresses controversies in Tibetan Buddhism, especially regarding abusive spiritual teachers. After choosing a guru, students take vows to see their teacher as an enlightened being — questioning or criticizing them can send one to a Tantric hell. Peljor, a monk himself, says he is exposing harmful practices while remaining faithful to the Buddhist tradition.

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Pre-Born! Ministry Grows, Finds Success In Mission To ‘Save Babies And Souls’

Until recently, Pre-Born! has flown under the radar and operated in the background of the pro-life movement by supporting pregnancy help centers as a grant writer and support system. But in the last couple years, it has seen exponential growth by engaging in partnerships with Christian and conservative radio programs.

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Eboo Patel Is Leading Interfaith America Into The New Era Of Religious Diversity

Eboo Patel founded Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on building religious understanding between students, in 2002. It now has 52 employees, an entire floor of lake-view offices at the Chicago Board of Trade, and an annual budget of $13 million. Now IFYC has rebranded as Interfaith America. The dropping of the word “youth” is another signal — that both the organization and its founder have wider goals than changing the world one kid at a time.

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In Georgia County With History Of Racial Violence, Christians Seek Unity

A Forsyth County historical marker erected just last year recounts the 1912 lynching of Rob Edwards, a 24-year-old Black man accused of raping and murdering a young White woman. More than a century later, about 600 Christians — Black, White and Hispanic — filled the pews of the Grace Chapel Church of Christ for a special unity service.

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Native Americans’ Struggle For Control Over Sacred Lands Is Making Progress

(ANALYSIS) Mauna Kea, a 13,802-foot dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii, is one example. The mountain is managed as public land by the state of Hawaii. Native Hawaiians have protested the state’s management of Mauna Kea for decades, saying Hawaii has allowed too many research buildings on their sacred mountain, which disrupts their ability to practice their religion.

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Bloomberg: Surge In Giving To Donor Advised Funds Helps Wealthy, Not Poor

Bloomberg’s bottom line: “A small but growing number of wealthy Americans (have) discovered how to bypass rules designed more than a half-century ago to ensure philanthropists stay accountable for the billions of dollars in tax breaks they receive each year.”

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Feds Aim To Stop Violence At Houses Of Worship With Faith-Based Council

The recent establishment of the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council and a call for Congress to appropriate additional funding to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program highlighted the federal government’s focus on security and anti-terrorism initiatives for churches, mosques, synagogues and other religious institutions.

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