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.

An Apostate Iranian’s path to God

A review of the book From Fire, By Water, which recounts Sohrab Ahmari’s spiritual journey from revolutionary Iran to membership in the Communist Party before he finds a spiritual home in the Roman Catholic church.

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.

UK Christians: Dangerous anti-extremism measures ‘threaten Christian freedom’

(COMMENTARY) British evangelicals have mounted a protest against “extremism” policies they claim are “a real threat to gospel freedom”.

An Unrecognized Genocide in Nigeria 🇳🇬

(COMMENTARY) Two factions of Islamist jihadis are responsible for most of the violence in Nigeria, which is 46% Christian.

What to expect in 2019 religion news and trends

(COMMENTARY) One trend to look for is rising numbers of people who identify as “all of the above” rather than “none” when it comes to their religion.

Religious persecution: Why not cover all groups feeling Beijing's wrath, not just Protestants?

(COMMENTARY) China is also quashing the religious freedom of Tibetan Buddhists, Muslims and Roman Catholics.

Film marks the 20th anniversary of missionary Graham Staines’ killing in India

(COMMENTARY) An American film releasing Feb. 1 marks 20 years after the killing of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. An anti-Christian Hindu fanatic murdered the trio by burning them alive while they were asleep in their station wagon in the early hours of Jan. 23, 1999.

Coptic Bishop in Africa explains how ISIS killed ISIS

(OPINION) In Egypt alone, we have about 2 million children in Sunday School every week. In America, we also have thousands and thousands and thousands, not only for children but also for youth. And this is the strength of the church. A church without youth is a church without a future. A youth without the church, is a youth that is lost.

How and why will your New Testaments be changing in the computer era?

(COMMENTARY) Digital tools are digging up new word relationships in the original Greek texts that will change English translations.

Persecution of Christians is 'old news'? Prince Charles begs to differ

(COMMENTARY) The persecution of Christians and other minorities in the Middle East was not one of 2018's big news stories. Instead, this parade of horrors became a kind of "old news" that rarely reached the prime headlines offered by elite newsrooms.

Jews, Christians and religious persecution

(COMMENTARY) Israel is preparing to officially demand compensation for assets abandoned by Jews who were forced to flee eight Arab countries after the establishment of the State of Israel, to the tune of $250 billion.

In the Congo, Catholics dispute presidential election results and fight for a fair ballot box

(COMMENTARY) Catholics in the Democratic Republic of Congo are pushing the non-democratic regime toward greater election transparency.

Unfinished 2019 business in America's ongoing First Amendment wars over religious liberty

(COMMENTARY) There’s a federal lawsuit against the University of Iowa for removing a Christian business group’s on-campus recognition on grounds of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

As European blasphemy laws endure, journalists should consider how words can get them in trouble

(COMMENTARY) This is an issue journalists — whether they’re writing opinion/analysis pieces or constructing hard news stories — should stay tuned into to avoid crossing the wrong side of a shifting line.

The State of Journalism in India 🇮🇳

The Indian Readership Survey 2017 showed that the print media in India added 110 million new readers between 2014 and 2017, a whopping 40 percent jump in readership. Television and online news media have similarly witnessed exponential growth.

The State of Journalism, Asia, OpinionShalini NairJanuary 3, 2019The State of Journalism, India, Shalini Nair

2018 Jewish Top 10 news story list spotlights anti-Semitism, as well as the genre's limitations

(COMMENTARY) Often religion reporters miss some of the most important stories when they happen, but recognize their magnitude later.

Child sexual abuse by priests was top 2018 story: What about McCarrick and the bishops?

(COMMENTARY) Columnist Terry Mattingly shares his picks for 2018’s top religion stories, parting ways with Religion News Association (RNA)’s list.

The revival of redemption: The future of religion in a secular world

(COMMENTARY) When one rejects the disciplines and principles of religion, one loses the premises necessary to understand the world without falling into skepticism and nihilism. Though the ideas of secular culture will continue to dominate the younger generations, I believe that the revival of religion will restore life to pockets of the population, unlocking the gate to new heights of flourishing in the coming years.