Posts in Religion
Swedish Ecologist Revives Old Norse Myths And Rituals To Tackle Environmental Crises

Andreas Kornevall, a Swedish-British ecologist and educator, is devoted to bringing the wisdom of Old Norse myths and rituals to bear on contemporary life — particularly in relation to current environmental crises. Through storytelling, scholarship and ceremonies, Kornevall excavates the ecological ethic inherent in the pre-Christian spirituality of Northern Europe.

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Kenyans in shock, demand regulation of churches as 98 dead in cult inspired fasting

Now the woman, known as Betty, is among the 98 people who fasted to death in the doomsday cult headed by Pastor Paul Mackenzie which has left Kenyans — and the world — shocked. With the Kenya Red Cross reporting more than 100 people still missing, the toll could reach 200 and beyond. From President William Ruto to church leaders and the public, Kenyans are now calling on the government to tighten laws governing the opening and operation of churches.

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Gervonta Davis Vs. Ryan Garcia: How Religion Made An Unusual Appearance At The Fight

While the bright lights shined on the biggest boxing match of the year, another thing was also on full display in the recent fight between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia in the form of comments before and after the match regarding faith and even religiously inspired walkout music.

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🐘 Faith And Freedom: For GOP Presidential Candidates, It's Cattle Call Time Again 🔌

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights first Republican presidential cattle call of the year in Iowa, where evangelicals are a crucial voting bloc. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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5 American Athletes Who Converted To Islam

Islam is one of the fastest-growing religions in the world. Some notable American athletes have converted to Islam starting in the 1960s, a trend that continues to this day. For some, the belief provides a chance to emphasize personal responsibility and social justice.

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📫 Does Requiring A Mail Carrier To Work On Sunday Violate His Religious Freedom? 🔌

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights a Supreme Court case involving a mail carrier who quit his job rather than delivery packages on Sunday. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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Massacres And Miracles From Colombia to Nigeria: Who Will Tell These Stories?

(OPINION) The future journalist was both shocked and inspired by her contact with Christians caught in that land's toxic climate of paramilitary warfare, drug trafficking and kidnappings. She struggled to grasp how someone like pilot Russell Martin Stendal, after years held for ransom, could forgive his kidnappers and then start a missionary effort to convert them.

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FBI Documents Reveal Spying On Catholics: Where’s The Outrage?

(ANALYSIS) The inability for certain types of stories to register with the secular press — especially legacy media — is yet another sign of the political, cultural and moral divisions in our society and the dying notion of an objective press.

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Campaign For Thorough Reform Of Muslim Law Deserves Mainstream Coverage – Now

(OPINION) The world’s largest organization of Muslims is campaigning for thorough worldwide reform of how to understand the faith’s religious law, Shariah, and applied jurisprudence, Fiqh. Such an ambitious goal may seem unlikely, and to date, Western media have given the effort minimal coverage. It’s time for that trend to change.

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📊 Losing Their Religion: Latino Catholic Population On The Decline In US 🔌

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the latest research concerning the decline of Latino Catholics in the U.S. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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Reading The Post-Pandemic Tea Leaves In Modern Church Pews

(OPINION) Surveys since 2020 show that a "steady share of Americans — about 40% — say they have participated in religious services in the prior month one way or the other," according to a Pew Research Center report. But other details are blurry, since the "share of U.S. adults who ... attend religious services once a month or more has dropped slightly, from 33% in 2019 to 30% in 2022."

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‘He Gets Us’ — But Do We ‘Get’ Those Ads?

(OPINION) The least remarkable thing about the “He Gets Us” campaign — at least the most tiresome thing — is the knee-jerk reactions from both extremes of the  political-religious divide. Both sides have found much to hate.

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Cardinal McElroy-EWTN Feud Reveals Catholicism’s Internal Cracks

(ANALYSIS) The Catholic press operates differently compared to mainstream media. Catholic media, depending where the publication or TV station falls on the doctrinal spectrum, aren’t governed by objectivity but by church teachings. This is where the conflict arises and when culture war battles within the church — and society — manifest themselves.

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Museum Of The Bible Offers Up Faith, History and Easter Activities

Washington, D.C.’s Museum of the Bible is fascinating for Christians of all denominations and even for people who identify with another faith tradition. The museum — in addition to highlighting Hebrew texts and the time Jesus lived — also integrates how the Bible and Christianity have influenced American culture and society since the early 1600s to the present.

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⛪️ Tears And Faith After The Covenant School Shooting In Nashville 🔌

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights coverage of the mass shooting at a Presbyterian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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NCAA Basketball Star Caitlin Clark's Success Rooted In Her Faith And Catholic Education

Everyone now knows what Caitlin Clark can do after her wonderful performances this season — but many schools had seen that potential a few years ago. She was heavily recruited by a number of schools after ESPN rated her one of the nation’s top prospect in 2020 when she was a budding point guard at a Catholic high school in Iowa.

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On The Front Lines: In War-Torn Kherson, Church Is A Symbol Of Hope And Resilience

Christians like Stanislav Syniy are living in war times on adrenaline as they volunteer to provide, food, clothing and other supplies to people in need. They pray as they go, hoping for an end to a conflict that has destroyed parts of their homeland and left an estimated hundreds of thousands of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers dead.

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Is Pope Francis ‘The Only One Who Can Make A Difference’ In Uganda’s Anti-LGBTQ Bills?

Reuters reported that more than 30 African countries, including Uganda, already ban same-sex relations. But the new law emerging in Uganda would be the first to outlaw people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer, according to Human Rights Watch.

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Francis’ Pontificate Turns 10: How The Press Covered This Papal Milestone

(ANALYSIS) Pope Francis’ pontificate turned 10 years old last week and — like with an anniversary or milestone — became a time for the news media to reflect. What will continue to matter is how this pope will be covered both by the mainstream and Catholic press going forward. Once again, news coverage of this pope often says as much about the journalists doing the coverage as it does about Pope Francis.

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