(OPINION) Mostly we butt into other folks’ affairs because we’re control freaks who need to fix, or at least feel superior to, everyone else. Or, like Dear Abby’s correspondents, we’re nosy. Or we reap some type of social currency from getting the inside scoop and then passing it along to friends. Or we hope to deflect attention from our own shortcomings by calling attention to someone else’s.
None of those is a good look, is it?
Read MoreMuslim athletes face a unique challenge when Ramadan coincides with their training and competition schedules. Throughout the month-long period, practicing Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from both food and drink. For athletes, this can be particularly demanding as they need to maintain their energy and performance levels.
Read MoreWhy do churches grow? Lots of reasons. Why do churches shrink and die? Lots of reasons. That’s the complex reality that we discussed during this week’s “Crossroads” podcast.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights four takeaways from a new national survey on religion in public life. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Here’s a fun fact, the United States Census Bureau is prohibited from asking questions about religion on the decennial census. That’s the big data collection effort that is conducted every decade to get an accurate headcount of the United States for purposes of apportionment.
Read MoreIn the “The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church,” Sarah McCammon, a national political correspondent for NPR, shares — with a sometimes visceral honesty — the everyday currency of childhood in an evangelical subculture in which the Bible was the ultimate authority.
Read MoreAnother March Madness is once again upon us. The NCAA’s men’s Division I basketball tournament will enthrall millions with its bracket-busting upsets. It is, for many sports fans, the best time of the year. This year’s 68-team field features seven Catholic schools. In addition, five are Protestant and one Mormon. Here’s a look at how they stack up.
Read More“Dune: Part Two” has been a massive hit at the box office, making back the first movie’s entire ticket take on its opening weekend and narrowly beating the opening of “Oppenheimer.” And with a Rotten Tomatoes critical and audience score over 90%, many are already calling it one of the best sequels of all time. Here’s what the movie says about religion and those who practice it.
Read MoreThis decision, Catholic Charities v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission, might at first glance seem to be yet another boring administrative matter. That’s far from being the case. In fact, the outcome raises the bar for all religions to show that their charity arms deserve such exemptions in the state.
Read MoreThe vast majority of U.S. adults say religion’s role in public life has declined — and a very large number of them are not happy about it. A new Pew Research Center report revealed the stark finding that 80% of U.S. adults agree with the statement that the role of faith in everyday American life is shrinking.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights Adelle M. Banks’ selection as the Religion News Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read MoreWhile a majority of American evangelicals may be united by fundamental spiritual beliefs, they are by no means in agreement on a variety of hot-button subjects, according to a new study. Eight months before the 2024 presidential election that will feature a rematch between President Biden and Donald Trump, the report brings into sharper focus what evangelicals think about a host of issues that could impact the election.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Often, these “nominal Christian men” internalize the “real-man script” while defending their behavior by “pinning Christian language” on abusive beliefs.
Read More(EXPLAINER) India has implemented a new citizenship law that excludes Muslims, a religious minority, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government. Although the Citizenship Amendment Act was passed five years ago by the country’s parliament, it was not enacted at the time due to the pandemic.
Read MoreAs Zimbabwe and several other African countries fight a protracted cholera outbreak, Apostolic Christian sects opposed to Western medicine are being blamed for complicating the fight. Zimbabwe is one of the several countries in Southern Africa that are suffering from bouts of cholera outbreaks. Other places include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi.
Read MoreThe Oscars were held on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles. Jimmy Kimmel returned as host for the fourth time, joined onstage by an all-star list of presenters. Did any faith-based films win? Here’s a look at this year’s winners.
Read MoreA major “parental rights” case in Indiana is big news — only it's being ignored by the mainstream press.
Read More(REVIEW) Angel Studios’ latest film “Cabrini” has haunting visuals and solid messages, but can’t seem to care about the real-life people the movie is based on beyond their status of victim or oppressor. The film follows Catholic nun Francesca Cabrini who, after witnessing poverty in the slums of New York, embarks on a daring journey to help hundreds of orphaned children.
Read MoreAre faith projects such as “The Chosen” not considered for secular awards because of anti-Christian bias? While there is plenty of bias in Hollywood, the reason is a much more complicated one. Film critic Joseph Holmes delves into the issue in time for this Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in delves into reports the U.S. Justice Department has ended its investigation of Southern Baptist sex abuse. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
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