Remembering Rep. John Lewis As A Man Of Faith Who Inspired Others

(OPINION) What stood out to me most in regard to Lewis was that he put principles over politics and for that he was respected by Republicans and Democrats. At the height of the 2008 Presidential campaign I learned during a gathering President George W. Bush hosted at the White House it wasn’t certain that Lewis was going to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.

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Navajo Nation, a COVID-19 hotbed, is facing extreme isolation, loss of tradition

The Navajo Nation is seeing an abrupt change to their way of life. Burial rituals are changing. Food insecurity is growing. Traditional ceremonies and religious services are cancelled, and without Internet (and without electricity in some homes), no virtual experiences can even attempt to break the isolation.

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If Ancient Olympic Gods Lived In America Today

(OPINION) Imagine if Zeus, Poseidon, Hera or others lived in the U.S. today. How would the ancient gods and goddesses identify in modern politics and culture? Their wisdom and weaknesses fit into the modern religious and secular landscape surprisingly well.

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Worship services continue despite COVID-19 threat

From the Bahamas to the Midwest, South and East Coast of the U.S, here’s how different houses of worship are handling the decision to reopen safely during the coronavirus pandemic or reach their communities online amid concerns of rising mental health problems during a lockdown and high unemployment.

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Hindu woman lost for 43 years, adopted by Muslim village, reunites with her family

An unbelievable story of reunion after 40 years is being hailed as an example of religious harmony in India. A Muslim truck driver found a mentally disabled Hindu woman on the side of the road near his village and gave her shelter. He and his family searched for her relatives, until finally during a COVID-19 lockdown, a breakthrough in the mystery came.

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Hindu pilgrimage in Kashmir takes new meaning during pandemic

A popular Hindu pilgrimage to a cave where Lord Shiva is believed to have dwelled has been a display of Hindu-Muslim unity. That is changing this year, as the Indian government allows pilgrims to travel to the Muslim-majority region despite a COVID-19 lockdown that ensures mosques stay shut.

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Despite Petition, Harding To Keep George S. Benson’s Name On Its Chapel Venue

Harding University alumnus Jackson House began a petition to remove the name of George S. Benson’s name from the school’s chapel. The school’s president announced that they will keep the name on the chapel, but that the school will take efforts to amplify Black voices on campus.

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Catholic Church says its payroll loans are keeping thousands employed to serve millions in need

Thousands of Catholic organizations in the U.S. received over $1.4 billion in small business paycheck protection loans under a religious exemption that qualifies them. The church says the loans have protected more hundreds of thousands of jobs in the social services sector, in which the church is the largest non-government employer.

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Jews Push Back On #JewishPrivilege, Share Stories Of Anti-Semitism

Alt-right Twitter users created the hashtag #JewishPrivilege to spread anti-Semitic messages, and the hashtag surged to the top trending phrase in the U.S. Sunday night. Jews soon began to populate the hashtag with stories from the Holocaust, recent hate crimes and crime records showing rising cases of anti-Semitism in the U.S.

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How Will The Mainstream News Media Perform During Their Future LGBTQ Test?

(OPINION) Recent Supreme Court decisions have dealt heavily with LGBTQ rights and religious exemptions for these rights. It presents mainstream journalists with a test: to manage fair coverage of religious traditions that resist both same-sex relationships and gender identity as a replacement for DNA biology.

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Revisiting Christian Art History In Discussions To 'Cancel White Jesus'

Many Christians in America first think of Jesus as white, thanks to a widely reproduced Christ portrait from the 1940s. In the calls to tear down offensive statues, activists have called to “cancel white Jesus.” But the tradition of painting Jesus inaccurately isn’t just limited to America. Many images throughout art history have interpreted Jesus in a way that reflects their own culture.

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Making sense of the Supreme Court's ruling for religious schools

(OPINION) The July 8 Supreme Court decision allows religious institutions to choose teachers who align with their spiritual commitments. This is especially important for minority faiths like Judaism and Islam.

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