The Democratic National Convention kicked off the week with a Sunday interfaith service featuring many different religious leaders but no Catholics, though Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden identifies with Catholicism. On Thursday, Father James Martin, a Catholic priest known for his work to advance LGBTQ acceptance in the church, is expected to speak and include pro-life views. Sister Simone Campbell, a progressive nun and friend of Biden’s, is also expected to speak.
Read More(TRAVEL) Taizé is a small, rural village in France popular for the presence of an ecumenical Christian monastic fraternity. A Muslim woman from Lebanon shares her experience after spending a month in the interfaith community.
Read MoreIndia’s recent rise in Hindu nationalism can be seen playing out in multi-million-dollar projects funded by both government and private donations to build some of the world’s tallest statues of Hindu heroes, including not just an independence leader and Hindu gods but also a Hindu warrior king who defeated Muslim forces.
Read More(REVIEW) Traditionalists versus progressives is the major plot of a new novel called The Order by writer Daniel Silva, who puts these sinister inner workings that highlight this modern-day Vatican political power struggle — albeit a fictional account in this case — into greater focus.
Read MorePastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church ignored California’s orders to host services indoors without masks or social distancing. The church filed a lawsuit against California officials, saying that state-mandated restrictions to prevent COVID-19 violate the state’s constitution.
Read MoreZimbabwean human rights, democracy and Christian groups are rallying behind Catholic bishops in the southern African country after leaders were attacked over the weekend by the government. Government authorities labelled the bishops “evil” after they voiced their concerns over the country’s worsening economic and human rights crisis in a pastoral letter that has given new life to the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter online protest.
Read MoreThis week Kamala Harris, presidential candidate Joe Biden’s running mate, will take the main stage at the virtual Democratic National Convention in events streamed online, kicked off Aug. 16 by an interfaith service featuring Christian, Native American, Hindu and Jewish religious leaders.
Read More(OPINION) Forgiveness has been crucial throughout history to heal tensions between races after injustice and evil. It’s just as important today.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the religion angles tied to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s selection of California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate.
Read MoreA growing Christian security movement focuses on training churches and ministries how to protect their congregations in case of gun violence.
Read MoreRep. John DeBerry Jr., running for his 14th two-year term in the Tennessee General Assembly, has been voted off the Democratic primary for his conservative positions on issues such as abortion, gay rights and school choice. He says these positions are a result of his faith, not his politics.
Read More(OPINION) In times of crisis, people often turn to religion for comfort and understanding. Studies have shown that prayer and interest in prayer have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Biden is a baptized Catholic and has made his faith a cornerstone of his bid for the presidency, often referring to his faith as a guide in his decision making and a source of comfort in the tragedies he has faced in his life. But many Catholics point out that his policies oppose the Church’s teaching, specifically on abortion. Catholics weigh in on what it all means.
Read MoreIn the heart of Beirut’s downtown, the recent explosion is not the first blast Saint Elias Cathedral has survived. The cathedral has witnessed several wars in Lebanon and has a special symbolism as a sanctuary not only for Christians, but also Muslims who gather annually for a Ramadan feast hosted by the cathedral’s community. Father Agapios, priest of the church, spoke to Religion Unplugged about surviving the blast and his hope for Lebanon.
Read MoreA new Pew Research survey says a majority of Americans believe churches should follow the same restrictions as other businesses in their local area.
Read More(OPINION) As national news outlets increasingly abandon objectivity and transition into advocacy, some very important stories and trends — like the recent cases of vandalism against Catholic churches — never get to readers.
Read More(OPINION) A recent New York Times story about evangelicals in Sioux Center, Iowa confirms stereotypes more than the more nuanced reality of a diverse Christian community that serves each other more than seeks power.
Read MoreJatindra Shunty and his family have helped cremate or bury the unclaimed poor in New Delhi for years. Now during a pandemic, they are also performing last rites for COVID-19 patients, whether Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian, aiming to give dignity in rest to people who may not have been treated with dignity in life.
Read MoreMatt Lieberman, who is in the middle of a campaign for a U.S. Senate seat from Georgia, is defending the racial content of his debut novel “Lucius.” Some have criticized the book by saying it presents a white savior narrative and uses racial slurs. Despite calls to drop out of the race, Lieberman is defending his campaign and his novel.
Read More(OPINION) The hashtag #JewishPrivilege was trending on Twitter in the month of July. But are Jews privileged? Many of them in America are white or white-passing, but others emphasize the effect of Anti-Semitism on Jewish communities.
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