Malaysia deports more than 1,000 Myanmar nationals despite High Court order

Just hours after a Feb. 23 court hearing granted a temporary stay to Myanmar nationals in Malaysia to protect asylum seekers who fled religious and ethnic persecution, 1,086 Myanmar citizens were deported on three ships by Myanmar’s military at the Malaysian Royal Navy base in Lumut, on the West coast of Malaysia. The UN’s refugee agency, denied access to the immigration detention centers since August 2019, was not allowed to evaluate and separate asylum seekers from the group deported, which sources say include Chin Christians who had fled persecution in Myanmar.

Religion Unplugged's Full Conversation With Alabama's 'Fifth Girl' Sarah Collins Rudolph

Sarah Collins Rudolph, survivor of the racist Alabama church bombing that fueled Civil Rights activism, spoke with Religion Unplugged on racial reconciliation and how her faith has sustained her. Rudolph released a book about her story on Jan. 28 — including the full story from the bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church in 1963.

Peruvian officials, Vatican diplomat secretly obtained COVID-19 vaccines meant for doctors

The Vatican’s diplomatic representative in Lima, Peru secretly obtained a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine, along with high-ranking Peruvian officials, meant for doctors and researchers working on a clinical trial.

South America, NewsReynaldo AragonFebruary 23, 2021Reynaldo Aragon, vacunagate, vacuna vip, Peru, COVID-19, vaccine scandal, Secondary FeatureComment

Anatomy of a scandal: What's next for the Coverage of the Ravi Zacharias fallout?

(OPINION) Ravi Zacharias, known for turning "apologetics" (defense of the Christian faith) from defensive bombast to intelligent and personable persuasion through books, countless personal appearances worldwide and the global team of some 100 speakers he built — died last May. Though, the coverage of multiple sex scandals he was involved in during his lifetime still stains the news today.

OpinionRichard OstlingFebruary 23, 2021Opinion, Richard OstlingComment

Serbia's New Patriarch Brings Track Record of Peace-Building To Divided Nation

(ANALYSIS) The Serbian Orthodox Church elected Patriarch Porfirije after its former leader died of COVID-19. Porfirije has won many international accolades for growing a drug addiction therapy program and building bridges between Serbs, Croatians and the people of Kosovo, a disputed Muslim-majority territory with many 13th and 14th century Serbian Orthodox holy sites.

National Cathedral Invites Evangelical to Preach, Triggering Storm of Protest

(OPINION) Evangelical megachurch leader, Max Lucado, spoke about the trials of 2020 and the coronavirus during his recent sermon streamed online by the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. last Sunday. This invitation to speak alarmed legions of Episcopalians opposed to his history of orthodoxy on sex and marriage to trigger an online storm.

OpinionTerry MattinglyFebruary 22, 2021Terry Mattingly, Opinion, Evangelicals, LGBTQ+, LGBTQ faithComment

Hindu temple's reopening in Kashmir spotlights Muslims caring for temples for decades

After fleeing violence 31 years ago, dozens of Kashmiri Hindus returned to the Himalayan valley to see their childhood temple reopened. Their temple and others have been maintained by Muslim neighbors and protected from militant violence and the land mafia. “I believe if I safeguard the temple, God will keep me safe, it’s my duty to do that,” caretaker Mohammed Sideeq said.

U.K. Churches Viewed More Positively Since COVID-19 Pandemic, New Survey Shows

A February survey shows that non-Christians in the U.K. have developed a more positive view of the church since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Fazlun Khalid shows how environmentalism is intrinsic to Islam

Fazlun Khalid has worked for decades to raise environmental consciousness among Muslims and demonstrate what he sees as the inherently ecological nature of Islam and the environmental worldview it espouses.

How We Can Reverse Cancel Culture

(OPINION) Increasingly, everyday citizens are falling prey to the cancel culture mob. But how can we reverse cancel culture? Some biblical principles can help.

Opinion, North AmericaRobyn SpradlinFebruary 19, 2021Robyn Spradlin, cancel cultureComment

As storm cripples Texas' energy grid, people of faith rally to help

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the religion angles related to the winter storm that left millions without power in Texas. Plus, catch up on all the week’s top headlines and best reads in the world of faith.

Internet Evangelism? Better Yet — Is it Here to Stay?

(OPINION) As churches shifted to virtual services during the COVID-19 crisis, much of evangelicalism transferred to the Internet. In a Barna study, researchers asked the question, is this virtual work being done during the pandemic going to actually bring people through the doors when the church opens back up?

OpinionTerry MattinglyFebruary 19, 2021Terry Mattingly, Opinion, EvangelicalismComment

Texas church partners with Jeep club to shelter elderly during winter storm

Volunteers with the North Texas Jeep Club are partnering with OpenDoor Church in the Dallas-Forth Worth metroplex to provide transportation, food and shelter to the elderly as Texas faces widespread power outages.

Berliners debate renaming street honoring 'Nazi' pope after Israel's only female PM

Berliners are debating renaming Pacelliallee – a major street named after Rome-born Eugenio Pacelli, better known as Pope Pius XII, to honor former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir (1898-1978). Pius XII served as a Vatican ambassador in Berlin and has been accused of anti-Semitism and sympathizing with Nazis during the Holocaust. Meir was Israel’s first and only female prime minister.

Did the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol involve Christian 'heresy' or was it 'apostasy'?

(OPINION) Conservative Christians propose that the final day of Trump’s campaign to overturn President Biden’s Electoral College victory involved religious “heresy” or “apostasy.” A survey by the conservative American Enterprise Institute shows 63% of White evangelicals think Biden’s win was illegitimate, despite the numerous federal and state court rulings that found no evidence for Trump’s claim of a “sacred landslide.” But to what extent were Christians implicated in the Capitol mayhem?

OpinionRichard OstlingFebruary 17, 2021Richard Ostling, Opinion, capitol mob, capitol violence, insurrection Comments

Americans say religion is more central to their identity than politics

(ANALYSIS) A 2020 survey helps us understand just what matters most to Americans’ identities: politics or religion. The results are not exactly what this data journalist anticipated.

PBS Documentary 'The Black Church' Paints Unique and Spiritual History Through Gospel Music

(REVIEW) New PBS documentary “The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song” gives a complete history of the church — from slavery to the modern Black Lives Matter movement — and focuses on charismatic worship and Gospel music.

One-Fifth of Black Americans Not Affiliated With Any Religion, Straying From Majority Black Churches

According to a new Pew Research study released Feb. 16, one in five Black Americans (21%) are not affiliated with any religion and instead identify as atheist, agnostic or religious “nones.” The trend towards secularization is continuing to grow with each new generation.

Myanmar's asylum seekers in Malaysia face uncertain deportation to military regime

Thousands of migrants and asylum seekers who left Myanmar for better opportunities in Malaysia are facing uncertain deportation. After Myanmar’s coup, the new military regime announced it would send three ships to collect 1,200 citizens from a Malaysian detention center that houses both migrants and asylum seekers. If deported, religious and ethnic minorities would return to the persecution in Myanmar that they fled.

New Book by Church Historian Explains Tensions Between Biden and U.S. Bishops

(REVIEW) Church historian Massimo Faggioli's new book “Joe Biden and Catholicism in the United States” offers background of the three previous times a Catholic candidate has been the nominee for the highest office in the land and why Biden's candidacy and now presidency comes at a particularly fraught moment for not just American Catholicism but the global church.

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