(OPINION) A new survey finds that 1 in 3 young people ages 13-25 don’t trust people of other religions “very much” or “at all.”
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The pandemic has upended and reinvented the form and shape of ministry as Churches of Christ have learned to be virtual, socially distant and masked. But perhaps no aspect of congregational life has been called to creativity more urgently than children’s ministry.
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(REVIEW) New true crime series “Murder Among the Mormons” tells the story of 1985 Salt Lake City bombings connected to the LDS Church.
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After its celebrity pastor Carl Lentz’s marital affair became public, Hillsong Church is quietly rebuilding and resetting their global mission to keep reaching more people searching for meaning in their lives and create community and worship music. Critics say the church needs greater accountability for its leadership. Rumors of Lentz, who is married, acting inappropriately with women circulated as early as 2017.
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(OPINION) The majority in the new 2-1 decision in Indiana regarding Christmas decor in front of the Lion’s Club argued that the "nativity scene is constitutional because it fits within a long national tradition of using the nativity scene in broader holiday displays to celebrate the origins of Christmas." This post-Christmas decision in the heartland may have been a turning point in the ‘reindeer laws’ debate.
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(OPINION) Ravi Zacharias was perhaps the world’s most famous apologist for Christianity until his death last year, but now the most memorable part of his legacy is the apologetics challenge he has left behind for the rest of us. Here’s why we shouldn’t dismiss his arguments even after the revelation of his sexual abuses.
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Earlier this month, talk show host Eric Metaxas and the US-based non-profit Christian Solidarity International (CSI) issued a startling press release that stated they had “partnered together” with a goal of freeing at least 350 Sudan slaves before Christmas. The statement also said that CSI had freed 600 Christian and non-Muslim people from slavery in Sudan. This action has raised much suspicion and controversy since its release.
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(OPINION) What definition of “religion” is the right definition to use in American society? How does that definition of religion relate to the insurrectionist riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6?
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In an effort to stifle widespread protests against new farm laws, many led by Sikhs, India’s government has launched a new set of regulations to censor online content and is leveraging a colonial-era sedition law to arrest anyone the government deems as critics.
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(ANALYSIS) German bishops have brought what they call reforms back to the forefront over the past few weeks with a series of moves that could forever change Roman Catholicism.
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This week’s Weekend Plug-in revisits a famous quote by the famous theologian Karl Barth on reading both the Bible and the newspaper. Plus, check out the week’s top headlines and best reads in the world of faith.
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In 2017, Catherine Mardon and her husband were surprised with memberships into the Catholic Church’s Order of St. Sylvester for their work with disability advocacy and management of several activism campaigns.
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(ANALYSIS) On Feb. 26, Jews celebrate Purim with feasts, carnivals and charity. A historian of American Judaism points to Purim as an important holiday that increased Jews’ visibility in the United States in the 19th century.
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A photo released this week depicting popular comic book villain the Joker dressed as Jesus Christ is circulating social media. Fans speculate on what it means for the soon-to-be-released Justice League and reflect on the director’s past work — which heavily uses religious symbolism.
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(ANALYSIS) The Equality Act would explicitly add to the definition of “sex” both “sexual orientation” and “gender identity,” but a Supreme Court ruling this summer already goes a long way toward ensuring LGBTQ individuals are protected from discrimination in federal law. The Equality Act would scrap a law that protects the religious freedom of organizations that adhere to orthodox theologies on gender and sexuality— there is a better way.
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(OPINION) The United Methodist Church is on the brink of America's biggest religious schism since the Civil War, with the conflict centering on sexual morality, biblical authority and theological liberalism. The 2020 General Conference to settle matters was postponed until this coming Aug. 29- Sept. 7 in Minneapolis, a city that currently limits meetings to 150 people.
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(ANALYSIS) Surveys taken before the 2020 election show that women are more likely to identify as religious than their male counterparts.
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(OPINION) What does the phrase “follow the science” mean for journalism and particularly the impact of Catholic voices in news stories? That Catholics, and traditional religious believers in general, are seen as anti-science puts them in direct contradiction with what these politicians say and want.
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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Apostles Brooklyn church taught that New Yorkers can be joyful while isolated in quarantine when they focus on God. Still, the church acknowledges this is incredibly difficult without meeting people in person. So some members have innovated small groups to watch the Sunday services at apartments in pods of 10 or fewer people.
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(ANALYSIS) Israel is the top country for vaccinating its population. It now possibly faces legal obligations — and calls from the United Nations — to prioritize vaccinating Palestinians.
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