The history of Christianity shows different and evolving interpretations on how Christian women should live. Medieval Christians for example prized joining a convent and devoting one’s life to God more than becoming a wife. This history is the subject of a new book by Dr. Beth Allison Barr, a professor of medieval history at Baylor University.
Read More(OPINION) “White privilege” is about the distribution of material possessions and honor in this world. It is a reality that White people are better off in terms of both material riches and honor at the present moment. But this is not the type of privilege that should concern Christians, who are passers-by in this world.
Read MoreIn the midst of a deadly second coronavirus wave and medical care shortage, Moin Mastan and his team of 25 volunteers have been working round the clock to perform the last rites, cremations and burials of 40 to 50 Indians every day who have died with COVID-19 infections in the central Indian state of Maharashtra—all while fasting daily for Ramadan, a holy month in Islam for tightened devotion in spiritual reflection, worship and prayer.
Read More(OPINION) The complicated history of the royals, past and present, loomed over the short, dignified funeral for Prince Philip in St. George's Chapel, Windsor — with only 30 mourners due to COVID restrictions. The prince’s liturgical choices shaped an Anglican rite that stressed images of service, eternal hope and the beauties of God's creation.
Read More(OPINION) Will German Catholicism Go Protestant, Five Centuries Late? A significant phalanx of German bishops, united with prominent lay activists, seem intent on revisionist change to come from their "Synodical Way" project, which the Vatican has sought to suppress, so far without success.
Read MoreSikh houses of worship, called gurdwaras, are discussing how to ramp up security measures around the country to protect the community after the mass shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis that killed eight people, including four Sikhs. Perhaps the most prominent tool is The Sikh Coalition’s recently revamped gurdwara security kit, launched in January, to help the Sikh houses of worship and community members prevent and prepare for such unexpected tragic events.
Read More(OPINION) April 24 has long been observed worldwide as Armenian Genocide Memorial Day. In 2021, President Joe Biden chose to formally acknowledge that the systematic murder of more than a million Armenian Christians by the Ottoman Empire was, in fact, a genocide.
Read More(OPINION) When in the foreseeable future will there be a better chance for church goers to demonstrate that they’re more than the anachronisms that the skeptics and demographic trends portray them as—that their faith can bring hope to where darkness and pain persist after the pandemic is “over”?
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in covers the key faith angles after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s murder conviction in the death of George Floyd. Plus, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read MoreReligion Unplugged interviewed Dr. John Jackson, President of William Jessup University, a California-based private Christian university in the Sacramento area. In our conversation, Dr. Jackson explored the spiritual and practical impacts of COVID-19 on the Jessup community, reflected on challenges to religious freedom during the pandemic and offered a vision of religious freedom lived responsibly and stewarded for the benefit of others during the pandemic.
Read MoreMeasured over the past five years or even this year alone, new Anti-Defamation League Study shows significant percentages of Jews suffered online harassment, in-person verbal attacks, or physical violence.
Read More(OPINION) On April 22, 2021, British Parliamentarians recognized the atrocities perpetrated against the Uyghurs as genocide. This debate was only the second time the U.K. House of Commons was asked to recognize ongoing atrocities as genocide, with the first being in the case of Daesh atrocities against Yazidis, Christians and others.
Read More(OPINION) The Catholic news world has also seen its share of startups since the internet has changed the news industry. It’s these changes that have brought more issues like fake news and misinformation, but also allowed journalists to become entrepreneurs and build start-ups of their own.
Read More(ANALYSIS) White Christians were significantly more likely to get the vaccine than the general public between January and April. In the latest survey results, nearly 60% of White Catholics had been vaccinated and just about half of White evangelicals said the same. It was the religious “nones” that were lagging far behind, with only 31% indicating that they had received one dose.
Read MoreAs the pandemic subsides and travel becomes easier thanks to massive vaccination efforts, here are five churches you can visit this summer that were featured in major Hollywood flicks.
Read MoreOn Friday, April 23, Christie’s in New York will auction the late Elaine and Alexandre Rosenberg’s unparalleled collection of 17 illuminated medieval Bible manuscripts and more than 200 books from before 1501. Alexandre played a leading role in recapturing his family’s looted artwork from the Nazis and later retired in Manhattan where he built his Bible collection with Elaine.
Read More(OPINION) Any study of the COVID-19 pandemic's financial impact on America's nearly 17,000 parishes had to start with the early lockdowns that turned Easter 2020 into a virtual event, with millions of Catholics stuck at home, along with their wallets and checkbooks. The Pillar found that total offerings were 12% lower in 2020 than the previous year.
Read More(OPINION) Will the international community — and in particular the United States and other democracy-espousing nations — punk out as it did with the Nazi-run 1936 Berlin Olympics for the winter games in China in 2022? Or will the International community find some righteous backbone and either boycott the games, or make its opposition to Beijing’s policies known in another significant and unmistakable manner?
Read More(ANALYSIS) Four members of Indianapolis’ Sikh community were killed at the FedEx facility shooting. The community mourns, and some are calling for an investigation of bias as the shooter’s motive.
Read MoreMainstream rapper DMX (birth name Earl Simmons) passed away on April 9 after being in a coma for a week and suffering a heart attack. While his lyrics referenced the violence and drugs he knew well, DMX also aspired to be a pastor and ended his albums with gospel music and prayer.
Read More
