(ANALYSIS) One of the most sacred places in the Latter-day Saints temple in Washington is the Celestial Room on the sixth floor, where people come, sit quietly and pray. The Mormon leaders say this is a place to “feel close to and commune with God.” There are no ceremonies in this space.
Read More(OPINION) Through it all, American activist and Mennonite theologian Ronald J. Sider refused to compromise on core Christian doctrines and warned believers to be realistic about what political warfare can, and cannot, accomplish.
Read MoreCatholic leaders in Africa said Pope Francis’ visit to South Sudan is long awaited and could help push the political players to a settlement. The wider Catholic community in Africa is in a state of frustration over Francis’ decision to cancel and postpone his planned visit to the crises-ravaged nations of Congo and South Sudan after opting to go ahead with his trip to Canada.
Read More“Not only is a powerful (Orthodox?) tyrant annihilating human life and fertile land, but a prominent (Orthodox!) patriarch is granting benediction and endorsement of this destruction of a neighboring population that shares much of the same faith, history, and culture.”
Read MoreWhile there has been a prevailing narrative since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in June that pro-lifers don’t care about women, the facts tell a different story. For over 50 years, even preceding the Roe v. Wade decision, Christians have been serving women in unexpected or crisis pregnancies.
Read MoreThe first images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope released July 12 revealed segments of God’s beautiful universe never seen before. Scott Acton, a Christian scientist at Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. in Boulder, Colorado, served as the wavefront sensing and controls scientist on the telescope project.
Read MoreThe Central Lutheran Church of Dallas just celebrated its 100th anniversary. The congregation, which recently merged with 70-year-old Bethany Lutheran Church of Dallas, is starting to reckon with the decline in attendance and membership that is plaguing mainline traditions across the United States.
Read More(OPINION) Progressive Christianity may call itself Christian, may espouse many excellent causes based on the ethical teachings of Jesus, and may even reveal blindspots and failings among conservative Christians. But it is not, itself, Christian. It has progressed beyond (and outside of) the word of God.
Read MoreJoshua Prager’s book, “The Family Roe” was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction and received broad acclaim for Prager’s painstaking research into the life of the Roe v. Wade plaintiff — Norma McCorvey in real life and “Jane Roe” to the court — and many people connected to her, including the daughter born to her before abortion was legalized.
(OPINION) The preacher as political powerbroker is much more rare than many might think. In fact, one political scientist argues that most ministers from the right, left and center intentionally dodge political topics. That’s not because they fear the Internal Revenue Service but because they’re concerned about their careers and congregants.
Read MoreStates, lawyers and legal scholars are continuing to evaluate the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, which overturned the decision in Roe v. Wade and subsequent abortion cases and held the U.S. Constitution does not, in fact, recognize a right to terminate a pregnancy.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The Gambia initiated proceedings against Myanmar, alleging it has been involved in atrocities against the Rohingya Muslims, including “killing, causing serious bodily and mental harm, inflicting conditions that are calculated to bring about physical destruction, imposing measures to prevent births, and forcible transfers, (which) are genocidal in character because they are intended to destroy the Rohingya group in whole or in part.”
Read MoreFor four weeks each summer, Kids & Christian Camp brings children ages 3 to 12 together in the nation’s capital to cook Jamaican food, listen to African music, learn about Mexican history and Japanese clothing, practice Brazilian martial arts and tour the Tanzanian embassy.
Read MoreFollowing a six-day voyage across Canada that included five stops and nine public appearances in Edmonton and Quebec City, Pope Francis said that the trip will result in reduced future travel and even the possibility he may choose to someday retire.
Read More(REVIEW) Dr. Donald Cline was once regarded as one of the best fertility doctors in the state of Indiana. But the rise in home DNA testing revealed years of invasive, unethical practice. For dozens, it brought into question Cline’s religious beliefs and position as a church elder.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court released a decision clearly stating that religious schools cannot be excluded from state school choice programs. This means, in short, a major potential change for the future of private faith-based education.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights Pope Francis’ trip to Canada to apologize to Indigenous peoples for abuses at church-run residential schools. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read More(OPINION) People are going to let you down. Everybody is going to let you down. Your friends will let you down. Christians will let you down. Your parents will let you down. Even your spouse will let you down. But we can reach out, even through our pain, and offer forgiveness and mercy and love.
Read More(OPINION) In the Bible, does St. Peter call women the “weaker sex”? Jackson Wu, an evangelical theologian with the Global Training Network, raised the question about 1 Peter 3:7. Wu complains that the physical strength explanation “has often been used” to “subtly affirm the inferiority of women.” But some translations include a different interpretation in the text.
Read More(OPINION) In terms of religious messages, the MCU has come a long way since Captain America, after hearing Loki described as a god, said, “There’s only one God ... and I’m pretty sure He doesn’t dress like that.” The New Rockstars YouTube channel counted 50-plus gods in “Thor: Love and Thunder” alone.
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