Congressional Funding Bill Mixed Bag On Abortion And Religious Freedom

The latest Congressional spending package allows federally funded gender transitions and essentially bypasses current restrictions on government-funded abortions, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission said. Protections for pre-born life, religious liberty and biblical gender are among ERLC’s prime concerns in the bill that offers certain protections while overlooking others.

Read More
Bible Trumper: Former President Selling ‘God Bless the USA’ Holy Books

Trying to recover from under an avalanche of legal bills, former President Donald Trump said that he’s selling Bibles as he embarks on another White House run. “Happy Holy Week! Let’s Make America Pray Again. As we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless the USA Bible,” he said in a video posted to Truth Social.

Read More
Oklahoma Christian Academy Finds The Good In A Very Tough Season

This isn’t “Hoosiers” — a feel-good story about a small-town basketball team overcoming steep odds to win the state title. In fact, the Lady Eagles of Oklahoma Christian Academy went 0-14 this season, losing by scores of 67-21, 43-11 and 85-10. But their story is every bit as inspiring as that of the fictional Indiana team coached by Gene Hackman.

Read More
How Many Atheists Are There In Your State?

(ANALYSIS) Most “nones” are not atheists. I do, however, believe that atheists are crucial for the future of American society and politics. As I’ve previously written, they are among the most politically active groups in the United States. But how many are there? The Cooperative Election Study can help us with an estimate.

Read More
Alban Buns An Easter Tradition That Dates Back Centuries

Hot Cross Buns have become synonymous with Easter in the United Kingdom and in many English-speaking countries around the world. Millions of these deliciously sweet spiced, slightly sticky buns are available everywhere with many supermarkets now offering variations ranging from chocolate to apple and cinnamon. 

Read More
Supreme Court Hears Arguments In Nationwide Abortion Pill Case

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Tuesday in a case that will rule on the availability of mifepristone, a drug commonly used in medication abortions. The case is the first time the Supreme Court has weighed in on the issue of abortion since the historic overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. A decision on the case is expected in June.

Read More
Holy Week Pilgrimage Draws Thousands Of Hispanic Catholics To New Mexico

For decades, the people of northern New Mexico have marked the Christian observance of Good Friday with a walking pilgrimage to the Santuario de Chimayó in the village of Chimayó, New Mexico. Referring to themselves as Hispanos, or Nuevomexicanos, they have lived in the region for generations.

Read More
Mark Driscoll Tries To Justify ‘How Dare You!’ Sermon, But Facts Don’t Match Testimony

Disgraced former Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll has posted a video attempting to justify his infamous sermon from 15 years ago in which he screams, “How dare you!” But like other explanations Driscoll has given, the facts don’t match the recollections of former staff from the now-shuttered Seattle megachurch.

Read More
Behold: A World-Class Novelist Wrestles Anew With Biblical Genesis

(ANALYSIS) The American novelist and essayist Marilynne Robinson has accumulated numerous literary prizes, among them the 2005 Pulitzer, but also honors in religion. Her new non-fiction book “Reading Genesis” wrestles with the grand themes and thorny issues raised in the Bible’s first book. It’s a climactic testament at the twilight of a distinguished life and career. 

Read More
How Easter Became A Holy Time For Some Hindus And Muslims

Even though the days of slavery and indentured labor in South Africa are long gone, the Hindu and Muslim festivities that take place on Easter weekend have become beloved occasions for their respective communities. In a variety of ways, South African Hindus and Muslims have made the Christian holiday their own.

Read More
Tornado Levels Indiana Church Building In Pre-Easter Tragedy

About 24 hours after the Winchester church met for its midweek Bible study, an EF3 tornado leveled its 50-year-old meeting place. The twister left a trail of destruction — but no deaths — across 25 miles of eastern Indiana, including Winchester, a town of 4,700 about 70 miles east of Indianapolis.

Read More
Israel’s Purim Festivals Feature Glee And Despair Amid Ongoing War

The Purim festivities in Israel this year were tinged with a schizophrenic twinning of glee and despair. Adding to the dismal mood was intermittent rain and a drizzle of rockets from Lebanon. Many celebrants experienced cognitive dissonance in marking the foiling of a genocidal plan in ancient Persia while a bloody war is raging today in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

Read More
In Nigeria, A Clergy Rape Survivor Turns Pain Into A Source Of Support For Others

Statistics compiled by Amnesty International show that there is a culture of stigmatization and victim-blaming towards rape survivors in Nigeria. The result is a large percentage of rape and sexual assaults going unreported. One man is trying to change all that by helping others after experiencing abuse himself as a child.

Read More
Asking The Question Again: Is America A Christian Nation?

(OPINION) With the ever increasing warnings about the alleged danger of “Christian nationalism,” however ambiguous that term might be, it is only fair to ask: Is America a Christian nation? And, just as importantly: Has America ever been a Christian nation? And how does this relate to Christian nationalism?

Read More
Whatever Issue Is At Hand, It’s Likely None Of Your Business

(OPINION) Mostly we butt into other folks’ affairs because we’re control freaks who need to fix, or at least feel superior to, everyone else. Or, like Dear Abby’s correspondents, we’re nosy. Or we reap some type of social currency from getting the inside scoop and then passing it along to friends. Or we hope to deflect attention from our own shortcomings by calling attention to someone else’s.

None of those is a good look, is it?

Read More
Hispanic Protestant Pastors Face Unique Congregational And Community Needs

Pastors of Hispanic Protestant churches in the United States maintain immense gratitude for their role, but many face financial struggles. Their congregations reflect diverse worship styles, but they have a unified desire to reach and serve their communities. A new study looks into the challenges these churches face in modern-day America.

Read More
Crypto Is Coming: Are Religious Nonprofits Ready For It?

As of January 2024, 56% of the largest U.S. charities now accept cryptocurrency donations. According to The Giving Block, a crypto-giving platform for charities, more than $2 billion in crypto has been donated to nonprofits since 2018. Is it the future of giving?

Read More
Not So Fast: Some Muslim Soccer Players Dealing With ‘Ramadan Bans’

Muslim athletes face a unique challenge when Ramadan coincides with their training and competition schedules. Throughout the month-long period, practicing Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from both food and drink. For athletes, this can be particularly demanding as they need to maintain their energy and performance levels.

Read More