Try to imagine an America in which families that have, for generations, urged their children to serve in the armed services stopped doing precisely that. Here is a question about the religion data in that equation: Can Episcopal and liberal mainline Protestant churches in the Northeast produce as many future soldiers as Baptists, Pentecostals and nondenominational evangelicals in the Bible Belt?
Read MoreThis weekâs Weekend Plug-in focuses on the religious significance of Mondayâs total solar eclipse. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read MoreSomething to ponder: One of the earliest known uses of the noun madness is in an early version of Wycliffeâs Bible in 1384. In the wider world, madness meant insanity, lunacy, irrationalism, folly, delusion. In scripture, individuals â as well as nations and faith traditions â with only a shallow sense of the past and genuine tradition are given to delusion, which happens to be how Iain McGilchrist describes our current state of affairs.
Read More(ANALYSIS) On Jan. 26, 2024, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel, among others, to âin accordance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention, in relation to Palestinians in Gaza, take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of Article II of this Convention.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Because of concerns to preserve the country's cramped view of "secularism," French authorities are denying Muslim soccer players accommodation for their religiously required Ramadan fasting. This reveals very different understandings of what is meant by the term "secular" and thereby the very meaning of the now much debated "secular state.â
Read More(ANALYSIS) Sen. Joe Lieberman died on March 27 at age 82, ending a career defined as much by his life as an Orthodox Jew as by his attempts to remain a centrist as Democrats kept moving to the cultural left. While voting with his party on issues such as abortion, gun control and gay rights, he was a strong supporter of religious liberty â including for conservatives who frequently clashed with his party.
Read More(ANALYSIS) It has been more than 500 years since Vatican decrees gave European colonizers permission to carve up the âNew Worldâ â and just one since Pope Francis disavowed them. The repudiation can hardly undo centuries of oppressing Indigenous people and stealing their lands. Yet the statement is monumental in ways that signal cultural and political shifts within the Catholic Church.
Read More(ANALYSIS) I read a story a few weeks ago in the Free Press that had an intriguing title, âLatinos are flocking to evangelical Christianity.â The piece was an excerpt from a book called âLatinoland: A Portrait of Americaâs Largest and Least Understood Minority.â The book is based on over 200 interviews with Hispanics from all facets of American society in order to develop a clearer picture of what Hispanic culture looks like in the United States.
Read More(REVIEW) How big a threat is âChristian nationalism?â Fear of Donald Trump increased the revenues of big media companies in 2016, and fear of âChristian nationalismâ in 2024 is helping the sale of books screaming about it.
Read MoreIn the year since the Covenant School shootings, authorities â think FBI â have said they cannot release the manifesto and diaries of shooter Audrey (Aiden) Hale because they are relevant to ongoing investigations. If that is the case, then itâs safe to assume that these investigations are real. If they are not real, then thatâs a stunning fact in an of itself.
Read More(ANALYSIS) At this stage in his country music career, Oliver Anthony is still reaching his fans by propping his smartphone in a tour bus window and recording social media videos. Seven months ago, of course, he didn't have a career, didnât have a tour bus and didn't have fans.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Most ânonesâ are not atheists. I do, however, believe that atheists are crucial for the future of American society and politics. As Iâve 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(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 âReading Genesisâ wrestles with the grand themes and thorny issues raised in the Bibleâs first book. Itâs a climactic testament at the twilight of a distinguished life and career.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Ultra-Orthodox resistance to conscription is nothing new. But the forcefulness of this declaration is new, especially coming in the midst of a war. And Yosef is not any random rabbi. He is the son of Ovadia Yosef, who was the spiritual leader of the Shas Party: an important partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuâs right-wing and religious governing coalition.
Read MoreThis weekâs Weekend Plug-in highlights four takeaways from a new national survey on religion in public life. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Hereâs a fun fact, the United States Census Bureau is prohibited from asking questions about religion on the decennial census. Thatâs the big data collection effort that is conducted every decade to get an accurate headcount of the United States for purposes of apportionment.
Read MoreâDune: Part Twoâ has been a massive hit at the box office, making back the first movieâs entire ticket take on its opening weekend and narrowly beating the opening of âOppenheimer.â And with a Rotten Tomatoes critical and audience score over 90%, many are already calling it one of the best sequels of all time. Hereâs what the movie says about religion and those who practice it.
Read MoreThis decision, Catholic Charities v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission, might at first glance seem to be yet another boring administrative matter. Thatâs far from being the case. In fact, the outcome raises the bar for all religions to show that their charity arms deserve such exemptions in the state.
Read MoreThis weekâs Weekend Plug-in highlights Adelle M. Banksâ selection as the Religion News Associationâs Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read MoreOn this weekâs âCrossroadsâ podcast, we focus on a top-secret meeting of Catholic bishops and trans Catholics, their families and some LGBTQ+ activists. You probably didnât read about this newsy meeting because the mainstream press didnât cover it (unless I have missed something).
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