Monday’s Religion News Roundup: Comedian Evangelization * Hipster Worship * The Bible Sequel

The adoption movement remains in the news as The Tennessean published three stories on the evolution of the evangelical orphan care movement in Sunday’s paper: one, two, three. Mass was held Sunday for Boston bombing victim Martin Richard on what would have been his 9th birthday. Catholic, anti-abortion Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad may have to sign […]

Behind-the-Scenes; Mark and Roma Burnett with the cast and crew on set at the Ouarzazate Museum location.  RNS photo courtesy History Channel.

The adoption movement remains in the news as The Tennessean published three stories on the evolution of the evangelical orphan care movement in Sunday’s paper: one, two, three.

mark and roma burnett

Behind-the-Scenes; Mark and Roma Burnett with the cast and crew on set at the Ouarzazate Museum location. RNS photo courtesy History Channel.

Mass was held Sunday for Boston bombing victim Martin Richard on what would have been his 9th birthday.


Catholic, anti-abortion Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad may have to sign off on payments for every Medicaid-funded abortion in his state.

Leaders from the Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention are reminding us of their support for immigration reform as debates in Congress begin to heat up again.

“Survivor” producer Mark Burnett is planning a sequel to the hit History Channel series “The Bible” that focuses on Jesus. It’s unclear yet whether or not Satan will be played by another actor.

What did Jesus look like? Blogger Justin Taylor offers a best-guess forensic rendering.

You might want to read more about this Chinese/American/Swedish church in hipster Austin that uses Chemex to make their coffee. There’s even an accompanying video.

Our own Omid Safi found himself in the middle of the Istanbul demonstrations, giving five takeaways, including “This is not simply Islamists vs. Secularists.” And don’t miss Jonathan Merritt’s additional reporting on the growing evangelical gender debates.

Two women in Egypt convert–one to Islam, one to Christianity–illustrating deep sensitivities surrounding conversions in the country.


“Now the Internet appears to be a great temptation,” the head of the Russian Orthodox Church tells monks, urging them to shun the Internet and cell phones.

The Catholic Church has launched a new campaign called “The new evangelization,” and Washington Post reporter Michelle Boorstein wants to know if comedian Jim Gaffigan might be part of it. The synagogue where he appeared in recently doubles as a hip arts venue

Police had been arresting women at the Western Wall for wearing prayer shawls and tefillin that in more traditional circles is worn only by men, but  Israel police enforced a Jerusalem district court order and protected about 300 women over the weekend.

Prayers were said in churches across South Africa for former President Nelson Mandela, who has spent a third night in hospital in “serious but stable” condition for a lung infection.

The Oregon Senate passed a bill last week that would require all parents who don’t want a child vaccinated to get a science lesson first, a key change from current law, allowing a parent to refuse immunization on religious grounds by signing a form. Meanwhile, Wisconsin is considering a bill requiring an ultrasound before an abortion.

Nik Wallenda, the man who walked across Niagara Falls on a tightrope last year,  plans to cross the Grand Canyon the same way on June 23. Wallenda recently release a memoir called “Balance: Christian Faith and Miraculous Results,” and appeared on NPR’s humorous show “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me” last week.


On Sunday, musician Kanye West debuted “I Am a God” from his new album “Yeezus,” which included the lyrics “I just talked to Jesus, and he said, ‘What’s up, Yeezus?’ and I said, ‘S***, I’m chilli’, trying to stack these millions.”

Fun tweets for your morning:

Jonathan Merritt reminds us that Father’s Day will be this Sunday. Consider giving your dad a free subscription to the daily roundup for news he can use.

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