Monthly Archives: March 2015
Keeping the baby vs. abortion: Americans muddled morality about the unborn (COMMENTARY)
By Trevin Wax — March 30, 2015
(RNS) The debate over abortion reveals our society’s inconsistency: We only affirm the humanity of the unborn if the child is “wanted.”
Mormon missionaries’ escape portrayed in new movie “Freetown”
By Jana Riess — March 30, 2015
The independent Mormon movie "Freetown" is inspiring and well-told without resorting to heavy-handed preaching. Thumbs up! Filmmaker Garrett Batty talks here about making the movie, which opens in the US on April 8.
Robert Putnam fights America’s ‘opportunity gap’ with religious fervor
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — March 30, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) Robert Putnam wants to convert every reader on the sawdust trail to civic salvation. And he's not taking no for an answer.
How Indiana will “clarify” its religious freedom bill
By Mark Silk — March 30, 2015
By saying it doesn't apply to those who want to discriminate against gay couples. Maybe.
New York City to change rules to allow churches to rent schools
By David Gibson — March 30, 2015
NEW YORK (RNS) Mayor Bill de Blasio says he supports churches renting space in public schools. Now a court decision will force him to show whether he really believes that.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence: ‘Not going to change’ religious freedom law
By Richard Wolf — March 30, 2015
Facing a rising tide of criticism and business boycotts against his state, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said he would consider a second law that "amplifies and clarifies" the first one but added, "We're not going to change the law."
Jesus is all over the small screen, and that’s no accident
By Patrick Ryan — March 30, 2015
"We didn't make Sunday-school programming," says Hollywood producer Mark Burnett. "We made stuff that was accurate to the Bible, but realistic, and didn't feel like it had been made on a shoestring budget."
Why Lena Dunham isn’t funny
By Jeffrey Salkin — March 30, 2015
There are historical roots to Lena Dunham's comparison of her dog to her Jewish boyfriend. And they are not pretty.
The Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation presents Renowned Author and Retreat Leader James Finley
By Religion News LLC — March 30, 2015
Washington, DC—The Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation will welcome Dr. James Finley, author of Merton’s Palace of Nowhere, as guest speaker at Shalem’s Tenth Gerald G. May Seminar, April 24-25, 2015. Dr. Finley, a clinical psychologist in private practice, is known for his skilled leadership of retreats and workshops throughout the United States and Canada. […]
Pope Francis’ Palm Sunday homily honors Christianity’s modern martyrs
By Reuters — March 30, 2015
Humility was the theme of the pontiff's Palm Sunday homily as Christians worldwide marked the beginning of Holy Week.
Latino evangelicals call for end to death penalty. Will others follow?
By Jonathan Merritt — March 27, 2015
The National Latino Evangelical Coalition urged their 3,000 member congregations to end capital punishment. They are the first major evangelical association to take this position publicly, but support for the death penalty among Christians is waning.
The Southern Baptists’ challenge on race (ANALYSIS)
By Jacob Lupfer — March 27, 2015
(RNS) If Southern Baptists' public posture remains primarily a catalog of concerns of aggrieved white conservatives, they shouldn’t be surprised if few black folks come along.
The Institute for Science and Human Values Presents Perspectives on Death and Dying Symposium
By Religion News LLC — March 27, 2015
Even though the Pew Research Center has found that one-fifth (20%) of the USA public and a third (33 1/3%) of adults under 30 are religiously unaffiliated, most hospitals and hospices insist on having religious Chaplains available while ignoring the needs of non-theistic, secular humanist, atheist and agnostic patients. While a September 2014 Pew Research […]
Tibetan Buddhist leader blazes an innovative trail
By Joshua Eaton — March 27, 2015
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (RNS) Tibetan monk Ogyen Trinley Dorje has the support of the Dalai Lama and the majority of Tibetans, many of whom believe he will take over the Dalai Lama’s leadership role when the 79-year-old Nobel laureate dies.
