NEWS STORY
RNS-Asatru-QAnon: Heathens condemn storming of Capitol after Norse religious symbols appear amid mob
(RNS) — Many people have pointed out the tattoos sported by one of the most prominently photographed rioters — a shirtless man wearing fur and horns and red, white and blue face paint. The man since has been identified by multiple media outlets as Jake Angeli, better known as the “QAnon Shaman” or “Q Shaman,” and his tattoos, as symbols associated with Heathenry, or Norse Paganism. And some Heathen organizations and individuals have been quick to speak out against the riot and any association with Paganism or Heathenry. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 922 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Confronting-Conspiracy: Russell Moore, Justin Giboney warn that conspiracies must be confronted with truth
(RNS) — Conspiracy theories and societal breakdowns contributed to the mob violence at the Capitol this week, two experts on religion and culture say. By Adelle M. Banks. 900 words (category: a)
NEWS BRIEF
RNS-Refugee-Lawsuit: Court blocks Trump executive order allowing state and local officials to refuse refugees
(RNS) — Three faith-based refugee resettlement organizations are declaring “victory” in their court battle to block President Donald Trump’s executive order allowing state and local officials to refuse refugees. That came Friday (Jan. 8) as Maryland’s 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction blocking the order. By Emily McFarlan Miller. 550 words
NEWS STORY
RNS-Moore-Trump: SBC leader Russell Moore to Trump: Time to leave. ‘People are dead’
(RNS) — Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore, a prominent Never Trumper, joined calls for the president to step down.
By Bob Smietana. 630 words. (Categories, a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-JohnsonCook-Soul: Pixar adviser and theologian Suzan Johnson Cook on how they came to define ‘soul’ in the film
(RNS) — The Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook, longtime minister and former religious freedom ambassador, took on another role with the new animated movie “Soul.” By Adelle M. Banks. 1,200 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Greene-Oped: Witches to GOP — if you summon a demon, have a plan to banish it
(RNS) — There is a saying in the modern witchcraft community: “If you plan to summon a demon, you best be able to banish it.” The concept is meant very literally. Spirits of all kinds can be unpredictable and demons even more so. If not before, the events of Jan. 6 prove without a doubt the GOP was not prepared to banish what it had unleashed with President Trump. By Heather Greene. 700 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Lewis-Oped: How the Capitol police privileged white rage
(RNS) — When self-entitled white supremacists attacked our nation’s Capitol building, Capitol police let them roam nearly unimpeded. Four years ago, the Capitol police arrested members of our Black-led protest in that same building. Our crime? Singing. By Jacqui Lewis. 1,500 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-McCaulley-Oped: It is past time for the church to tell the truth about the election
(RNS) — President Trump wasn’t making a legal or a factual argument claiming election fraud. He was using his power to put a thumb on the scales. Therefore, the ongoing support of these unproven theories of election fraud by white conservative Christians does not simply weaken the church’s witness by making it partisan. It weakens our witness by aligning truth with power — a classic error that has always led to ruin. By Esau McCaulley. 1250 words. (category: k)