NEWS STORY
RNS-Uyghur-Food: After being detained in China, one LA resident began a Uyghur restaurant to educate through food
(RNS) — Bright, young, and ambitious Bugra Arkin was similar to the many California graduate students. Yet on his return to his native China in 2017 changed his life when he was detained as part of China’s persecution of its Uyghur Muslim minority. Arkin’s new Los Angeles restaurant seeks to help keep Uyghur culinary culture alive in the face of Chinese oppression. By Joseph Hammond 1000 words (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Death-Penalty: Faith groups celebrate Virginia’s death penalty ban
(RNS) — Faith groups are celebrating Virginia’s decision to ban the death penalty, a move considered to be a victory for religious opposition to capital punishment. Faith leaders are also pushing the Biden administration to follow suit. By Jack Jenkins. 979 words. (category: a)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Pope-Dante: Pope Francis honors the “prophetic poet” Dante Alighieri on the 7th centenary of his death
(RNS) – On the 700th anniversary of his death, Pope Francis paid homage to the late medieval poet Dante Alighieri, who in his masterwork detailing his imaginary journey from Hell to Purgatory and finally Heaven, did not hesitate to condemn the sins of popes and prelates who favored greed above faith. By Claire Giangravè. 900 words. (category: i)
NEWS STORY
RNS-Deconstruction-Bookclubs: Evangelical disillusionment is finding a home in book clubs
(RNS) — Evangelicals who are questioning often do so in isolation — but some are now looking for community. And they’re finding it in book clubs, reading the growing market of deconstructionist and justice-oriented literature. Though the deconstructionist movement hasn’t reached the critical mass needed to move the needle in polls, the mass of critical resources is making conversations harder to avoid. By Isaiah Murtaugh. 1,207 words. (category: a)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Hammerman-Oped: This Passover, kosher pig’s on the menu
(RNS) — Modern Jewish life is filled with kosher pigs, utter inconsistencies we sometimes hardly notice; but they are there, and they are enlightening. We all must learn the difference between pretending and striving, between going halfway in earnest and throwing it all away without giving it half a chance. By Joshua Hammerman. 830 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Silk-Oped: Why the Equality Act is no big threat to religious freedom
(RNS) — Under the circumstances, it might be wise for proponents of the Equality Act to consider compromising on an alternative bill, the Fairness for All Act, which was introduced in 2019 and again this year by U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart. By Mark Silk. 1,106 words. (category: k)
COMMENTARY
RNS-Riess-Oped: The ‘nones’ are growing — and growing more diverse
(RNS) — Ryan Burge is a political scientist at Eastern Illinois University, but he’s also a Baptist minister. For him, questions about the growth of nonreligion aren’t just theoretical. They’re personal too. A Q&A. By Jana Riess. 1,048 words. (category: k)