Bob Smietana
Bob Smietana is a veteran religion writer and editor-in-chief of Religion News Service.

Is Dave Ramsey’s empire the ‘best place to work in America’? Say no and you’re out
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — For years, Dave Ramsey has boasted that his company is the best place to work in the country. COVID-19 and a failure by a high-profile leader put that to the test.

Kirbyjon Caldwell, former presidential adviser who promoted ‘good success,’ sentenced to prison
(RNS) — A former presidential adviser, Caldwell advocated for ‘good success’ — achieving financial and spiritual success while remaining moral.

SBC leader Russell Moore to Trump: Time to leave. ‘People are dead’
(RNS) — Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and an outspoken ‘Never Trumper,’ called for the president to leave.

Pro-Trump prayer meeting filled with calls for a ‘miracle’
(RNS) — Evangelical and charismatic Trump supporters admitted on a prayer call their hopes the election results would be overturned are likely to be in vain.

Revisiting ‘The Last Battle’: C.S. Lewis’ Narnia tale for our times
(RNS) — C.S. Lewis’ often overlooked final chapter of the Chronicles of Narnia still speaks to us today.

Jericho March plans DC return in the new year to pray Pence will overturn election
(RNS) — A die-hard group of Trump supporters plans to march around the Supreme Court and U.S. Capitol in hopes of a last-minute election miracle.

Rear Adm. Margaret Grun Kibben named as first woman to serve as House chaplain
(RNS) — A Presbyterian minister and longtime chaplain will be the first woman to serve as House chaplain.

Why Christianity remains an in-person religion, even in a pandemic
(RNS) — The COVID-19 pandemic has been a reminder for many Christians that their worship is an in-person experience at its core.

Despite COVID-19, economic downturns, religious charities working overseas keep the faith
(RNS) — With declining numbers of volunteers and donors, global faith-based aid organizations are looking beyond their traditional sources of support.

Why NBA star Kyrie Irving was burning sage before a game with the Celtics
(RNS) — NBA star Kyrie Irving, who has Native American roots, burned sage during a warmup in a practice known as smudging.

National Prayer Breakfast will be virtual in 2021 due to COVID-19
(RNS) — Every president since Dwight Eisenhower has attended the National Prayer Breakfast, which will go virtual in 2021 for the first time due to COVID-19.

‘Biden Did You Know?’: Metaxas turns Christmas carol into conspiracy parody
(RNS) — Metaxas performed his ‘Biden Did You Know?’ parody in front of cardboard cutouts of Donald the Caveman and the MyPillow guy.

Dave Ramsey, Christian personal finance guru, defies COVID-19 to keep staff at desks
(RNS) — Christian personal finance advice celebrity Dave Ramsey, who plans a major, in-person staff Christmas party, sees wearing masks to prevent COVID-19 spread as a sign of fear rather than faith.

COVID cancels Singing Christmas Trees, other Christmas extravaganzas
(RNS) — A holiday tradition since the 1930s, Singing Christmas Trees, like other large-scale Christmas events, have been canceled by COVID-19.

How Eric Metaxas went from Trump despiser to true believer
(RNS) — How a onetime aspiring public intellectual and Trump doubter turned into a true believer in stolen elections.