Top Stories

James Forbes’ ode to Juneteenth calls on Americans to embrace the promise of freedom

By Yonat Shimron

(RNS) — The retired pastor's spoken word is not simply a paean to freedom. It’s a call to all Americans to face the reality of the nation’s history and the unfinished work of Juneteenth.

‘An excuse for the feast’: Witches celebrate the summer solstice with cakes, mead — and salsa

By Emily McFarlan Miller

AOC, other Catholic Democrats urge bishops against ‘weaponization’ of Communion

By Jack Jenkins

After politically charged debate, bishops vote to draft controversial Communion document

By Jack Jenkins

Michael W. Smith: ‘Six principles I learned from my dad’s life’

By Michael W. Smith

(RNS) — There’s an old saying that goes, 'More is caught than taught.' I had a front-row seat to see how to live a life of integrity and honor by watching my dad’s life.

Albert Mohler’s darkest hour

By Jonathan Merritt

(RNS) — In his bid to lead America’s largest denomination, he was his own worst enemy.

At annual meeting, Southern Baptists ‘turn their hearts to the right’

By Jacob Lupfer

(RNS) — A new president offers clues to the denomination’s direction. It’s not as promising as it seems.

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‘Am I the worst thing a person can be?’: Witches fight media bias

Kenyan woman ‘marries’ the Holy Spirit in Anglican ceremony

Pagan politics are not as uniform (or liberal) as you think

Kenyan Rastafarians seek to legalize marijuana over doubts of other faith leaders

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Alternative Faiths

President Joe Biden points to Opal Lee after signing the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Washington. From left, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif, Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., Opal Lee, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., Vice President Kamala Harris, House Majority Whip James Clyburn of S.C., Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, obscured, Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

‘We still have work to do’: How to understand the new Juneteenth holiday

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during a news conference after the Kentucky Supreme Court heard oral arguments for two cases challenging the governor's ability to issue emergency declarations, Thursday, June 10, 2021 in Frankfort, Ky. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP, Pool)

High court ruling cited in Kentucky child services dispute

FILE - This June 8, 2021 file photo shows the Supreme Court building in Washington. A Thursday, June 17, 2021 Supreme Court ruling that favored Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia was far from the constitutional gale wind that would have reshaped how courts interpret religious liberty under the First Amendment. Governmental entities are now on notice that if they want to ban discrimination against LGBTQ persons or anyone else, they had better not allow for any exceptions – or else religious groups will have the right to ask for them, and they'll have a strong case for getting them. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Court: If bias rules have exceptions, faith groups qualify

World

In this March 9, 2020, file photo, Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his partner, Carrie Symonds, arrive to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in London. A U.K. newspaper reported that Johnson and Symonds married May 29, 2021, in a small private ceremony in London. The Mail on Sunday and the Sun said the couple wed at the Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral in front of a small group of friends and family. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

Boris Johnson and Britain are having their own Catholic crisis

Israel’s new prime minister, Naftali Bennett, sits with Yair Lapid, left, during a Knesset session in Jerusalem on June 13, 2021. Israel's parliament has voted in favor of a new coalition government, formally ending Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s historic 12-year rule. Bennett, a former ally of Netanyahu, became the new prime minister. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Will Naftali Bennett’s diverse coalition lead Israel to recognize Jewish diversity?

The Chinese flag flies at a plaza near the Potala Palace in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Tuesday, June 1, 2021, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. High-pressure tactics employed by China's ruling Communist Party appear to be finding success in separating Tibetans from their traditional Buddhist culture and the influence of the Dalai Lama. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

China offers glimpse of Tibetan life without the Dalai Lama

Health & Lifestyle

In this photo taken May 5, 2021, Melanie Paige closes her eyes as she gets her first COVID-19 vaccination at her church, St. Matthew Christian Methodist Episcopal, in Milwaukee. It's one of the churches that was part of an effort with Pastors United, Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope, Souls to the Polls and the local health clinic Health Connections to get people vaccinated directly in churches. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)

Black community has new option for health care: the church

Aranka Engel, 103, left, holds the hand of fellow Holocaust survivor Jean Kurz, 81, while watching Orthodox Jewish singer Yaakov Shwekey perform at a concert honoring them and dozens of other Holocaust survivors on Monday, June 14, 2021, at the Yeshivah of Flatbush theater at Joel Braverman High School in the Brooklyn borough of New York. It was the first large gathering for New York-area Holocaust survivors after more than a year of isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

NY Holocaust survivors celebrated at concert after isolation

FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2014, file photo, students meditate during Mindful Studies class at Wilson High School in Portland, Oregon. The year-long course is one of a growing number of programs that are incorporating mindfulness, yoga and meditation into school curriculums to bring socio-emotional benefits to students. (AP Photo/Gosia Wozniacka, File)

Will yoga classes in public school lead kids to convert?

Arts & Culture

Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz, center, reviews his work on “Let The Oppressed Go Free.” Photo courtesy of Timothy Schmalz

Catholic sculptor wishes to restore Catholic credibility amid modern evils

“What Is God Like?” by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner. Image courtesy of Convergent Books

‘What Is God Like?’ Late author Rachel Held Evans’ first children’s book invites questions

Riz Ahmed arrives at the world premiere of

Riz Ahmed launches new effort seeking to increase Muslims in Hollywood

Science & Tech

An demonstration of the “Sajdah” e-rug that is being developed. Image courtesy of Thakaa Technologies

New e-prayer rug offers digital support to Muslim prayer

Screenshots from the new believr app. Courtesy images

New app, believr, aims to create a ‘home for LGBTQ+ Christians’

This April 3, 2019, file photo shows primatologist Jane Goodall being honored for her lifetime achievements at a ceremony on her 85th birthday in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

‘Religion entered into me’: A talk with Jane Goodall, winner of the 2021 Templeton Prize

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An Iranian woman holds a portrait of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a rally marking the 42nd anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, in Tehran, Iran, Feb. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A hard-line stance on Iran endangers Christians. There’s a better way.

In this March 7, 2021, file photo, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public rally ahead of West Bengal state elections in Kolkata, India. (AP Photo/Bikas Das, File)

President Trump failed to challenge India on religious freedom. Will Biden follow suit?

Goldziher Prize Expanding for 2019

Photos of the Week: Southern Baptists meet; historic bell found

James Forbes’ ode to Juneteenth calls on Americans to embrace the promise of freedom

‘An excuse for the feast’: Witches celebrate the summer solstice with cakes, mead — and salsa

‘We still have work to do’: How to understand the new Juneteenth holiday

Michael W. Smith: ‘Six principles I learned from my dad’s life’

AOC, other Catholic Democrats urge bishops against ‘weaponization’ of Communion

After politically charged debate, bishops vote to draft controversial Communion document

High court ruling cited in Kentucky child services dispute

On Faith and Culture

Albert Mohler’s darkest hour

Catholic groups from Mexico, Central America and US ask bishops for support in helping migrants

RNS Press Releases

Holman Bibles schedules two new Bibles in New American Standard Bible Translation

AME Church Statement on the Anniversary of the Mother Emanuel Massacre

FEZANA reaches milestone fundraising goal of $1.1 Million (USD) in partnership with the University of Toronto, establishing first-ever FEZANA Professorship of Zoroastrian Languages and Literature at the University of Toronto