Renée Roden
Renée Roden is an author at Religion News Service.
All Stories by Renée Roden
Is Britney Spears a Catholic? The internet has thoughts
By Renée Roden — August 11, 2021
(RNS) — If you're looking for clarity, these theories aren't for you — but if you want to get up to speed with the preeminent hot takes, here's what you need to know.
Orlando’s Holy Land theme park sold by TBN to health care company
By Renée Roden — August 5, 2021
(RNS) — Trinity Broadcasting Network sold the Christian-based theme park for a reported $32 million to a Seventh-day Adventist health care company.
His parish was the poor: The Rev. Tom Lumpkin spent 40 years ministering to Detroit’s homeless
By Renée Roden — August 4, 2021
(RNS) – ‘Living with people who have lots of problems helped me see my own dark side,’ said the Rev. Tom Lumpkin, who spent 40 years serving Detroit’s homeless.
Charismatic TikTok divided over praying in tongues
By Renée Roden — August 3, 2021
(RNS) — ‘I think words are not the greatest at describing the sensation. It’s being filled, it’s being baptized. It’s a little mysterious,' said one TikToker.
So you’ve been asked to officiate a wedding? Five pieces of advice from the pros
By Renée Roden — July 30, 2021
(RNS) — Chances are increasingly likely if you attend the wedding of a couple under 30 years old, their officiant won’t be a person of the cloth but someone who’s close to the couple.
Judge orders forfeiture of ancient tablet from Museum of the Bible
By Renée Roden — July 28, 2021
(RNS) — A federal judge ordered Hobby Lobby to forfeit a rare fragment of the Epic of Gilgamesh to the United States government.
‘The last time we had a communication shift this drastic was the printing press’
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
'In 2020, in a global pandemic, seemed like a great time to start a church with no budget and no building,' said Baker with a laugh.
‘Not everyone loves me’
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
"People kept telling me, 'You look just like Jesus, except you're gay," said TikTok creator JeGaysus.
‘They’re looking for a pastor on this journey’
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
'I was done with pastoring. And, honestly, done with Christian people altogether'
‘One belief kind of fell after the other’
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
'Deconstruction is unlearning what has been instilled into you on a deep and permanent level. Unlearning emotional habits you learn from the church.'
‘I didn’t have anyone in my life who I could talk to about it’
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
'Religion is not something you expect to be popular on social media.'
‘God isn’t surprised by our questions’
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
'There are so many people within the deconstruction TikTok community that are way more well-versed and so intelligent.'
Lonely no more: Questioning Christians find belonging on TikTok
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
(RNS) — Deconstructing the faith of one's childhood can be a lonely undertaking. For many of these church exiles, TikTok has filled the gap.
‘I knew absolutely nothing about my own religion. Everything I knew was basically hearsay’
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
'I got so many heartfelt messages, messages where people said "this is so helpful for me."'
Dating as a Catholic: Sweet dream or not-so-beautiful nightmare?
By Renée Roden — July 22, 2021
(RNS) — Sometimes sorting potential mates based on shared religion can result in strange bedfellows. One Instagram account laughs through the pain.
