How William Barr, culture warrior, weaponizes religious liberty
(RNS) — In a speech at Notre Dame, the U.S. attorney general put personal morality — and personal religious liberty — above the more traditional Catholic concern for social problems.
As he walks neighborhoods, candidate documents his city's Virgin Mary shrines
SANTA ANA, Calif. (RNS) — Manny Escamilla is taking photos of his city’s Virgin of Guadalupe shrines as he canvasses the neighborhood for his City Council campaign.
Harvest Pastor Greg Laurie urges compassion after Jarrid Wilson's suicide
RIVERSIDE (RNS) — Two days after Jarrid Wilson's suicide, Pastor Greg Laurie stressed the importance of seeking help when feeling depressed or experiencing suicidal thoughts.
In Los Angeles, a synagogue opens its parking lot to people living in cars
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — A local synagogue has joined forces with Safe Parking LA, a nonprofit that sets up secure parking lots for people who live in their car.
'Only God can do that': How Nebraskans are reconciling faith and flooding
LINCOLN, Neb. (RNS) — Here’s a look at how a few Nebraska communities — Christian, Yazidi and Ponca — are reconciling their faiths with the devastating floods that have swept across the Midwest.
How an ancient Islamic holiday became uniquely Caribbean
(The Conversation) — In Trinidad, where Muslims make up 5 percent of the population, a parade of colorful floats marks the Shiite holy day of Ashura, but the festival also commemorates those killed in the anti-British Hosay riots in 1884.
Battle lines form over social justice: Is it gospel or heresy?
(RNS) — In the current social climate some Christians have called for new movements to fight the marginalization of minorities and the poor as an expression of discipleship. But others see calls for social justice as a distraction from the gospel.
Faith and friendship as a remedy to the opioid crisis
(RNS) — With the help of addicts themselves, researchers are exploring the emotional, social and relational reasons why people become addicted—and how relationship with God and others can restore and heal.
Indonesian president invokes 'Pancasila' to counter rising Islamism
(RNS) — Pancasila, a set of founding principles including 'belief in the the One and Only God,' has historically demanded respect for the country's six formally recognized faiths.
What is the Hajj?
(The Conversation) — Nearly 2 million Muslim pilgrims are gathering in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for all Muslims who are able to undertake the five-day pilgrimage.
Who are the Sikhs and what are their beliefs?
(The Conversation) — More than 500,000 Sikh Americans face a growing amount of hate crimes, mainly from ignorance. A Sikh scholar explains the tenets and history of the faith, including why they wear turbans.
Vigilante killings in Tanzania spur a hunt for witch-hunters
(RNS) — The dark side of the country's widespread belief in witchcraft is that people are quick to blame supposed conjurers — mostly older women —for their misfortunes.
What the early church thought about God's gender
(The Conversation) — After much debate, the Episcopal Church recently began a process to replace masculine terms for God. But Christians have long referred to God in feminine terms, perhaps understanding the God, and the imagery used to describe God, can’t be limited.
What Richard Dawkins doesn't get about the Muslim call to prayer
(The Conversation) — Richard Dawkins' tweets are not the first time the Muslim call to prayer has been misconstrued or that Muslims have been attacked for their prayer practices around the world.
The culture wars need to make a safe space for conscience
(RNS) — The booing of Christian soccer player Jaelene Hinkle for following her conscience shows that we need to turn down the temperature in the culture wars.
