Christianity
Is the golden age of American Jews really ending?
By Mark Silk — May 8, 2024
(RNS) — Reports of its demise are premature.
Ugandan faith leaders work to confront increase in gender-based violence
By Tonny Onyulo — May 8, 2024
BUPOTO, Uganda (RNS) — ‘We need to work together if we are to end gender-based violence. We need to involve the government, NGOs, parents, community leaders, women and girls,’ said one evangelist.
Harlem church offers vegan cooking classes to promote healthy lifestyle
By Fiona André — May 8, 2024
NEW YORK (RNS) – ‘We’re showing people that you can eat healthy and satisfy your taste buds,’ said Karen Phipps, director of the church’s health ministry.
How 19th-century Spiritualists ‘canceled’ the idea of hell to address social and political concerns
By Lindsay DiCuirci — May 8, 2024
(The Conversation) — Spiritualists believed that after shedding the body in death, the spirit would continue on a celestial journey and help those on Earth create a more just world.
Southern Baptists, losing members, find solace in baptisms and better attendance
By Bob Smietana — May 7, 2024
(RNS) — While membership in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination is down, participation in worship and baptisms went up in 2023. But a new statistical report found that many Southern Baptist Convention churches do little to address sexual abuse.
Baltimore Catholic parish closures a ‘punch in the stomach’ with long-term impact
By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — May 7, 2024
BALTIMORE (RNS) — Parish closures in the nation’s oldest Catholic diocese are part of a nationwide trend of dioceses restructuring in response to falling Mass attendance and priest shortages.
Excommunication is not the church’s equivalent of capital punishment
By Thomas Reese — May 7, 2024
(RNS) — The church has not had a good system for punishing people since we got rid of the Inquisition.
In toxic time, hope can be the solid ground we can stand on
By Cassandra Lawrence — May 7, 2024
(RNS) — Severely tried in the months since Oct. 7, the interfaith community still looks to the promise of future flourishing.
A man tried to shoot a pastor during a church service but his gun wouldn’t fire, state police say
By Bruce Shipkowski — May 7, 2024
(AP) – The chaos at the Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock took place Sunday while the service was being livestreamed, state police said in a news release.
Artists created images of Christ that focused not on historical accuracy but on reflecting different communities − a scholar of religious history explains
By Virginia Raguin — May 7, 2024
(The Conversation) — Images of Christ often represented prevailing cultural beliefs, allowing onlookers to connect in a deep and meaningful way.
Turkey formally opens another former Byzantine-era church as a mosque
By Associated Press — May 7, 2024
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey formally converted The Church of St. Saviour in Chora, known as Kariye in Turkish, into a mosque in 2020, soon after it similarly turned Istanbul’s landmark Haghia Sophia into a Muslim house of prayer.
Silicon Valley bishop, two Catholic AI experts weigh in on AI evangelization
By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — May 6, 2024
(RNS) — Catholic leaders who have worked with the Vatican on AI say that a recent experiment from Catholic Answers illustrates the ways AI evangelization can go wrong.
After vote to repeal LGBTQ bans, many gay Methodists are now fully out
By Yonat Shimron — May 6, 2024
DURHAM, N.C. (RNS) — On the first Sunday after the conclusion of the denomination’s General Conference, many queer United Methodists celebrated their release from the tight and narrow spaces that had confined them.
New crop of Swiss Guards prepares to serve the pope through hard work and listening
By Claire Giangravé — May 6, 2024
(RNS) — Swiss Guards may not have to go to battle for the pope, but they engage in spiritual war to help hopefuls coming to the Vatican.
How Trumpism has pushed a fringe charismatic theology into the mainstream
By Matthew D. Taylor and Paul A. Djupe — May 6, 2024
(RNS) — Charismatic Christian prophets have gained new influence since becoming identified with the former president.
