Alternative Faiths
Why white supremacists would be thrilled to hear Jackie Hill Perry call out Beyoncé
By Andre Henry — May 4, 2023
(RNS) — A Christian criticizes Black musicians for exploring African spirituality.
More Americans pray in their car than in a place of worship, survey finds
By Adelle M. Banks — May 4, 2023
(RNS) — A distinct majority of those who pray (87%) said they believed they’d received an answer to their prayers in the last 12 months.
May Day’s pagan roots are alive and well in Beltane
By Heather Greene — May 1, 2023
(RNS) — One of the eight sabbats, or modern pagan holidays, Beltane is a celebration of community after the colder months and of the returning fertility of the land.
Pagan conferences return with more attendees, more magick after pandemic hiatus
By Heather Greene — April 19, 2023
(RNS) — ‘Everybody is here. There are lots of hugs. We are back.’
Rachel Pollack, tarot expert, trans activist and author, is dead at 77
By Heather Greene — April 17, 2023
(RNS) — Pollack said that in the single year of 1971 she discovered tarot, had her first story published, moved to Europe and came out as trans and a lesbian. 'My whole life changed in one year. It was an amazing year. A year of my life taking off,' she said.
For BLM’s Patrisse Cullors, art is a vocation and salvation
By Jocelyn Noveck — April 14, 2023
Through controversy and personal tragedy, Cullors has focused on her art practice and its themes of race and religion.
In ‘God on Psychedelics,’ Don Lattin offers a roadmap of congregational tripping
By Yonat Shimron — April 10, 2023
(RNS) — The veteran religion reporter investigates how various religious groups are using psychedelics to inspire chemically induced mystical experiences.
Cubans seek solutions and solace in Santería amid crises
By Associated Press — April 10, 2023
HAVANA (AP) — A fusion of African religions and Catholicism, Santería was one of the few religious practices to quietly endure through decades of prohibitions and stigma by the communist government.
Church-state separationist Barry Lynn recounts his legal arguments in new memoirs
By Adelle M. Banks — April 3, 2023
(RNS) — 'It is people who are hurting, people who are outcasts, that appealed to me,' Lynn said.
Astrologers respond as Starbucks becomes latest brand to look to the stars
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 30, 2023
(RNS) — Some astrologers see astrology’s appearance in memes and marketing as a move in a positive direction.
Court rehears case to protect Oak Flat, an Apache sacred site in Arizona
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 21, 2023
(RNS) — ‘A win for Apache Stronghold will be a win for people of all faiths,’ said Luke Goodrich.
Horror shows like ‘Mayfair Witches’ hire occult consultants to cast their spells
By Heather Greene — March 7, 2023
(RNS) — As witches and interest in Wicca became more common in the broader culture, occult consultants are finding more work on film and television sets.
‘Resistance’ is not just a buzzword in Kaitlin Curtice’s new book
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 7, 2023
(RNS) — In ‘Living Resistance,’ Curtice shares essays about what resistance can look like, touching on topics such as prayer and protecting the land and even child care.
Poll: Support for abortion rights is strong, even among most religious groups
By Yonat Shimron — February 23, 2023
(RNS) — The outliers are white evangelicals, Jehovah's Witnesses, Latter-day Saints and Hispanic Protestants.
As faiths shift underfoot, a TED-like gathering aims at rebalancing
By Kyle Desrosiers — February 15, 2023
(RNS) — Two friends from seminary in Texas launched a new festival to foster conversations about our changing religious communities that they felt were missing in civic life.