Faith

How Hindu temples can become community pillars in a changing America

By Murali Balaji — February 5, 2024

(RNS) — Temples need to offer more to younger Hindus, whose practice values philosophy and spirituality over ritual.

Why faith leaders lost the battle against online sports betting

By Bob Smietana — February 5, 2024

(RNS) — Legalized sports gambling now represents billions of dollars. Faith leaders in the few holdout states know the odds are against stopping it.

Kirk Franklin, Lecrae, Blind Boys of Alabama add new Grammy wins

By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — February 5, 2024

(RNS) — Gospel singer Kirk Franklin won his 20th Grammy award for his performance and songwriting on 'All Things' in the best gospel performance/song category.

Antisemitism is a sin against God, Pope Francis says, as hate crimes surge

By Claire Giangravé — February 5, 2024

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In a letter addressed to Jews in Israel, Pope Francis called for an end to the violence and war in the Holy Land.

Why I envy Orthodox Jews

By Jeffrey Salkin — February 5, 2024

(RNS) — What do you envy in a religious tradition that is not your own?

A Tennessee teen has pleaded guilty in the slaying of a prominent United Methodist Church leader

By Adrian Sainz — February 5, 2024

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The daytime shooting shook United Methodist Church members in Memphis and elsewhere.

Too pretty? Easter poster depicting a handsome, fresh-faced Jesus prompts criticism in Spain

By CiarÁn Giles — February 5, 2024

MADRID (AP) —In another interview published by El Mundo daily, Garcia responded to criticism from conservative groups that the depiction of Jesus was “effeminate” or “homoerotic.”

Pro-migrant pastors on a bus plan to meet ‘God’s Army’ convoy at Texas border town

By Fiona André — February 2, 2024

(RNS) — Doug Pagitt, a Minnesota pastor who runs the anti-Christian nationalism organization Vote Common Good, hopes to engage the anti-immigrant contingent and convince them it is migrants who are most in danger. 'We're just going to be around and try to humanize the situation,' he said.

Fuller seminary senior director fired for refusal to sign non-LGBTQ affirming statement

By Kathryn Post — February 2, 2024

(RNS) — Her termination comes as the evangelical, multidenominational seminary is re-visiting its approach to human sexuality.

Those sexy Mormon swingers

By Jana Riess — February 2, 2024

(RNS) — Here’s the reality that will never feature in a 'reality' TV series: Most Mormons are deeply, predictably, embarrassingly boring when it comes to their sex lives.

With FlashPoint Live, roster of Pentecostal ‘prophets’ hits the road for Trump

By Steve Rabey — February 2, 2024

(RNS) — The tour’s personalities and themes are borrowed from 'FlashPoint,' a Christian current-events program that features Trump and his former officials, members of Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro.

Mitri Raheb, a Palestinian pastor, travels to US to forefront plight of Christians in Gaza

By Daoud Kuttab — February 2, 2024

(RNS) — 'I wanted to remind our American friends that there are Palestinian Christians,' he said.

At National Prayer Breakfast, Biden speaks of praying, working for peace

By Adelle M. Banks — February 1, 2024

(RNS) — ‘We're all blessed to live in a nation where we can practice our many faiths and practice them freely,’ Biden said at the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall.

Sikh Americans, citing ‘transnational repression,’ vote for an independent homeland

By Richa Karmarkar — February 1, 2024

(RNS) — More and more Sikh Americans are fearful about an ‘alarming rise’ in transnational repression, according to several Sikh advocacy organizations.

‘Genius: MLK/X’ docudrama depicts the personal lives of the two civil rights activists