DIY Faith
Oral history project preserves stories of black Muslim seniors amid pandemic
By Aysha Khan — April 17, 2020
(RNS) — A new oral history initiative aims to train black Muslim youth to document their elderly community members’ stories, before it's too late.
David J. Halperin on why UFOs tell us more about life on Earth than outer space
By Yonat Shimron — April 17, 2020
(RNS) — In his new book “Intimate Alien,” he explores UFOs as myths, but not in the sense that they are false or fake news. On the contrary, Halperin thinks they may contain deep and profound truths.
Fighting anxiety and isolation the Sikh way: service
By Simran Jeet Singh — April 15, 2020
(RNS) — Hundreds of Sikh communities are risking their lives to serve those affected by COVID-19, based on their tradition of seva.
There’s an app for that: Christian mindfulness, meditation apps find their moment
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 15, 2020
(RNS) — Many apps have reported spikes in searches for meditations on fear and anxiety since the pandemic started.
Peter, Malchus and our nameless saviors of the coronavirus crisis
By Tara Isabella Burton — April 14, 2020
(RNS) — Being displaced from the physical presence of church has turned our attention to the human beings we know and those whose names we'll never know.
Social distancing is no stumbling block for Texas church’s Minecraft Easter egg hunt
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 10, 2020
(RNS) — Since it was announced in March, Tate Springs Baptist Church’s virtual Easter egg hunt has grown into a national event, even leaping to the attention of the National Esports Association.
As a pandemic peaks at Christianity’s Easter climax, churches adapt online
By Alejandra Molina and Emily McFarlan Miller — April 9, 2020
(RNS) — Social distancing measures have caused radical dislocations for a holiday that is at once one of the most mystical and most hands-on in world religion.
A new book explores the evolution of the DIY handbook for Passover
By Yonat Shimron — April 8, 2020
(RNS) — Vanessa Ochs’ new book, ‘The Passover Haggadah: A Biography,’ recounts how this wine-stained ritual manual, handed to each participant around the seder table, evolved. And no, she doesn’t think the coronavirus will emerge as the 11th plague.
Fleshly sacraments in a viral, virtual world
By Tara Isabella Burton — April 7, 2020
(RNS) — Marrying in Central Park in the middle of a quarantine, we inadvertently found ourselves something of an attraction for all of New York City.
A Passover Haggadah with a focus on Earth care takes off in a time of pandemic
By Yonat Shimron — April 7, 2020
(RNS) — In a year that has seen the deaths of thousands to a virulent virus sweeping the world, many are welcoming a focus on the health of the planet and finding it especially meaningful in a time of social isolation.
A new book urges canonization of Fulton Sheen, father of electronic Mass
By Claire Giangravé — April 6, 2020
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Sheen's niece hopes to restart the New York bishop's journey to canonization after it was abruptly halted last December.
During pandemic, small and aging churches face obstacles to adapt
By Alejandra Molina — April 6, 2020
(RNS) — With social-distancing guidelines in place to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, small churches with less income and older parishioners may struggle with declining weekly tithes and adapting to virtual services.
With coronavirus infections linked to religious gatherings, debate rages over worship amid pandemic
By Jack Jenkins — April 3, 2020
(RNS) — ‘I just think that puts a lot of vulnerable people at risk,’ said Greg Jones, dean of the Duke Divinity School.
Muslim groups join forces to raise $500,000 for coronavirus relief grants
By Aysha Khan — April 3, 2020
(RNS) — A Muslim-led crowdfunding campaign has raised nearly $500,000 to offer micro-grants to low-income American families whose livelihoods have been hurt by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
Black churches, synagogues face racially abusive ‘Zoombombings’
By Aysha Khan — April 3, 2020
(RNS) — Minority groups are calling for law enforcement and Zoom to crack down on perpetrators of racial abuse on the platform.
