Series
With coronavirus concerns, sales up for prepackaged Communion cups and wafers
By Adelle M. Banks — March 11, 2020
(RNS) — ‘What we’re trying to do is minimize any kind of unnecessary touch here,’ said the Rev. Justin Coleman, pastor of a North Carolina church.
Beyoncé Mass replaces hymns with ‘Survivor’ and ‘Flaws and All’
By Adelle M. Banks — March 10, 2020
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The Rev. Yolanda Norton, creator of Beyoncé Mass, said ‘this is not your grandma’s church,’ as she wore a 'Won’t SHE do it?!' T-shirt on the Kennedy Center stage.
Does giving up social media for Lent deny the flesh? It’s complicated
By Tara Isabella Burton — March 10, 2020
(RNS) — If abstention from Instagram or Twitter is going to be more than a 'digital detox,' we need a new and better vocabulary to discuss the characteristic sins of 2020.
The Friars’ Briar — Canada’s clergy curling tournament — puts faith and fellowship on ice
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 9, 2020
WATERLOO, Ontario (RNS) — The Friars’ Briar is clergy’s answer to the Tim Hortons Brier, the annual Canadian men's curling championship, which ended Sunday.
How Reddit is helping ex-La Luz del Mundo members cope with life after the church
By Alejandra Molina — March 4, 2020
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — The subreddit appears to include commentary from former and current members of the church who may be nonbelievers but who remain in La Luz del Mundo for their families and loved ones.
JD Greear, Omar Suleiman to discuss Christian-Muslim relations at NC college
By Aysha Khan — March 3, 2020
(RNS) — Evangelical students will hear the Southern Baptist Convention president and prominent imam discuss how evangelicals and Muslims can find a way forward ‘in a time of unprecedented division and distrust.’
Fleeing coronavirus and finding our mortality
By Tara Isabella Burton — March 3, 2020
(RNS) — Our reaction to the coronavirus threat is also a statement about our need for control: our bodies, our world.
God and goal: Catholic priests and seminarians compete in 13th annual Vatican soccer tournament
By Claire Giangravé — March 2, 2020
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis is the honorary captain of the 13th annual Clericus Cup in Rome this weekend, where Catholic priests and seminarians will toss their cassocks aside and give their all on the soccer field.
‘Lent-ish’ gives up traditional practices for Lent
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 2, 2020
(RNS) — 'Some years,' Megan Westra tweeted, 'wandering through the desert needs to look different.'
‘We’re going beyond identity’: Shiite students head to Harvard for first national conference
By Aysha Khan — February 28, 2020
CAMBRIDGE (RNS) — More than 270 Shiite undergraduate and graduate students and recent alumni are gathering at Harvard this weekend to discuss spirituality, sectarianism, activism and more at the sold-out Ma’rifa Conference.
Jehovah’s Witnesses complete entire Bible in American Sign Language
By Adelle M. Banks — February 28, 2020
(RNS) — On Feb. 15, the last of the Bible's 66 books — the story of Job — was released in video on the Jehovah's Witnesses website, completing what a church spokesman said is the only complete Bible in ASL.
Why I joined Elizabeth Warren’s interfaith advisory council
By Simran Jeet Singh — February 27, 2020
(RNS) — My involvement began, ironically, with my decision not to publicly flame the senator online for the initial composition of her council, as others did, noting in particular the lack of Muslims or Catholics.
London’s new Faith hub is building young Muslims a bridge back to the mosque
By Aysha Khan — February 26, 2020
LONDON (RNS) — In a city filled with hundreds upon hundreds of mosques, Faith’s founders had no interest in creating yet another one. Nor do they have any interest in stealing away their congregants. Instead, Faith is a gathering space for those who have felt neglected by traditional Islamic spaces — especially women.
Once the excess before a Lenten fast, today’s Carnevale is rite for many traditions
By Tara Isabella Burton — February 25, 2020
(RNS) — In an age of spiritual uncertainty, more and more of us are finding our spiritual 'tribes' within existing religious traditions, be they pagan nature worship or medieval Catholicism.
Solidarity over segregation: Faith-based coalitions organize across races, religions
By Matthew J. Cressler and Adelle M. Banks — February 24, 2020
(RNS) — Author and minister Adam R. Taylor cited interracial Christian work on voter protection and multifaith efforts to combat white nationalism.
