Aretha Franklin sings while recording her “Amazing Grace” album at a Los Angeles Baptist church in 1972. Photo courtesy of NEON
Need to know: Thursday, April 25, 2019
Aretha Franklin sings sweet sounds, recalls roots in ‘Amazing Grace’ documentary
The long-awaited documentary was delayed for almost five decades in part because of technical issues.
Bookmobile, groceries and relationships help niche bookstore stay afloat
As major Christian bookstore chains fold, niche faith-based bookstores look for creative ways to survive and thrive.
As Sudanese protesters demand democracy, Catholic bishop pushes for freedom of worship
While cheered by the role Christians have played in liberating the largely Muslim country from its dictator, Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku wants to see the laws that impede religious freedom change as well.
Civil rights advocates drop lawsuit against Oklahoma’s ‘Muslim-free’ gun range
The gun shop owners say 'terrorists,' and not Muslims, were the true object of their ban.
MoveOn co-founder: Seeing the divinity in everyone might give our politics a new start
When we cut each other off, we deepen our division and we make our world smaller and our opportunities to learn fewer, writes Joan Blades.
A new museum explores 2,000 years of Jewish life in Italy
The new Museum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah in Ferrara explores the long and complex relationship between Christianity and Judaism.
Latest news from RNS
Why United Methodists are watching the results of a denominational court meeting
What might United Methodists' top court decide this week about the Traditional Plan, and what would that mean for the second-largest Protestant denomination in the United States?
Kanye West at Coachella was a substitute Easter for sinner-saints
Beyond his showmanship, some experts say, the God-obsessed rapper is offering something the church typically doesn’t allow for: a space where people are allowed to be saint and sinner.
What to do about ordination? A gay divinity school student ponders her future
Dozens of LGBTQ United Methodist seminary students will graduate next month from the 13 schools affiliated with the denomination. Like Spencer Cullom, who is a lesbian, they face an uncertain future.
More views from RNS
Is there a war against Christianity?
Fewer people living with faith. More people dying for faith. A sacred paradox.
Three criteria to evaluate Francis’ reform of Vatican Curia
Six years after Pope Francis was elected, his proposals to reform the scandal-plagued Vatican Curia are ready to be released, writes Thomas Reese. Will they satisfy the critics of the Curia?
What would the Cossacks say?
It happened in Ukraine, It probably could not happen in the United States.
