Purnendu Goswami, center, a Hindu monk-turned-atheist, with several students of his school for underprivileged children outside his family’s ashram, Bindu Seva Sansthan, in Vrindavan, India, on June 11, 2019. RNS photo by Priyadarshini Sen
Need to know: Thursday, June 20, 2019
Atheist ashram on Lord Krishna’s home turf roils India’s Hindu nationalists
Two brothers who once devoutly supported the Hindu nationalist agenda have turned to rationalism, attracting attacks from religious leaders and politicians.
Church World Service hosts Ration Challenge around World Refugee Day
The global challenge — organized in the United States by Church World Service — asks participants to live for a week on the same food rations refugees receive to raise money and awareness for the challenges they face.
Survey: Most white evangelicals blame journalists for fake news
They also blame politicians and activist groups.
Why Christians must support religious freedom for everyone
The promotion of the fundamental human right of religious freedom is the product of a fully formed Christian worldview, writes Tony Perkins.
Synod of bishops to discuss ordaining married men
Limiting ordination after marriage to 'mature men' will be portrayed as exceptional, but both traditionalists and progressives believe that it will spread to more and more situations, writes Thomas Reese.
UTD is home to the first ‘Muslim interest’ fraternity; now, it’s expanding beyond
The values the frat stands by are Islamic, but it allows in non-Muslims, too. It calls itself a “Muslim-interest fraternity,” not a “Muslim fraternity,” which allows it to accept others.
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Not just churches: Camps are also prone to child sexual abuse
The camp where a counselor was arrested last week for "inappropriate touching" is not accredited by the American Camp Association.
Amid broad drop in charitable donations, giving to God down $3 billion last year
Giving to religion — perennially the biggest sector — is estimated to have declined by 1.5% in 2018 (a decrease of 3.9% adjusted for inflation), with a total of $124.52 billion in contributions.
After fascist threat to Houston mosque, Texas Muslims call for increased security
A 4chan user threatened to use Houston’s Baitus Samee Mosque to re-create the massacre that left dozens dead at two mosques in New Zealand.
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20 changes the new Mormon president has made to appeal to Millennials and Generation Z
Mormon leaders have been hard at work to change missionary expectations, temple rituals, and curriculum to improve the Latter-day Saint experience for Millennials and Generation Z. Will it be enough? Jana Riess writes.
America’s only Jewish boarding school closes. Why?
It was a major disappointment. And, also, an inspirational story. And, also, a cautionary tale.
Quebec’s new law banning religious garments in public fails the reality test
(RNS) — Where the arguments of laicity offered by defenders of Quebec's new law fall flat is in the real world.
