J. Dana Trent shows a medicine wheel in her World Religion class at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Jan. 30, 2020. RNS photo by Yonat Shimron
Need to know: Tuesday, February 4, 2020
J. Dana Trent is on a mission to discuss death with the post-Millennial generation
Her fascination with death is part of a growing movement whose adherents believe in wresting control of death from the funeral industry and breaking the silence around death through frank discussions.
Sanders wins endorsement from Muslim group, Iowa’s only Muslim state legislator
The Vermont senator received an endorsement from Muslim Caucus in America and its advisory committee member Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, a Des Moines native.
Pastor John Ortberg allowed volunteer who was attracted to minors to work with children
John Ortberg, megachurch pastor and author, apologized for not banning a volunteer who confessed to being attracted to children.
Learning trust in the sharing economy
The sharing economy is removing traditional social barriers and engendering trust. What can we learn from this as Christians, writes Christina Crook.
Mormons (and everyone else) will soon have access to the Church’s Handbook
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is going to make one single policy handbook publicly available, ending decades of secrecy and, frankly, confusion, writes Jana Riess.
Mark Zuckerberg tells tech conference he has ‘become more religious’
He attributed his religious evolution to the issues his company has faced over the last few years and the birth of his two daughters.
Latest news from RNS
Democratic presidential hopeful Tom Steyer on faith, climate change and who goes to heaven
Known for his environmental advocacy, Tom Steyer, like other candidates, has made a point of referencing his faith often while on the campaign trail. He spoke with RNS to discuss his faith, how it intersects with his policy agenda, and the overlap between religion and politics in the United States.
Tom Steyer and preaching the environmental gospel on the campaign trail
Lots of people see God in nature. But for Tom Steyer, a billionaire environmentalist turned presidential candidate, God is found not only in the environment but also in those who fight to protect it.
Sekulow-run Christian charities steered $65M to the Trump lawyer and his family
An Associated Press review of tax documents found that tens of missions of dollars were directed to Trump lawyer and Christian legal giant Jay Sekulow and his family.
More views from RNS
Impeachment and the decline of constitutional faith
In the language of both Democrats and Republicans, the Constitution is not the sacred document it used to be, writes Mark Silk.
The Focolare have two words for our broken political dialogue: Jesus forsaken
(RNS) — The lay Catholic group teaches a model of dialogue that urges us to Christ-like suffering as a bridge to those with opposing views.
Jack Van Impe: Prophet of doom who gave true believers hope
Many Christians will dearly miss Jack Van Impe’s preaching on the apocalypse, but they can be comforted that his death will certainly not mean an end to his message of hope, and warning, writes John E. "Jay" Phelan Jr.
