A breakout session on “How to Become a Badass” meets during the Wild Goose Festival in Hot Springs, N.C., on July 13, 2019. RNS photo by Jack Jenkins
Need to know: Tuesday, July 16, 2019
In remote Appalachia, liberal Christians gather at Wild Goose to pray — and plan
As the religious left exerts an unaccustomed influence on politics, this Christian festival has begun to draw recognizable names, including presidential candidates.
Brownback wants ‘like-mindeds’ at religious freedom summit; violators need not RSVP
The Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom will focus on countries that have at least begun to work on improving the rights of religious minorities within their borders, the U.S. religious freedom ambassador told Religion News Service in an interview Monday.
Michael W. Smith, Kevin Jonas to start music center, label at Liberty University
What do Liberty University students have in common with the Jonas Brothers? Come fall, it will be the opportunity to launch music careers with Kevin Jonas, the father and original manager of the sibling rock trio.
The jubilee of the moon landing is a chance to assess technology’s promise
Technology has an almost boundless potential to solve problems, but the Bible's dictum about jubilee celebrations reminds us that technology should also create more prosperity for all, writes Julie Schonfeld.
A closer look at how religious restrictions have risen around the world
Tenth annual report dives deeper into the ways government restrictions on religion and social hostilities involving religion have changed, from 2007 to 2017.
Federally funded evangelical foster agency still won’t accept Jewish or queer volunteers
Miracle Hill Ministries just announced it’s allowing non-evangelicals as employees and prospective foster parents. But Jews, queer people and others need not apply.
Latest news from RNS
School for missionary children in Japan investigating allegations of past abuse
The Christian Academy in Japan is investigating 66 cases of alleged past abuse at the school spanning decades.
With more migrants stalled in Mexico, Baptists may play larger role on border
Waves of Baptist volunteers from across the Mid- and Southwest have flooded Texas in recent weeks to offer aid to the influx of largely Central American migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
Brownback wants religious freedom summit to spark ‘global grassroots movement’
But some critics don’t have much faith that the summit will lead to substantive results.
More views from RNS
In Brooklyn, ‘tradpunk’ Christianity meets millennial counterculture
For many religious people, faith has become a countercultural rejection of elements of secular culture. It’s traditionalism as transgression. You might even call it tradpunk, writes Tara Isabella Burton.
Expanding Mormon “worthiness” interviews to children as young as 8: Why?
The LDS Church is asking some members whether children ages 8 to 11 should be called to regular interviews with the bishop. The short answer is no, writes Jana Riess.
Christian nationalism, the border and Fourth of July church in Dallas
As the border crisis boiled over last summer, I attended a Southern Baptist megachurch on Fourth of July weekend. I wanted to hear which would speak louder: Jesus or America, writes Angela Denker.
