Texas state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, center, talks with fellow lawmakers before a vote at the state Capitol in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Need to know: Thursday, April 11, 2019
Faith-based bills advance in Texas in defiance of ‘almighty dollar’
Some faith and business leaders oppose a proposal that they say would let Texans use their faith as a shield to deny services as mundane as plumbing or towing a car.
How Netanyahu’s win could further polarize American Jews
If in the past, American Jews united behind Israel’s premier regardless of personality or party, Netanyahu has opened up a huge gulf with American Jews, who trend liberal and tend to vote Democratic in U.S. elections.
Hindu guest chaplain, at your service — but does he speak for all Hindus?
As with Islam and Buddhism, Hinduism's decentralized structure means that the loudest voices are often taken to be authoritative.
In Los Angeles, a house for all heretics
A private home known as Heretic House fills a church-shaped hole for the city's atheists without the trappings of belief in a higher power.
Netanyahu is not Israel
Yes, I am sad. I am disappointed. That is why I am doubling down on Israel, writes Jeffrey Salkin.
The renegade nuns who took on a pipeline
An Oklahoma-based pipeline company was trying to lay a pipeline under a cornfield belonging to the nuns, and the sisters decided to fight back, hoping that they might draw attention to the issue of climate change.
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100 investigators probing La. fires that destroyed three black churches
Investigators are trying to determine if the three fires at historic Baptist churches in Opelousas and Port Barre are related or if any of them are tied to a blaze at a Pentecostal church in the town of Vivian.
After ‘challenging times,’ Moody Bible Institute inaugurates new president
Students, faculty from Moody and neighboring institutions, previous presidents and other guests gathered as Mark Jobe was installed as the 10th president of the historic Christian institution founded 133 years ago by evangelist D.L. Moody.
For Orthodox Jewish men, the hat known as a Borsalino is tops
A fedora worn by Rihanna and Indiana Jones has also been the hat of choice for Jews from Eastern Europe to the United States for more than a century.
More views from RNS
Is race really “trivial” and “temporary” in Mormonism?
Pres. Oaks this weekend seemed to suggest that race is a temporary and trivial matter. Guest blogger Emily Jensen says that's white privilege talking.
The spirituality of mending
(RNS) — Amid our frenzy to declutter, we are drowning in disposables. Mending asks us to fix what we have.
Is it antisemitic to call Stephen Miller a white nationalist?
Let's reject sloppy labeling, writes Jeffrey Salkin.
