Christianity
The ’Splainer: What is Epiphany?
By Kimberly Winston — January 5, 2017
(RNS) You thought the holidays were over. Technically, no — not until Jan. 6, when Christians all over the world celebrate Epiphany.
Many sightings of hope
By Martin E. Marty — January 5, 2017
“We do not know enough about the future to be absolutely pessimistic.”
Stop telling nonbelievers they have a hole in their hearts
By guest — January 5, 2017
(RNS) Whether intentional or not, the assertion comes across as a scare tactic that can be very harmful, especially when impressed upon young children.
‘Underground’ Catholics complicate pope’s hope of better relations with China
By Reuters — December 24, 2016
BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) Some Chinese Catholics are not ready to accept reconciliation with a government that has persecuted them for years.
Dylann Roof made lists of South Carolina churches before attack
By David Gibson — December 13, 2016
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) An investigator testified that the lists included other African Methodist Episcopal churches, a predominantly black Baptist church and a black Catholic congregation.
What is behind the turkey pardoning ritual?
By Jerome Socolovsky — November 24, 2016
Drawing on the long traditions of forgiveness in the world’s religions, this very public act of pardoning reminds us about the important role rituals themselves play in society.
Amazon ad features Muslim cleric
By Jerome Socolovsky — November 21, 2016
SAN FRANCISCO (USA Today) The most surprising thing about Amazon’s latest ad for its Prime service is that it appears to be the first time a Muslim cleric has been featured in a television ad shown in the United States.
General Butt Naked’s humanitarian rebirth tests Liberia’s forgiveness
By RNS staff — October 26, 2016
MONROVIA (Reuters) Everyone likes a good redemption story, and there are few more remarkable than that of notorious Liberian warlord 'General Butt Naked.'
Jack Chick dressed hatred in theology
By Jeffrey Salkin — October 25, 2016
An evangelical cartoonist has died. His work was hardly the best that Christianity has to offer.
The religious wanderings of Bob Dylan, Nobel laureate
By Kimberly Winston — October 13, 2016
(RNS) Scholars of the rock-pop-country-folk singer, songwriter, poet and author have long charted his spiritual meanderings.
Met show celebrates Jerusalem as house of mirrors
By Yonat Shimron — September 26, 2016
NEW YORK (RNS) The show’s true spectacle is aggregate: dozens of compelling objects and images interacting, fighting, influencing and being influenced by one another, engaging in what might be called “Jerusalem Fever.”
Austrian cardinal clarifies: It’s not ‘Islamic conquest’ but Christian surrender
By Josephine McKenna — September 16, 2016
ROME (RNS) The archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, said his provocative Sept. 11 homily was not a call to bar Muslim refugees.
Veteran religion reporter looks for the Bible in public life
By Emily McFarlan Miller — September 7, 2016
(RNS) Even with a reported 5 billion copies in print, veteran religion reporter Kenneth A. Briggs says the Bible has all but disappeared from public life. Briggs documents his journey across America to find the Bible -- and the “Bible-less Christianity” its disappearance has created -- in his new book, "The Invisible Bestseller."
I want my prayer shawl back!
By Jeffrey Salkin — September 4, 2016
When Bishop Jackson gave Trump a tallit, it was not an innocent gesture.
Evangelical archer Mackenzie Brown takes aim at first Olympics
By Kimberly Winston — August 5, 2016
(RNS) Brown, an evangelical Christian, is ranked fourth in the world.