Christians
New Bible seeks to connect modern and ancient Israel
By Michele Chabin — April 18, 2018
JERUSALEM (RNS) — A new Hebrew-English Bible with a distinctly Israeli flavor will be published in honor of Israel’s 70th anniversary.
Christians raise hell about Sweet Jesus ice cream over controversial cross branding
By Yonat Shimron — March 27, 2018
(USA Today) — The controversial moniker has spurred an online petition at Change.org, which had been signed by more than 1,000 people as of Tuesday (March 27).
Where the buffalo roam, a Passion play approaches the century mark
By Bobby Ross Jr. — March 27, 2018
WICHITA MOUNTAINS WILDLIFE REFUGE, Okla. (RNS) — Oklahoma’s version of old Jerusalem — mixing rough stone structures resembling those in the Holy Land with occasional sightings of buffalo and longhorn — provides the setting for what organizers describe as North America’s longest continuously running outdoor Passion play.
Christians, Jews and the dubious history of the Passion play
By Lauren Markoe — March 27, 2018
(RNS) — I judge every Passion play by asking if it tells a story that is totally free of anti-Jewish images, costumes and teachings.
Praying for some snowboard diplomacy
By Richard Mouw — February 6, 2018
(RNS) — I hope Vice President Pence has some private conversations with the high-level North Korean government officials who are accompanying their athletes.
Judge temporarily halts deportation of Indonesian Christians
By Jerome Socolovsky — February 3, 2018
HIGHLAND PARK, N.J. (AP) — The order affects roughly 50 people from a community in New Jersey that includes many who left Indonesia years ago to escape religious persecution.
Judge grants Christian Indonesians time to fight deportation
By Jerome Socolovsky — February 2, 2018
BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge says 50 Indonesians living illegally in New Hampshire must be given time to reopen their immigration cases and argue that the conditions in their home country have changed.
Fearing deportation, a third Indonesian Christian seeks sanctuary in a NJ church
By Chris Sagona — January 29, 2018
(RNS) — Harry Pangemanan joins two other Indonesian Christians now living in the Reformed Church of Highland Park, about 35 miles south of New York City.
India tightens Christmas security after Christians attacked
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — December 25, 2017
(AP) Christmas celebrations were shadowed by the fear that Hindu nationalist extremists who attack Muslims will turn against Christians as well.
Suicide bombers attack church in Pakistan, killing 9
By Jerome Socolovsky — December 17, 2017
QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Hundreds of worshippers were attending services ahead of Christmas when the bombers appeared in the city of Quetta and clashed with security forces.
Two tearful faces that make me pray for peace with North Korea
By Richard Mouw — October 20, 2017
(RNS) — I despise Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader. But I offer up my prayers for peace regularly — prayers that are associated with the tears on two faces I saw while visiting a church in a village 10 hours north of Pyongyang.
Christians and Yazidis in Iraq stand on the brink of extinction
By Chris Smith — October 5, 2017
(RNS) — U.S. Rep Chris Smith, R-N.J., blames 'U.S. government bureaucrats' for the failure to provide promised aid to persecuted religious minorities in Iraq.
We’ve condemned white nationalism. Now the harder work begins.
By Noel Schoonmaker — August 17, 2017
(RNS) — 'Decrying white nationalists is an ethical lay-up for which no white person should feel the slightest hint of self-congratulatory pride,' writes the Rev. Noel Schoonmaker.
Muslim refugees to US are declining as Christians overtake them
By Madeleine Buckley — July 12, 2017
(RNS) Since Donald Trump’s inauguration, Christians have outpaced Muslims as the No. 1 faith group to reach these shores as refugees.
To escape abusive marriages, many Christians in Pakistan convert to Islam
By Yonat Shimron — June 7, 2017
LAHORE, Pakistan (RNS) Muslims can obtain a divorce for a variety of reasons, including irreconcilable differences. For Christians, it's not so easy.
