church
Americans’ confidence in religion hits a new low
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — June 17, 2015
(RNS) The church and organized religion once led Gallup's annual list of institutions rated with the highest levels of confidence. Not anymore.
NC sheriff bans sex offenders from church
By Jon Ostendorff / USA Today — March 10, 2015
(RNS) Sheriff Danny Millsaps said he understands the Constitution gives everyone the right to religious freedom. But he said he's standing by his take on North Carolina law blocking offenders from places where children are present.
Rachel Held Evans defends exit from evangelicalism, calls Christians to celebrate sacraments
By Jonathan Merritt — March 9, 2015
The wildly popular Christian writer offers an exclusive sneak peek into her new book and its pointed message.
Why technology didn’t (and won’t) destroy the church
By Jonathan Merritt — February 27, 2015
Former Newsweek religion editor Lisa Miller once warned that advances in technology could demolish the Christian Church. But new data indicates that technology has become an empowerment tool for both pastors and parishioners.
How to access the spiritual power of poetry–even if you “just don’t get it”
By Jonathan Merritt — February 26, 2015
New York Times columnist David Brooks called Christian Wiman's "My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer" the "best modern book on belief." Here Wiman shares how people of faith can begin accessing the spiritual power of poetry even if, at first, they "just don't get it."
In the face of unrelenting snow, New England churches soldier on
By Lauren Markoe — February 18, 2015
(RNS) Your priest will be there, even if he has to snowshoe to church.
A rabbi’s Christmas sermon: May God become incarnate in you
By Jeffrey Salkin — December 23, 2014
(RNS) Jews believe God cannot become human, and humans cannot become God. But sometimes we transcend that distance through prayer and worship, through the study of sacred texts and through altruistic acts.
Why Protestants need some saints of our own
By Jonathan Merritt — November 4, 2014
Saint are reminders that if you follow Jesus, in the words of Flannery O’Connor, “you will know the truth and the truth will make you strange.” We Protestants could use a few more of those if you ask me.
Secularism grows as more U.S. Christians turn ‘churchless’
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — October 24, 2014
(RNS) Those four in 10 Americans who check "Christian" box on a survey, but never go to church, may really be post-Christian.
Was ‘Christianity Today’ justified in rejecting this controversial ad?
By Jonathan Merritt — September 12, 2014
We’re now facing a perennial issue where activists on both sides of this debate expect to be invited to every party and demand to be heard in whatever forum they choose.
Desmond Tutu’s four steps to forgiving others: An RNS interview
By Jonathan Merritt — August 25, 2014
The Nobel prize winner offers advice on how to heal the heart after being hurt.
COMMENTARY: 8 things the church needs to say
By Tom Ehrich — July 15, 2014
(RNS) Less sex, more Jesus. If Christians quit bickering about church, we could talk about love, joy, hope and more.
Pastor of Florida megachurch resigns over ‘moral failure’
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — April 6, 2014
(RNS) Florida megachurch pastor Bob Coy has resigned from his 20,000-member Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale over a "moral failing."
COMMENTARY: Openness, diversity and magnanimity
By Tom Ehrich — March 11, 2014
(RNS) Traditionalists have had five decades to promote Christianity by keeping the 1950s alive. Now it's time to let innovation happen.
Atheist-turned-believer Sara Miles’ radical Ash Wednesday practice
By Jonathan Merritt — March 5, 2014
A former atheist in San Francisco decides to step out of her church and take Ash Wednesday to the streets.
