Jesus
Karen Armstrong on the connections between religion and violence
By Lauren Markoe — November 13, 2014
(RNS) To those who say that religion is inherently violent, Karen Armstrong responds with "Fields of Blood," a book that walks through thousands of years of human history, religion and warfare.
Pope Francis: Judas was a sinner, but no worse than anyone else
By Josephine McKenna — October 29, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) "Judas, poor man, is the one who closed himself to love and that is why he became a traitor," Pope Francis said.
Can kids with Down syndrome have friends? (COMMENTARY)
By Amy Julia Becker — October 1, 2014
(RNS) October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month. It presents an opportunity for families to choose friendship. Such friendship will only happen if we believe people with Down syndrome have something to offer.
Barbie as the Virgin Mary? Ken as Jesus? Italian Catholics are not amused
By Josephine McKenna — September 24, 2014
ROME (RNS) The two artists said there was no way they would depict the Prophet Muhammad out of their great respect for Islam, but stressed they did not intend to offend any religion.
The ‘Splainer: The fuss over ‘Black Jesus’
By Kimberly Winston — August 8, 2014
(RNS) Conservative critics call "Black Jesus" racially and religiously offensive. But it's not the first time artistic depictions of Jesus have gotten people all riled up.
‘Black Jesus’ targeted as ‘blasphemous’ by conservative groups
By Heather Adams — August 6, 2014
(RNS) “Black Jesus” will air late at night, well after most kids are in bed, but One Million Moms' Monica Cole said "blasphemy is blasphemy, no matter what time of day it is."
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.
COMMENTARY: Christians worship a child who fled violence in his home country
By Gay Clark Jennings — July 11, 2014
(RNS) The baby Jesus survived Herod’s massacre because his parents took him across a border to a land where he was safe.
COMMENTARY: More Christian influence? Be careful what you wish for
By Tom Ehrich — June 17, 2014
(RNS) On any issue, the teachings and actions of Jesus are more radical, more revolutionary and more disruptive than anything imagined by the right wing, or the left wing for that matter.
Can you question the Resurrection and still be a Christian?
By Kimberly Winston — April 16, 2014
(RNS) Many Christians struggle with how to understand the Resurrection -- as something literal or metaphorical. How literally must one take the Gospel story of Jesus’ return to be called a Christian?
COMMENTARY: What Gethsemane teaches us about suffering
By James Martin — April 14, 2014
(RNS) In Gethsemane, Jesus experiences the full range of human emotions, and he shares them with his friends in a fully human way. For us, expressing sadness and fear allows us to set aside our desire to be in control. It is also an invitation to let others love us.
COMMENTARY: Even Jesus had a tax man
By Chuck Bentley — April 11, 2014
(RNS) Bible has many references to taxes that will sound strangely relevant at this time of year.
COMMENTARY: May God have mercy on Fred Phelps
By Amy Tracy — March 20, 2014
(RNS) I don’t like to think of Jesus with Fred Phelps through the hands and words of a hospice volunteer -- but that shows how far off the mark I am in the grace department. It’s a cause for prayer, for sure.
How the Christian story is the greatest ever told
By Jonathan Merritt — March 4, 2014
Author and priest Dwight Longenecker argues that the Christian story is more than a myth and the greatest story ever told.
COMMENTARY: Pope Francis, Marc Chagall and the Jews
By Noam E. Marans — March 3, 2014
NEW YORK (RNS) Pope Francis is a devoted fan of artist Marc Chagall, and his favorite is Chagall’s “White Crucifixion,” which depicts Jesus on the cross, wrapped in a Jewish prayer shawl and encircled by scenes of endangered Jews. That tells us a lot about this pope, and the future of Christian-Jewish relations.
