obituary
Philip Roth, acclaimed and controversial novelist who probed Jewish themes, dies at 85
By Kimberly Winston — May 23, 2018
(RNS) — Though Roth was an avowed atheist, Judaism was a perennial theme in much of his work.
Crash of small plane kills Jewish seminary’s president
By Lauren Markoe — May 7, 2018
(AP) — The seminary Rabbi Aaron Panken led is the leading institution for the training of rabbis in the Reform movement, the largest stream of Judaism in the U.S.
James Cone, ‘founder of black liberation theology,’ dies at 79
By Adelle M. Banks — April 28, 2018
(RNS) — His theology contrasted sharply with traditional views by articulating God’s identification with U.S. blacks.
A brief history of Stephen Hawking’s atheism
By Kimberly Winston — March 14, 2018
(RNS) — His nonbelief was more of a slow simmer than Richard Dawkins' explosive ire.
Billy Graham, America’s pre-eminent evangelist, dies at 99
By Alicia C. Shepard and Adelle M. Banks — February 21, 2018
(RNS) — 'He would have to be viewed as by far the most important, single religious figure of the 20th century here in America,' said Randall Balmer, chairman of the religion department at Dartmouth College.
MLK confidant and civil rights leader Wyatt Tee Walker dies
By Denise Lavoie — January 24, 2018
CHESTER, Va. (AP) — Walker was a key player in the civil rights movement, brought in by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to be the executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Gospel star Edwin Hawkins, known for ‘Oh Happy Day,’ dies
By Lauren Markoe — January 15, 2018
(AP) — Along with Andrae Crouch, James Cleveland and a handful of others, Hawkins was credited as a founder of modern gospel music.
Thomas S. Monson, 90, LDS church president since 2008, dies
By Mark A. Kellner — January 3, 2018
(RNS) — Monson served in leadership roles for half a century for the world's 16 million Mormons.
Religion historian Jonathan Z. Smith dies
By Yonat Shimron — January 2, 2018
(RNS) — Smith raised fundamental questions about the nature of religion and the challenges of comparing it across cultures.
Cardinal Law, central figure in church abuse scandal, dies
By Rachel Zoll — December 20, 2017
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The disgraced former archbishop of Boston's failures to stop child molesters in the priesthood sparked what would become the worst crisis in American Catholicism.
Theologian and religious broadcaster R.C. Sproul dies at 78
By Adelle M. Banks — December 14, 2017
(RNS) — Sproul was known for his worldwide radio broadcast, 'Renewing Your Mind,' as well as dozens of books, including 'Everyone’s a Theologian.'
Della Reese, minister and star of ‘Touched by an Angel,’ dies at 86
By Adelle M. Banks — November 20, 2017
(RNS) — A onetime gospel singer and groundbreaking African-American talk show host, she was later known for her lead role in the TV series “Touched by an Angel"
Jeffrey Weiss’ final story was his own
By Yonat Shimron — October 25, 2017
(RNS) — The RNS columnist who chronicled his spiritual journey with brain cancer died at 62.
Mormon leader Robert D. Hales dies; served on top panel
By Yonat Shimron — October 1, 2017
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — In 1994, he was chosen as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a high-level governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Barbara Blaine, founder of abuse victims group SNAP, dies
By Yonat Shimron — September 25, 2017
CHICAGO (AP) — The organization known as SNAP announced on its Facebook page that Blaine died Sunday (Sept. 24) after a recent cardiac event.