TikTok
The unlikely story of America’s highest ranking Muslim soldier and TikTok favorite
By Joseph Hammond — January 24, 2022
(RNS) — A chance encounter with an army chaplain put Colonel Khallid Shabazz's military career on a different path.
Instagram ‘smash and grab’ impostors peddle fake psychic and tarot readings
By Heather Greene — December 20, 2021
(RNS) — Metaphysical practitioners are becoming increasingly frustrated with social media outlets as impersonators thrive off their accounts.
Antisemitic and anti-Muslim content is flourishing on TikTok, report finds
By Alejandra Molina — August 27, 2021
(RNS) — The Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a London-based nonprofit that tracks extremism online, released a report Aug. 24 that found TikTok 'operates as a new arena for violence-endorsing, hateful ideologies.'
‘I kept putting God in too small of a box’: Five clergy on their unexpected callings
By Renée Roden — August 26, 2021
(RNS) — For some, following a call to minister has meant going to the margins.
Charismatic TikTok divided over praying in tongues
By Renée Roden — August 3, 2021
(RNS) — ‘I think words are not the greatest at describing the sensation. It’s being filled, it’s being baptized. It’s a little mysterious,' said one TikToker.
‘The last time we had a communication shift this drastic was the printing press’
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
'In 2020, in a global pandemic, seemed like a great time to start a church with no budget and no building,' said Baker with a laugh.
‘Not everyone loves me’
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
"People kept telling me, 'You look just like Jesus, except you're gay," said TikTok creator JeGaysus.
‘They’re looking for a pastor on this journey’
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
'I was done with pastoring. And, honestly, done with Christian people altogether'
‘One belief kind of fell after the other’
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
'Deconstruction is unlearning what has been instilled into you on a deep and permanent level. Unlearning emotional habits you learn from the church.'
‘I didn’t have anyone in my life who I could talk to about it’
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
'Religion is not something you expect to be popular on social media.'
‘God isn’t surprised by our questions’
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
'There are so many people within the deconstruction TikTok community that are way more well-versed and so intelligent.'
Lonely no more: Questioning Christians find belonging on TikTok
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
(RNS) — Deconstructing the faith of one's childhood can be a lonely undertaking. For many of these church exiles, TikTok has filled the gap.
‘I knew absolutely nothing about my own religion. Everything I knew was basically hearsay’
By Renée Roden — July 27, 2021
'I got so many heartfelt messages, messages where people said "this is so helpful for me."'
Three of the most mistranslated words in Scripture — according to TikTokers
By Renée Roden — July 14, 2021
(RNS) — Explaining the nitty-gritty details of ancient Greek and Hebrew may not seem like viral content, but on TikTok, it’s algorithm fire.
LGBTQ youth of faith pray, bond at ‘Beloved Arise’ group
By Luis Andres Henao — July 4, 2021
Jessika Sessoms grew up in a conservative Black evangelical family, attended Christian schools and often heard that being gay was an abomination, until she understood that she was queer while studying to become a missionary. The 23-year-old from Florida came out publicly last year and has found healing and a sense of community after joining […]
