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Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Religious Restrictions Increased for 2 billion, Study Says
(RNS) A third of the world—about 2.2 billion people—live in nations where restrictions on religion have substantially increased, according to a new report. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life study, released...
What Prevents Us from Resolving Our Conflicts?
The strange case of Warren Jeffs, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' leader, ended Aug. 4 in Jeffs' conviction for child rape. We wonder how it is possible in the 21st century for hundreds...
Scriptural Reasoning “ Beyond Interfaith Dialogue
I participated in a "scripturalreasoning" training session earlier this summer at the University of Virginia. I had been introduced to scriptural reasoning through a class that focused on analyzing and evaluating...
British Doctors Can Pray with Their Patients
Doctors can pray with their patients – as long as they ensure patients are receptive to the offer. Three separate pronouncements in the last month have appeared to clarify a controversial position for healthcare...
A remarkable woman
Dr. Virginia Connally (left) and friend Janet Erwin in England's Coventry Cathedral in 2005.By John Pierce Virginia Boyd Connally, M.D., is my 98-year-old friend in Abilene, Texas. She is simply remarkable. I got to...
Unitarian Universalist Head Convicted on Protest Charges
(RNS) The head of the Unitarian Universalist Association has been convicted on misdemeanor charges for participating in a protest rally against Arizona’s controversial immigration law. The Rev. Peter Morales, the first...
Religious Groups Irked by Contraception Mandate
(RNS) The Obama administration is taking heat from religious groups, particularly Catholic leaders, upset that new federal health regulations may force them to pay for employees’ birth control, a violation of church...
Prominent Prison Ministry Fires 72, Citing Economy
(RNS) Prison Fellowship, a prominent evangelical ministry to inmates, has laid off dozens of employees, citing the faltering economy. A total of 72 staffers were let go as part of a restructuring that included new...
Eight Questions to Ask When You’re Unsure
Harold Camping's prediction that the end of time would come this past May 21 is thankfully fading from memory. However, most of us know it is but a matter of time before we will be fielding questions that result from...
In Aftermath of S&P Downgrade, We Must Cooperate
When Standard & Poor's publicized its downgrade of the U.S. credit rating, the response was as expected as it was tragic – endless finger pointing. TheObamaadministration and U.S. Treasury Department blamed...
Republican Leaders Confront Extremist Talk
The anti-Sharia crowd is "crazy," according to New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who has been criticized for naming Sohail Mohammed, a Muslim attorney, to the state's superior court. "Sharia law has nothing to...
Bad news on the doorstep …
Reading the newspaper or listening to the radio is getting harder these days, and a line from Don McLean's "American Pie" keeps running through my head: "Bad news on the doorstep, I couldn't take one more step ..."...
Lawn Cross Becomes First Amendment Flash Point
LIVINGSTON, N.J. (RNS) It started as a simple gesture. But it could have implications far beyond the quiet New Jersey street where Patrick Racaniello affixed a wooden cross on a tree in his front yard. Livingston...
Army Agrees to Host Concert for Atheists on N.C. Base
(RNS) A group of military atheists have won the backing of U.S. Army officials to hold a “Rock Beyond Belief” concert for nonbelievers at North Carolina’s Fort Bragg next year. The victory came after several...
Mormons Launch Group to Defend Against Media Attacks
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) With two Mormons in the presidential campaign and a hit Broadway show about LDS missionaries, a group of church loyalists felt the time was ripe to begin scrutinizing media reports for inaccuracies...
The First Person a Pastor’s Sermon Should Reach
I took several courses in sermon preparation while at college and seminary. These courses, at least at the introductory level, taught students the mechanics of sermon preparation and delivery. Despite what some church...
Perry’s Prayer Rally Attracts Crowds, Political Speculation
Texas Gov. Rick Perry's prayer rally drew tens of thousands of participants and dozens of conservative Christian leaders to Houston on Saturday. Dubbed "The Response," the event adds speculation that Perry will soon...
Breivik’s Manifesto Cited Evangelical Birther’s Writing
Editor's Note: Margaret Mitchell is an interviewee in SacredTexts, SocialDuty, EthicsDaily.com's documentary on the Abrahamic faith traditions and taxes. "Clearly, this is not a pacifist God we serve," wrote Joseph...
At Church of Beethoven, Music Is the Message
(RNS) “Music,” Ludwig van Beethoven said, “is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life.” Transcending dogma, creed, culture and even language, music has the power to elevate the soul as well as the mind....
Study of Secularism Sees Boost on College Campuses
(RNS) Almost every major college and university offers a degree in religious studies. But secularism? Nary a one—until now. Starting this fall, Pitzer College, a small liberal arts school in Southern California, will...
Manhattan Declaration Comes to New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (RNS) Nearly 200 pastors, policymakers and other New Orleans-area Christians were urged to sign a declaration circulating nationally in support of traditional marriage, protection of life and freedom of...