Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Study: Orthodox Jews More Open to Counseling
NEW YORK (RNS) Most Orthodox Jews who seek professional counseling do so for marriage problems despite the community’s relatively high marital satisfaction rate, according to a new study released Friday (Aug....
Pullman’s Gospel Novel: Heresy or Satire?
"This is the story of Jesus and his brother Christ, of how they were born, of how they lived and of how one of them died." The first hint of what's to come in Philip Pullman's new book – "The Good Man Jesus and the...
Faith Leaders Missing in Action About Public Policy
The public clamor about a planned Islamic center two blocks from Ground Zero in New York City and calls to amend the U.S. Constitution to deny citizenship to children born in the United States whose parents are...
Gradually Clearing the Path for Women in Ministry
I'm in Starbucks sipping a cinnamon-flavored soy latte, now squeezing back tears of joy after a phone call from my daughter. "Hey, I'm done with my first round of questions," she said. How did it go? "Really well....
The Parable of the Potato Chips
(Or "Why Non-Fundamentalists continue to fund Fundamentalism")By John PierceTo take advantage of age-related discounts, a retired couple does their weekly grocery shopping every Wednesday morning. The schedule is not...
Russians Pray for Rain as Churches Collect Aid
MOSCOW (RNS/ENInews) The Russian Orthodox Church is praying for relief from the heat and drought that has gripped Russia for two months, as one archbishop condemned some retailers for profiteering from the extreme...
Muslim Men Try to Mark Ramadan in 30 States in 30 Days
NEW YORK (RNS) Two young Muslims are hitting the road for Ramadan, determined to acquire a broad ”and speedy ”picture of American Islam by breaking the holy month’s daily fast in a different state each evening....
Calif. Judge Lifts Stay, Permits Gays to Marry Aug. 18
(RNS) Same-sex couples can begin marrying in California again on Aug. 18 after a federal judge lifted a stay on his recent ruling that struck down California’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage. Based on...
Fareed Zakaria, Jon Stewart Offer Moral Clarity about Ground Zero Mosque
Speechifying against building a mosque near Ground Zero has cranked up since Sarah Palin's tweet three weeks ago that said, "Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it...
“Winter’s Bone”
Summer is the time for mind-numbing movies. Robots, explosions, your brain turning to goo. That's about all a moviegoer can expect during these dog days. My father used to say that even a blind hog will find an acorn...
Ken Starr Joins Baptist Church – Without Attending
Ken Starr, the new president of Baylor University, recently joined a Baptist church without even being present for the service. Starr, whose background is in the Church of Christ, promised to join a Baptist church once...
Three cheers for Seth
Wake County (N.C.) Public School Board meetings have been quite lively ever since a newly-elected conservative majority started taking steps to repeal the county's nationally acclaimed diversity policy and replace it...
Times change, box size remains
The sturdy 1.5-size boxes used to pack up my office for an upcoming renovation project were ideal. I could clear a shelf or more of books yet still lift the box without injury. Apparently, that is one of two stated...
American Buddhist Godfather Robert Aitken Dies at 93
(RNS) Robert Aitken Roshi, a prolific author, social justice activist and pioneer in bringing Zen Buddhism to the West, died last Thursday (Aug. 5) at age 93. Born in Philadelphia, Aitken was introduced to Buddhism...
Religious Leaders Blast Gingrich, Palin on New York Mosque
WASHINGTON (RNS) More than 40 Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders say they are deeply troubled by the opposition to a proposed Islamic community center and mosque located two blocks from ground zero in lower...
Study Finds Prayer Aids Relationships
(RNS) The old adage couples who pray together stay together may be true, especially for African-Americans, a new study shows. The survey of religion, race and relationships found that African-Americans attend church...
The Teaching of the Twelve
Anyone who has been to seminary has heard of The Didache, the ancient Christian guide for believers, but very few of us have read it. Tony Jones has. In fact, he has done a translation of the document, which he...
Going Down? Why Evangelicalism Could Be Declining
Rodney Stark has summarized why mainline Protestant denominations in America have gone into decline and spoken with passion about what is going well within evangelical churches. When reading Stark's interview, for the...
Don’t Avoid Welcoming Strangers on Life’s Path
I stayed home from church this past Sunday, not feeling well, and listened to a worship service from First Baptist Church in Athens, Ga. The sermon was about Abraham's response to strangers: He ran to greet them,...
Whose world is it?
The "boys' beach retreat" ends later today, after three days in which Samuel and his friend mainly wanted to "chill" rather than go places. That's been fine with me.I hit the beach shortly after sunrise each morning...
Kenyan Church Leaders Defend Opposition to Constitution
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS/ENInews) Kenyan church leaders have rejected calls for an apology after they campaigned against a new constitution that was overwhelmingly supported by voters in a referendum. There is no need to...