Religious conservatives have been fighting for years to get prayer back into America’s schools, and this year, the Supreme Court gave them what they wanted. In Kennedy v. Bremerton, the six conservative justices affirmed a coach’s right to offer a prayer…
As politics poison churches, a nonprofit is teaching a new skill: Deep listening
The topics were loaded: flags in the church sanctuary; separation of church and state.
Bryan Stevenson Urges Christians to Speak Truth of Racist History
Lawyer and activist Bryan Stevenson challenged Baptists from around the world to be truth-tellers about racial injustices. Speaking to a special session of the Baptist World Alliance’s annual gathering on Thursday (July 14), Stevenson urged Christians to “have this openness…
Republicans block bill to protect women who travel to other states for abortions
Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic bill Thursday that would protect the rights of women to travel to other states to access abortion care legally.
Monsters are everywhere in the Bible – and some are even human
What is a “monster”? For most Americans, this word sparks images of haunted houses and horror movies: scary creations, neither human nor animal, and usually evil.
Life in Lviv: Ukrainian priest on funerals, food aid and prayers for victory
The war in Ukraine has raged on for nearly five months, and the Rev. Oleksiy Zavada, a Greek Catholic priest in Lviv, has had hardly a moment’s rest.
‘Operation Higher Court’: Inside the religious right’s efforts to wine and dine Supreme Court justices
The former leader of a religious right organization said he recruited and coached wealthy volunteers including a prominent Dayton, Ohio, evangelical couple to wine, dine and entertain conservative Supreme Court justices while pushing conservative positions on abortion, homosexuality, gun restrictions and…
Vatican astronomer praises beauty and potential of Webb space photos
Vatican astrophysicist Brother Guy Consolmagno released a statement Thursday (July 14) praising the crisp images of the cosmos delivered by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope as “food for the human spirit,” while highlighting the rich history of Catholic scientists who…
Biden in Israel: You don’t need to be a Jew to be a Zionist
US President Joe Biden reaffirmed his Zionism and the strong ties between the US and Israel in his remarks upon landing in Israel on Wednesday.
Raushenbush named leader of Interfaith Alliance
A great-grandson of the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice and of the most prominent early 20th century Baptist pastor teaching the Social Gospel has been named leader of Interfaith Alliance, an organization dedicated to protecting the integrity of both religion…
Evangelical Covenant Church’s First Female President Likes a Challenge
When Tammy Swanson-Draheim began serving in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), it was difficult for women in ministry to find lead pastor roles in the denomination. Twenty-three years later, she became the first female president in its history.
First known depictions of biblical heroines Jael and Deborah uncovered in Israel
The earliest known depiction of biblical heroines Jael and Deborah was discovered at an ancient synagogue in Israel, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced last week. A rendering of one figure driving a stake through the head of a…