Faced with a rise in attacks on houses of worship, religious leaders across the country are fortifying their buildings and preparing for the possibility of mass shootings. Some have also turned to armed security and organized law enforcement patrols.
United Methodist Church announces proposal to split over gay marriage
The United Methodist Church announced a proposal Friday to split the denomination over what it called “fundamental differences” regarding its beliefs on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy.
Faith leaders try to combat stigma of mental illness, suicide
One in five adults in the United States experiences mental illness, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 34, but historically, faith traditions have been reluctant to talk about mental health and categorized…
Seeking the cross: Icy dips mark the feast of Epiphany
Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers plunged into the icy waters of rivers and lakes across Bulgaria on Monday to retrieve crucifixes tossed by priests in Epiphany ceremonies commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ.
Trump turns to evangelicals after US strike on Iranian commander
Amid increased tensions with Iran, President Trump sought to shore up support among evangelical voters at a massive Miami church Friday night, led by a self-described apostle who claims his ministry has brought dead babies back to life through a…
In California, a Christian megachurch is trying to bring a 2-year-old girl back to life
Christianity is a religion built on an account of a physical resurrection. But it is rare to see 21st-century American Christians praying for the dead to be raised in real time.
Top church-state stories of 2019
In disputes over displays on government property, government funding of religious institutions and teaching the Bible in public schools, the lines protecting the critical distinctiveness of religion and assuring religious liberty for all continued to blur in 2019. Unfortunately, many…
Trump’s hell suggestion outraged some faith leaders, but his evangelical advisers are still defending him
President Trump appeared to mock Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and her late husband, former congressman John Dingell (D-Mich.), during a speech Wednesday in their home state, suggesting that the World War II veteran and former congressman was “looking up” from…
Trump is a bigger martyr than Jesus, congressman suggests
Comparing Trump to Jesus is nothing new for conservatives. Doing it on the floor of the House of Representatives seems to be a first, though.