As I read through some U.S. Department of Homeland Security documents in August that showed DHS spied inside churches in Minnesota and Michigan, I reached out to pastors of the congregations. None knew about the spying until it showed up…
The Long Search For A New Episcopal Priest: Why It Can Take Months Or Years
St. John’s Episcopal Church in Presque Isle had more pews than people as a dozen parishioners spread out in the dimly lit church at a recent Saturday service. The Rev. Robert Smith shook each attendee’s hand during the sign of…
Where Do Americans Vote? The Surprising Role of Churches in Election Day
Where do you go to vote on Election Day? I am assuming that all you readers are actually voting. If you don’t, it’s my solemn duty as a classically trained political scientist to tell you that your vote matters and…
A bitter Michigan Senate race rattles Jewish and Muslim voters already on edge over the war in Gaza
For many voters in Michigan, the U.S. Senate race has become about far more than which party controls Washington.
From Counterculture Threat to Venture Capital Darling
Once exclusive to Western counterculture, psychedelics have increasingly drawn the attention of medical researchers, corporations, and politicians. In April, Donald Trump signed an executive order—apparently inspired by podcaster Joe Rogan—to promote research on psychedelic substances like ibogaine or psilocybin. With the latest…
Florida churches turn backpack drives into a gateway to immigration advocacy
When a Florida Christian organization created an initiative to provide backpacks full of necessities and comfort items to children whose parents have been detained or deported by federal immigration officials, its goal was twofold.
Pope speaks with Putin, denouncing recent attacks as he shows recovery from lung surgery progressing
Pope Leo XIV gave strong indications Friday that he was recovering well from lung cancer surgery and was very much in charge of running the Catholic Church, speaking on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, meeting with top aides…
As Netanyahu drops in polls, Ben-Gvir’s star rises
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the parties in his coalition seem to be losing support heading into Israel’s first election since Oct. 7 – with one exception. Otzma Yehudit, headed by Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, is seeing a…
Sylvester Stallone Revisits ‘Rocky,’ Faith And Redemption In New Memoir
Sylvester Stallone has spent five decades being asked about those famous steps in Philadelphia. Now, with the release of his new memoir, “The Steps,” the actor is finally telling that story on his own terms — and the timing couldn’t…
Jim Bakker’s daughter apologizes for harm caused by family’s ministry, urges LGBT donations
The daughter of the late televangelist Jim Bakker is apologizing to anyone she says her “family’s ministry” has harmed and is urging people to donate to LGBT groups, as she reflects on her father’s death last week.
Catholic Schools and Weekly Mass Aren’t Solving the Retention Crisis
A couple of months ago, I wrote a post about the retention crisis facing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The headline finding is pretty straightforward: nearly half the kids who are raised as LDS no longer identify…
New anthology explores the myriad ways of being Black and Jewish
Shoshana Akua Brown was one of few students of color at her Orthodox Jewish day school in New York City in the 1990s. Hoping to fit in, she decided to go by the name Tiffany — a nod to “Saved…