A growing coalition of faith-based and civil rights groups has launched an opposition movement to bills in more than a dozen states that seek to replace school counselors with untrained chaplains. “Putting chaplains in public schools erodes the separation of…
Christian nationalists are misguided Christians, Anthea Butler says
Christian nationalists are still Christians despite their embrace of white supremacy and anti-democratic violence, scholar Anthea Butler said during an episode of the Interfaith Alliance’s “State of Belief” podcast. “They really believe in their Christianity. It’s just that they are…
Religious leaders decry Louisiana plan to bring back electric chair and gassing for death penalty cases
A cross section of religious leaders gathered on the steps of the Louisiana Capitol recently to offer prayers and protest over the state’s plan to add the electric chair and poison gas to its lineup of execution methods. The representatives…
Biden administration restores religious protections for those receiving federal social services
Religious liberty advocates are hailing a new Biden administration rule that protects the recipients of federally funded social services from discrimination by the religious groups that administer them. The White House measure is designed to prevent faith-based organizations that receive…
Evangelicals more open to immigration than their politicians believe
U.S. evangelicals strongly favor immigration policies that both strengthen border security and treat migrants and their families with fairness and dignity, Lifeway Research reported. Sponsored by the Evangelical Immigration Table, the survey also uncovered significant support among evangelicals to provide…
All 25 largest school districts in Texas reject school chaplains option
The biggest school districts in Texas have voted against allowing unlicensed Christian chaplains to replace professional school counselors and to evangelize students at will, leaders of a six-month, faith-based campaign against the policy announced Feb. 29. Groups including Baptist Joint…
Defying DeSantis, most Florida parents support public education
Parents in Florida are overwhelmingly supportive of public education despite claims by conservatives that the system is damaged beyond repair, according to a new poll commissioned by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The survey released earlier this month found more…
Holocaust education bill fails in Washington State after debate over Jewish refugees, genocide and the Gaza war
A bill to mandate Holocaust education in Washington state’s middle and high schools died last week after debate over whether an amendment alluded to Israel’s war with Hamas.
‘Christian nation’ ideology came early and has stayed late in American history
Christian nationalists started building the myth of America as a white Christian nation barely a generation after the country’s founders championed religious freedom and diversity, according to Amanda Tyler, executive director of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Then as…