The assault on LGBTQ liberties by far-right Republicans in Congress will widen to other marginalized groups if conservatives are successful passing trans- and homophobic measures, activist Jon Cohen said during a recent episode of the Interfaith Alliance’s “State of Belief”…
Post-COVID, U.S. poverty and hunger rates are soaring
While the U.S. government must act decisively to counter poverty rates that are increasing as pandemic-era assistance programs end, people of faith also have a responsibility to counter food insecurity, hunger expert Jeremy Everett said. “As people of faith who…
USAID wants to partner with more faith groups
The United States Agency for International Development is rolling out a new program to more comprehensively include faith-based groups in its global aid distribution initiatives. “We are leaning in through USAIDs first ever religious engagement policy, which is titled ‘Building…
Texas governor mounts full-court press for school vouchers, co-opts pastors as advocates from pulpit
Legislation introduced in the Texas Senate Oct. 9 would create a school voucher program that includes $8,000 a year to families who want a private education for their children. Senate Bill 1, which is being considered in an ongoing special…
Belief in prosperity gospel growing among American Protestants
Just over half of Protestant churchgoers in the United States say their houses of worship promote the belief that God grants financial blessings to those who give money to churches and charities, according to Lifeway Research. A new Lifeway survey…
Christian and interfaith tours to Israel canceled, while some already there are stranded
Being in Israel during the outbreak of war is like witnessing the unfolding of history in its most horrible and violent aspects, George Mason said Oct. 9 from near the Sea of Galilee. Mason had been in Jerusalem two days…
New Wake Divinity dean wants to expand the ‘circle of we’
Friends and colleagues have sometimes considered Corey D.B. Walker, the new dean of Wake Forest University School of Divinity, as somewhat of an academic jack-of-all-trades given his extensive research, writing, teaching and higher education leadership experience. “A lot of people…
With a few improvements, religious liberty still perilous in Iraq, U.S. agency says
A federal agency is urging the United States to be more assertive in pressuring Iraq to improve religious freedom conditions for Christians, Yazidis and other religious minorities. “Although Iraq’s federal government has made some overtures toward the country’s diverse religious…
Dialogue with religious conservatives could help nonbinary awareness, Ladin says
Transgender and nonbinary people must familiarize themselves with anti-trans theologies and dialogue with religious conservatives to counter growing transphobic narratives, trans author and speaker Joy Ladin said. Those with alternative sexual and gender identities also must see the religious and…