DURHAM, N.C. — James Forbes, a homegrown pastor now emeritus from the Riverside Church in New York City, called for jobs and sustenance for all and a new spiritual awakening in the United States during a sermon at Watts Street…
Baptists dedicate school, orphanage in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Almost exactly two years after a devastating earthquake killed thousands in Haiti, Baptists on the island nation and their international partners dedicated a building housing a school and orphanage for children impacted by the disaster. Participating in…
Baptists across Mid-Atlantic recall King’s legacy
RICHMOND, Va. — As the nation observed Martin Luther King Day Jan. 16, churches and institutions with Baptist ties across the Mid-Atlantic recalled the legacy of the slain civil rights leader with sermons, lectures and acts of service. James Forbes,…
Baptists across Mid-Atlantic recall King’s legacy
RICHMOND, Va. — As the nation observed Martin Luther King Day Jan. 16, churches and institutions with Baptist ties across the Mid-Atlantic recalled the legacy of the slain civil rights leader with sermons, lectures and acts of service. James Forbes,…
Judge rules against prayer banner in R.I. school
NEW YORK (RNS) — A federal judge ruled Jan. 11 in favor of a teenage atheist who sought the removal of a prayer banner from her Rhode Island high school. Attorneys for Jessica Ahlquist, 16, argued that a banner on…
Paul Simon’s long meandering spiritual journey
NEW YORK (RNS) — Paul Simon says there’s always been a spiritual dimension to his music. But the overt religious references in his most recent album, So Beautiful or So What, surprised even him. There are songs about God, angels,…
Survey: Half of churchgoers’ lives not affected by time in pews
NEW YORK (RNS) — Almost half of churchgoing Americans say their life has not changed a bit due to their time in the pews, a new survey shows. Barna Group, an evangelical company based in California, found that 46 percent…
President proclaims Religious Freedom Day
By Bob Allen President Obama described religious liberty as a “universal human right” Jan. 13 and pledged support for individuals around the world “who live in fear of violence and discrimination because of their beliefs.” Proclaiming Jan. 16 as Religious…
Clergy say evolution, faith can co-exist
By Bob Allen A biologist with scientific interest in the evolution-creation debate attributed a recent LifeWay Research poll reporting that three-fourths of Protestant pastors reject evolution, and nearly half believe the earth is about 6,000 years old, to a commonly…
10 minutes with … Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
NEW YORK (RNS) — Celebrity Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, spiritual counselor to Michael Jackson and author of the best-selling Kosher Sex, is about to publish Kosher Jesus. The Orthodox Boteach deems it “the true story of Jesus of Nazareth … a…
Study portrays Mormons as outsiders looking in
NEW YORK (RNS) — In some ways, Mormonism is the ultimate American religion. Born in America, it was unveiled by an American prophet who believed the Constitution was divinely inspired and the Garden of Eden bloomed in Independence, Mo. The…
Religious leaders: Same-sex marriage threatens religious freedom
NEW YORK (RNS) — A coalition of nearly 40 religious leaders has published an open letter that seeks to recast the battle against same-sex marriage as a fight on behalf of religious freedom. The religious leaders, predominantly from conservative Christian…