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…
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…
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…
Unconventional statue of John Paul II gets a makeover
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Just eight months after being unveiled, a controversial statue of Pope John Paul II in Rome is receiving a major makeover. The 16-foot statue stands just outside the city’s main railway station but, since last May,…
Judge refuses to free leader of Amish beard-cutting sect
CLEVELAND (RNS) — A federal judge Jan. 11 refused to release the leader of an Amish splinter sect from jail on charges he orchestrated the cutting of beards of Amish men over longstanding religious disagreements. Samuel Mullet Sr. and 11…
String of synagogue attacks stirs concern in New Jersey
RUTHERFORD, N.J. (RNS) — An attack early Jan. 11 on a New Jersey synagogue — the fourth such incident in a month — is being investigated as an attempted murder and a bias crime, leading to increased concern and security…
Board elects Hardage BGCT executive director
By Ken Camp At a called meeting today, the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board elected David Hardage as executive director, effective Feb. 1. David Hardage Hardage—a veteran Texas Baptist pastor, associational leader and seminary development officer—succeeds Randel Everett,…