Baptist News Global

160 faith leaders urge Texas schools to reject forced prayer

State-organized school prayer undermines religious freedom by taking the responsibility for religious instruction from congregations and families and giving it to government instead, more than 160 faith leaders said in an open letter to all Texas school board members. The…

Prosecutors and civil liberties groups speak out on ICE raids in houses of worship

Faith organizations suing to prevent immigration raids on or near houses of worship have gained support from a diverse array of prosecutors, civil liberty and religious groups in a case against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Fair and Just…

In Minneapolis, Good versus evil

Renee Nicole Good was murdered in her SUV by masked ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis Jan. 7. One day after we observed the anniversary of the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, another avoidable tragedy with law enforcement…

Minneapolis clergy rally for justice after ICE shooting

It was a time set aside for mourning, remembrance and moral clarity as hundreds of pastors gathered in Minneapolis Jan. 8 for a clergy press conference one day after an ICE agent shot and killed a woman protesting their actions. “It…

New data debunk claims of ‘revival’ in America

New research shows religious adherence remains stable in the United States and the nation is not witnessing the “revival” excitedly proclaimed by Christian nationalists. In a survey released in December, Pew Research Center reported 70% of U.S. adults identified with…

Israel bans 37 international aid groups from Gaza

Israel’s decision to ban 37 international aid groups from the West Bank and Gaza will worsen already desperate conditions for more than 1 million Palestinian war victims, a group of nongovernmental organizations warned. The situation stems from Israel’s new registration…

America’s dangerous double standard in war and law

More than 20 years ago, Queen Padmé Amidala, portrayed by Natalie Portman in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, delivered a line that has aged like prophecy: “So this is how liberty dies — with thunderous applause.”…

Why most bow

For the past few months, I’ve immersed myself in prophetic writings, Second Temple apocalypticism and related texts. And I know what you may be thinking: He’s fascinated by the end of the world. Not really. What has captivated me is…

At Baptist schools, debates about DEI are theological

Among Baptist-related universities, decisions about diversity, equity and inclusion are no longer simply administrative adjustments. They have become theological decisions in broader debates about identity, governance, theology and political risk. Recent developments, from Samford University’s closure of its DEI office…

Professor sues BNG over reports of alleged sexual abuse

A former Baptist university professor has filed a lawsuit against Baptist News Global for defamation over reports of alleged sexual abuse. BNG has denied the allegations in his lawsuit. Jeremy Lyon, formerly associate professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at…

For this new year: Ring the bells that still can ring

In a recent New York Times article, “The Nazi Plunder of Church Bells Changed the Sound of Europe,” Nina Siegel chronicled a Nazi wartime strategy of confiscating church bells — more than 150,000 of them — to turn the metal…

Judge says AU may not intervene in Johnson Amendment litigation

A constitutional watchdog group may not defend the Johnson Amendment in litigation filed by religious groups seeking to promote political causes from the pulpit, a federal judge in Texas ruled. Americans United for Separation of Church and State sought third-party…

Eradicating DEI hasn’t made anything better

How Christian nationalism shows up in patriotic worship services

Dear Trump-supporting Christians, are you really OK with this?

‘Every Student. Every State’ campaign promotes school tax credit