Christianity
John Lennon’s inspiration for ‘Strawberry Fields’ bears new fruit for Salvation Army
By Catherine Pepinster — August 26, 2024
LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom (RNS) — The Salvation Army is exploiting a connection to the Beatles to draw more visitors to fund its mission and encourage people who would never consider stepping inside a church to find out about Christianity.
Orthodox churches boomed during pandemic, study finds, but calls growth ‘mixed bag’
By Meagan Saliashvili — August 23, 2024
(RNS) — Almost half of US Orthodox churches remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to only 12% of all religious congregations.
Carlos Whittaker spent seven weeks screen-free. Here’s how his idea of God changed.
By Ellie Davis — August 23, 2024
(RNS) — The former worship pastor emphasizes that ‘Reconnected’ isn’t another book about why phones are bad. Instead, it’s about the beautiful things on the other side of the phone.
How much does forgiveness cost? $7 million for one Christian college.
By Bob Smietana — August 23, 2024
(RNS) — A dispute over how to count employees may cost Gordon College, a Christian school in Boston, millions after its request to have a COVID-era loan forgiven was turned down.
Italian teenager Carlo Acutis’ upcoming canonization reflects the Vatican’s desire to appeal to a new generation of Catholics
By Michael A. Di Giovine — August 23, 2024
(The Conversation) — Italian priest Padre Pio was one of the world’s most prayed-to saints in recent times. As Pio’s generation ages, the Catholic Church is turning to Carlo Acutis to appeal to a new demographic.
As AME Church meets for General Conference, retirement plan questions continue
By Adelle M. Banks — August 22, 2024
(RNS) — Some 2,900 people have joined an ‘AMEs for Reform’ Facebook group and others have issued open letters as part of ‘AMEs for Justice and Accountability.’
Applying the moral wages of Watergate 50 years on
By Lovett H. Weems Jr. — August 22, 2024
(RNS) — What lessons might we draw from that scandal for our political dilemma today?
A quarter of US Catholic parishes have a Spanish Mass, bishops’ survey says
By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — August 22, 2024
(RNS) — The survey, conducted between April and August 2024, will be used by the conference as Catholic leaders work locally and nationally to implement the National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry.
Ancient ‘heresies’ set to Gungor’s music in new Pelagius musical
By Kathryn Post — August 22, 2024
(RNS) — Michael and Lisa Gungor will be in the audience as the curtain raises on ‘Pelagius’ in Atlanta this weekend.
Parallel to DNC, a Chicago interfaith vigil mourns the loss of life in Gaza
By Bob Smietana and Reina Coulibaly — August 21, 2024
(RNS) — Activists who have been protesting at the Democratic National Convention over the war in Gaza took time out to mourn and draw strength from their varying faiths.
In a remote corner of Ohio, a traffic law brings Harvard to the aid of the Amish
By Kelsey Osgood — August 21, 2024
(RNS) — New safety measures mandate flashing lights on buggies, a requirement some conservative Amish say violates their faith. Harvard University Law School agrees with them.
Ukraine’s ban targeting Russian-linked faith groups raises religious freedom concerns
By David I. Klein — August 21, 2024
(RNS) — Even some supporters of Ukraine see the ban as an overstep in the name of national security, a violation of religious freedom and a potential risk to continued foreign military aid.
Ukraine’s ban targeting Moscow-linked Orthodox Church risks US aid
By Katherine Kelaidis — August 21, 2024
(RNS) — Zelenskyy is about to test not only Ukraine’s carefully constructed global image but also its own path toward liberal democracy.
Ukraine’s parliament approves ban on Moscow-linked religious groups. One church is seen as a target
By Peter Smith — August 21, 2024
(AP) — Ukraine’s parliament has banned the activities of religious groups tied to the Russian Orthodox Church or any other faith group supporting Russia’s invasion.
Faith abounds at the Democratic National Convention, but don’t be surprised
By Jack Jenkins — August 20, 2024
(RNS) — Trump staffers have called the left ‘godless,’ but this year’s DNC painted a very different picture.
