Remembering One on the Journey
`In December, my best friend, Charles, passed away. I was devastated. From the outside looking in, someone might wonder how Charles and I ever became friends, especially since there’s a 57-year age difference.
Pretending to Light Our Candles
At the Christmas Eve service I attended recently, the Christ candle in the Advent wreath wouldn’t light. The pastor tried and tried. Eventually, as giggles worked their way down the crowded pews, he said everyone should just pretend it was lit.
Atheists Prefer Cats, Christians Love Dogs, Study Shows
(RNS) — I do not, and will not ever, own a cat. Instead, I own a dog. In fact, as I type this, Lucy, my 7-pound Yorkshire terrier, is snoring next to me on my office chair. Why do I prefer dogs to cats? It could be
As Iowa Caucus Nears, Candidates Ramp Up God-Talk
(RNS) — Democratic presidential hopefuls ramped up the God-talk while criss-crossing Iowa over the weekend, invoking the Bible and meeting with religious leaders while their Republican opponent President Trump worked to bolster support among evangelical Christians.
5 Social Media Trends Churches Should Know About in 2020
NASHVILLE (BP) -- Being an effective social media manager means doing more than just sitting on Facebook and Twitter all day. It requires keeping up with trends and changes in trends so that necessary changes to strategy can be made.
Seeking the Cross: Icy Dips Mark the Feast of Epiphany
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers plunged into the icy waters of rivers and lakes across Bulgaria on Monday to retrieve crucifixes tossed by priests in Epiphany ceremonies commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ.
On Most Issues, Majority Says ‘No’ to Religion Swaying Gov’t Policy
A majority of U.S. adults don’t want religion influencing government policy, with few exceptions, according to a new report from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research published on Jan. 2.
Few Faith Leaders Make ‘Most Admired’ List for 2019
Few faith leaders appear in Gallup’s annual most admired people list for 2019, released on Dec. 30.
At Gallaudet University, Deaf Culture and Faith Mix to Create Something New
[caption id="attachment_62483" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Gallaudet University student Abdulrahman Alshehri, front, along with other students during Muslim prayer at Gallaudet University in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. Gallaudet University is an institution of learning, teaching and research for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)[/caption] WASHINGTON
U.S., E.U. Urge Release of Jailed Chinese Pastor
SICHUAN, China (BP) -- The United States and the European Union are urging China to free pastor Wang Yi, sentenced to nine years in prison in what religious liberty advocates call Christian persecution.