News

SAO PAULO (RNS) — The apparently intentional escalation of fires in the Amazon rainforest has contributed to a growing political split among religious groups in Brazil.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- According to a LifeWay Research study, pastors indicate the "worship wars" are subsiding. Also: pianos and hymnals are not obsolete, about half indicate using an organ or praise team. And 3-in-4 have paid for at least some of the musical portions of their worship service.

HONG KONG (RNS) — Since protests began more than 12 weeks ago over an extradition bill that would allow Hong Kong residents to be sent to mainland China for trial, the city's Christian community has taken an active role.

While lack of water (quantity) in some parts of the world receives significant attention, poor water quality is a global challenge to which no nation is immune, and which is often overlooked.

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico (BP) -- Current projections from the National Hurricane Center have the Tropical Storm Dorian making landfall on the southwestern side of Puerto Rico around 8 p.m. Wednesday evening (Aug. 28). Preparations are underway, two years after the destruction of Hurricane Maria here and the Virgin Islands.

NAIROBI, Kenya (BP) -- Twelve-year-old Kelvin Murage once earned the ire of his mother when he jerry-rigged a skateboard out of a chair back and suitcase wheels. Now the "King of Skate" has found unexpected paths to share his faith with others.

NEW YORK (AP) — When Donald Trump assumed the presidency, conservative religious leaders drew up "wish lists" of steps they hoped he'd take to oppose abortion and rein in the LGBTQ-rights movement. With a flurry of recent actions, Trump's administration is now winning their praise for aggressively fulfilling many of their goals.

(W&W) -- This is a story about familiar topics of giving and tithing. To get there, however, you need to take a detour through a murder trial and a promise.

LINDAU, Germany (RNS) — The 10th Religions for Peace World Assembly launched Tuesday (Aug. 20) with calls for religious groups to take decisive action on the main geopolitical issues of the day. Almost every religious leader who spoke at the opening ceremony called  communities of faith to look beyond their own local or church-related issues.

Only 4% of U.S. adults said in a recent Gallup poll that religion was a significant conversation topic for them in the past week, which equaled those who discussed weather, life in general, sports and cooking / dinner / food / restaurants.