(ANALYSIS) Details are still emerging about Vance Boelter, the 57-year-old man accused of killing a Minnesota state politician and her husband and grievously injuring another state senator and his wife. But the more we learn about Boelter, the more likely it seems that Christian nationalism may have played a role in motivating the attack.
Read MoreLike father, like son — or in the case of Kenneth Copeland, like grandfather, like grandson. Which may be why Jeremy Pearsons, Copeland’s grandson, is “believing God” — and his Legacy Church congregation in a tiny Colorado mountain town — for a $2 million private jet.
Read MoreNondisclosure agreements (NDAs) for child sex abuse victims are no longer allowed in Missouri, thanks to a piece of new legislation known as Trey’s Law. It is in memory of Trey Carlock, a victim of abuse at Kanakuk Kamps in southwest Missouri, who took his own life in 2019 at the age of 28.
Read More(ANALYSIS) All that and more underscores the significance of a long-awaited and definitive new biography, out now: “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet” (Yale University Press) by historian John G. Turner of George Mason University. It is the first biography to benefit from official publication of the 27-volume Joseph Smith Papers.
Read MoreWhile only 20% of U.S. adults currently identify as Catholic by religion, millions more hold cultural, familial or historical ties to the church. Among those who identify as Catholic by religion, levels of observance differ. Only 13% reported never or rarely engaging in any of the faith’s core practices. The vast majority — 74% — fall somewhere in between, the report said.
Read MoreAfter a half-decade marked by upheaval, many Christian communities across the United States are showing signs not only of recovery but of renewed vitality, a new study released on Monday revealed. The report looks at a large and diverse sample of American churchgoers say their faith is stronger, their churches more vibrant and their involvement more consistent than at any point.
Read More(ANALYSIS) This is not about rejecting technology. This is about resisting moral drift. It’s about remembering that not every innovation is an acceptable invitation. The church should be discerning enough to see that just because crypto is legal doesn’t make it righteous. If God’s messengers hope to offer moral clarity, they can’t do so while pocketing digital currencies that may be soaked in sin.
Read More(OPINION) As a historian of Christianity, I have studied how religion has been manipulated to bless empires. In the year 325, Constantine declared himself Christian and forged the Christian Empire. In 800, the Pope crowned Charlemagne, merging the power of church and state. During colonial expansion, Christianity was exported alongside conquest and commerce.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Maybe what stands out here is that no matter how much the country has changed socially, religiously and politically, none of that has really shifted the overall relationship between Jews and the Democratic Party.
Read More(ANALYSIS) This is not a moment for faith-based institutions to retreat or sanitize their convictions. It is a moment to reclaim their voice and affirm their rightful in shaping a public life capacious enough to hold true difference, including sacred difference. Religious freedom — grounded in conscience, practice and institutional distinctiveness — must remain a cornerstone of our shared civic life.
Read MoreIn other words, the moral battle lines at the heart of America’s “culture wars” continue to shift and evolve. Maybe the editors at the Times should assign a religion-beat professional to the team that is covering these trends?
Read MoreAt its annual meeting in the Dallas, the nation’s largest Protestant nomination tackled social issues such as same-sex marriage, online porn and sports betting.
Read More(OPINION) I’m sure I am not the first person to think along these lines, but did you ever consider that you might not exist if certain things had happened or not happened?
Read MoreSouthern Baptist Convention President Clint Pressley spoke with reporters about unity, transparency and Gospel mission during a press conference held minutes following the SBC Annual Meeting.
Read MoreFor nearly 100 years, the Central Church of Christ preached the Gospel and welcomed the vulnerable. Now, the one-time downtown anchor — founded by A.M. Burton, great-grandfather of Grammy-winning singer Amy Grant — faces an uncertain future. Former members attribute the changes to Shawn Mathis, who became the Central church’s third elder in 2017.
Read MoreAs African migration — driven largely by economic hardship and the search for better opportunities — continues to grow, churches are becoming more than just places of worship. In fact, churches have evolved into spiritual lifelines and vital community hubs that help preserve cultural identity, reinforce moral values and provide a sense of belonging far from home.
Read MoreCalling SBC messengers at the 2025 annual meeting in Dallas to recognize God’s grace this past year, SBC President Clint Pressley said he is “glad to be Southern Baptist” and invited listeners to join in the celebration.
Read More(OPINION) We are all curious to see how Pope Leo XIV will engage with the Trump administration. The Chicago Archdiocese’s upcoming celebration of the pope, an American-Peruvian dual citizen, stands in contrast to the military parade being hosted in Washington, D.C. on the same day. At the same time, the Catholic Church has seen empires rise and fall.
Read MoreOn the day before Southern Baptists convene, SBC Executive Committee members elected new leaders and passed several recommendations for final approval.
Read MoreRobert Morris has pushed back on Gateway’s assertion that it didn’t know the full details of his sexual abuse of Cindy Clemishire in the 1980s, including that she was only 12 when the abuse started.
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