First Blacks in the Americas

‘First Blacks in the Americas’: New Educational Website Touches on Untold History of Dominican Republic’s Earliest Black Africans

Tanasia Kenney December 28, 2016 atlantablackstar.com

Today’s students are commonly taught the early history of America’s colonization, along with the dark, disturbing details of how the transport and enslavement of millions of Africans built the nation into the superpower it is today.

But there’s an untold narrative of the nation’s early beginnings specifically pertaining to the fact that Blacks in the Americas during European colonization of the Americas actually arrived in La Española, today known as the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Now, a team of leaders from the Dominican Studies Institute at the City University of New York is working to shed light on this particular part of history that has remained largely ignored.

In early December, the Dominican Studies Institute launched the first bilingual educational website dedicated to the dissemination of the history of the first Black African occupants of La Española titled “First Blacks in the Americas,” or “Los primeros negros en las Américas.” The academic website features over 380 pages of manuscripts covering the years from 1497 to 1613, along with 79 pages of transcriptions (both in English and Spanish), 291 bibliographic entries and 131 glossary definitions. Read more here.

Talks to help you understand social justice

Want to join the fight for equality? A starter pack of TED Talks for those looking to understand the basics of social justice. Go here to watch them.

Start with this talk about the relationship between sexism and racism.

Saint John Coltrane African Orthodox Church

The Saint John Coltrane African Orthodox Church in San Francisco, California, uses jazz musician John Coltrane’s music and philosophy as sources for religious discovery. http://www.coltranechurch.org/#welcome

Radio Ministry Hosted by Pastor Wanika K. Stephens

In the midst of the week and the thick of the work day tune in for musical upliftment and renewal with the healing sound of St. John Will I Am Coltrane. Be inspired by interviews and commentaries and enlightened with Coltrane quotes and occasional interviews from the Coltrane archives.

Every Tuesday from 12-4pm PST on 89.5FM KPOO or Available World Wide via the TuneIn Website and App or via KPOO.com

“Some of the best radio on the airwaves” San Francisco Magazine

Jesus Was a Refugee

Pope Francis: ‘Jesus Was A Refugee’

Jun 23, 2014 Yasmine Hafiz Associate Editor, Huffington Post Religion

Pope Francis made a poignant appeal on behalf of the world’s refugees during his Wednesday general audience, reminding all listening that Jesus, too, encountered times of hardship and danger.

“We believe that Jesus was a refugee, had to flee to save his life, with Saint Joseph and Mary, had to leave for Egypt,” Pope Francis said, according to Zenit. “He was a refugee. Let us pray to Our Lady who knows the pain of refugees.”

The pope made his petition to the Church, which he defined as “all of us,” not limited to “priests, bishops, or the Vatican,” reported Asia News. Read more here.

LITTLE KNOWN BLACK HISTORY FACTS

In 1935, Benjamin Thornton created a device that could be attached to a telephone and could be set to record a voice message from a caller. By utilizing a clock attachment, the machine could also forward the messages as well as keep track of the time they were made.

African-American fashion designer Ann Lowe designed the wedding dress of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the bride of future President John F. Kennedy.

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Charlie Sifford won the Long Beach Open in 1957, becoming the 1st black to win a major professional golf tournament.

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1874:Entertainer Bert Williams was born. He was the 1st black to take a lead role on a Broadway stage, and helped break down racial barriers. He died of pneumonia, aged 47.

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1911:Baseball legend Buck O’Neil was born. He was the 1st African American coach in MLB. He passed away in 2006, aged 95.

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1915:Mabel Fairbanks was born. She was a skater, coach & the 1st African American inducted into the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame. She passed in 2001, aged 85.

During the 1930s, painter Charles Alston founded the 306 group, which convened in his studio space and provided support and apprenticeship for African-American artists, including Langston Hughes; sculptor Augusta Savage; and mixed-media visionary Romare Bearden.

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Female science fiction author Octavia Butler was dyslexic. Despite her disorder, she went on to win Hugo and Nebula awards for her writing, as well as a “genius” grant from the MacArthur Foundation.

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Politician, educator and Brooklyn native Shirley Chisholm survived three assassination attempts during her campaign for the 1972 Democratic nomination to the U.S. presidency.

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Barack Obama has won two Grammy Awards. He was first honored in 2005 for the audio version of his memoir, Dreams from My Father (best spoken word album), and received his second Grammy (in the same category) in 2007 for his political work, The Audacity of Hope.

https://blackamericaweb.com/playlist/the-ten-most-interesting-little-known-black-history-facts/item/407064/

http://www.biography.com/news/little-known-facts-about-black-history-20730659

Avoid Tax Scams

7 Simple Rules to Avoid Tax Scams in 2017

Don’t get conned out of your hard-earned money. These seven rules can help you quickly identify tax scammers.

Matthew Franke

Tax season is right around the corner, and unfortunately, that means that scammers might be after your hard-earned money. Tax scams come in many forms, but two of the biggest problems expected in 2017 are phone scams and phishing scams (you can read more about how they work here), with thieves either attempting to steal your money, personal information, or both. Fortunately, these types of scams are avoidable if you know these simple rules regarding what the IRS will or will not do.

1. The IRS will never call to demand immediate payment.

4. The IRS will never require you to use a specific method of payment, or ask for a credit/debit card number over the phone.

Read the entire article here.

Powerful Essays From Progressive People Of Faith

CHIP SOMODEVILLA VIA GETTY IMAGES: About 60 demonstrators gather outside the White House to protest the anti-Muslim policy proposals of President-elect Donald Trump and to stand ‘with Muslims against Islamophobia and racism’ December 21, 2016 in Washington, DC. Organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, protesters heard messages of tolerance and interfaith solidarity from ministers, rabbis and imams.

It’s been a tough year for America’s progressive faith community.

The religious left in this country is a racially and theologically diverse contingent of people who see social justice and progressive social values as an important part of their faith practice. The movement traces its legacy back to the Civil Rights Era and to the development of liberation theology ― the idea that people of faith must always stand up for the poor, oppressed, and marginalized of society.

3 Changes to Medicare in 2017

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Premiums and deductibles are heading higher in 2017. Here are the details you need to know.

Brian Feroldi (TMFTypeoh)

Medicare provides healthcare coverage to tens of millions of Americans, making it one of the country’s most important social programs. With each passing year, the government makes a few tweaks to the way the program operates, making it critical for current and future recipients alike to keep up with what’s new.Here’s a look at three key changes happening to Medicare in 2017.Here’s a table that helps to summarize some of the changes:

File Individual Tax Return	File Joint Tax Return	File Married & Separate Tax Return	Monthly Cost (2016)	Monthly Cost (2017)
$85,000 or less	$170,000 or less	$85,000 or less	$121.80	$134.00
above $85,000 up to $107,000	above $170,000 up to $214,000	Not applicable	$170.50	$187.50
above $107,000 up to $160,000	above $214,000 up to $320,000	Not applicable	$243.60	$267.90
above $160,000 up to $214,000	above $320,000 up to $428,000	above $85,000 and up to $129,000	$316.70	$348.30
above $214,000	above $428,000	above $129,000	$389.80	$428.60

DATA SOURCE: MEDICARE.GOV.

Read the entire article here.

Diet Sodas Make You Eat More

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A New Study Suggests Diet Sodas Make You Eat More

By Alex Goldman

Soda lovers have long turned to diet drinks to help them curb sugar cravings and reduce their overall calorie intake. Some have even started using natural sweeteners, like stevia, in an attempt to steer clear of aspartame, while still gaining the perceived benefits of diet soda. A study published this month in the International Journal of Obesity has some bad news for people trying to cut calories through diet drinks, both artificial and natural: Consuming soda sweetened with aspartame, stevia, or monk fruit does not appear to have any effect on overall calorie intake.

In this study, people were split into four groups: one drank a regular soda-like beverage, one drank an aspartame-sweetened beverage (like a typical diet soda), one drank a stevia-sweetened beverage, and the last group drank a monk fruit–sweetened beverage. Aspartame, stevia, and monk fruit are all non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) that do not contribute any calories to the diet. Previously, it was thought that people who consumed beverages sweetened with these NNSs would eat fewer total calories throughout the day because none of their calories were coming from drinks. This turned out not to be the case in this study. Though the participants were given a set breakfast, they were free to eat what they wanted throughout the rest of the day and were told to keep track of what they consumed. The end result was that all of the groups consumed about the same number of calories. The only difference was that the group that drank a sugar-sweetened beverage got a portion of their calories from the beverage itself.

This study suggests that when people drink diet sodas, even those sweetened with stevia, they make up for it by eating more later in the day.

Sexuality Education from the UCC

Different methods of teaching sex-ed can stir up debate, but research shows many kinds of programsare working. Even more important than what’s taught in schools, however, is what parents say to their kids.

Sexuality Education from the UCC

“To offer sexuality education in a congregation is to acknowledge that human sexuality is simply too important too beautiful and too potentially dangerous to be ignored in a religious community.” – Rev. Lena Breen, Mt. Vernon, WA

We live in a culture that is deeply conflicted about sexuality.

Our religious heritage compels and guides us in creating a safe environment where people can come to understand and respond to the challenges facing them as sexual beings. As faith communities, we promote justice for all people and we affirm the dignity of every individual, the importance of personal responsibility, and the essential interdependence of all peoples.

The United Church of Christ holds that sexuality is a God-given gift, and offers the following resources:

Our Whole Lives/Sexuality and Our Faith: Our Whole Lives is a series of sexuality education curricula for six age groups: grades K-1, grades 4-6, grades 7-9, grades 10-12, young adult, and adult. The program and its religious companion books, Sexuality and Our Faith, provide an opportunity for children, youth, and adults to learn about sexuality in the affirming and supportive setting of our faith communities. Learn more.

Created In God’s Image: a ten-week program for adults that focuses on integrating sexuality into the ministry and mission of the church. Learn More.
Affirming Persons, Saving Lives: the comprehensive HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention education curriculum published by the United Church of Christ. Learn more.

Ministers All of us

Pastor Rev. Cleo Graham

Deacon Interim Lead Pamela Walters

Moderator Earl Gardner

Minister of Music Wayne Dixon

Secretary Patricia Gray

Sound Technician Bruce MacCullagh

Treasurer Gail Martin

Sexton Thomas Best

Holy Dysfunction
God enters the world in infinite ways. For Christians, the most important way was through a blended, non-traditional family with very imperfect ancestors.
Turn on the Lamps
We want a glimpse of the face of God, reassuring us that we are not alone, that the cycle of death and rebirth has not stalled but will continue.
With or From?
Invasive species tend to take over and cause all kinds of problems, and there’s no species more invasive than humans. We’ve left no corner of the planet untouched.
Delights of Discipline
‘Discipline’ can be overused when it comes from a disciplinarian with an axe to grind. But discipline – the steady practices of disciples – can lead to wonders, too.
Advent’s Thirst
A week before Christmas, we may know the psalmist’s thirst. We may feel their loneliness. If that’s true for you, take time to drink and drink and drink in the river of God’s love.

Manual on Church team has ‘audacious’ goal of having a draft by December
It will be a guide for local churches. And it will be a little different from anything ever available in the United Church of Christ. Despite all odds, the long-awaited Manual on Church is coming together. Per a General Synod… The post Manual on Church team has ‘audacious’ goal of having a draft by December […]
‘Our work does not end here’: As SCOTUS erases abortion rights, UCC leaders offer prayer, resources, presence
“Moral outrage.” Those two words from General Minister and President John Dorhauer echoed the feeling of many in the United Church of Christ after the U.S. Supreme Court erased one’s constitutional right to an abortion on Friday, June 24. The justices… The post ‘Our work does not end here’: As SCOTUS erases abortion rights, UCC leaders […]
‘We will stand with you in protest’: National officers speak out after SC overturns Roe v. Wade
The national officers of the United Church of Christ are speaking out against the U.S. Supreme Court decision eliminating, after almost 50 years, the constitutional right to an abortion. Long before the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, the… The post ‘We will stand with you in protest’: National officers speak out after SC […]
WCC gathering in Geneva, first in years, preps for summer Assembly
It was a long time coming. For the first time since 2018, the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches came together in Geneva last week. For two of the three representatives of the United Church of Christ’s Wider… The post WCC gathering in Geneva, first in years, preps for summer Assembly appeared first […]
Muralist Cbabi Bayoc creates ‘a just world for all’ in the UCC’s new offices
A boy with a mask over his face – or is it a hand? A refugee with a backpack, holding tight to her child. A same-sex couple, kissing and embracing their son. A smiling young person – gender not evident.… The post Muralist Cbabi Bayoc creates ‘a just world for all’ in the UCC’s new […]

How overturning Roe will reverberate through America
After almost half a century, Roe v. Wade is no more. The United States will be grappling with the implications for years, if not decades, to come.
After high court ruling, is it tremors or earthquakes for public education?
What does this week’s Supreme Court decision, allowing tax dollars to be spent on religious schools, mean for the future of public education?
Jan. 6 panel holds up public officials as ‘backbone of democracy’
As witnesses shared heart-wrenching personal stories, the Jan. 6 committee spotlighted the role of election officials as safeguards democracy.
Congress acts on guns, with military vets among the vocal backers
Military veterans in some ways trend conservative. Yet they share wider public concerns about gun safety – and can wield influence in policy debates.
A history of American thought on abortion: It’s not what you think
With Roe and Casey overturned on Friday, legal scholar Geoffrey R. Stone, author of “Sex and the Constitution,” talks abortion history’s evolution in American thought.

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Supreme Court Overturns ‘Roe’
It was expected, but the reality was still jarring: The Supreme Court has formally overturned Roe v. Wade, erasing the nearly 50-year-old guarantee of abortion rights nationwide. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Sarah Varney of KHN, and Laurie Sobel, associate director for women’s health policy at KFF, join KHN’s […]
‘It’s Not a Haven’: With Limited Capacity for Abortion Care, Minnesota Clinics Brace for Influx
In Minnesota, where abortion rights are protected by the state’s constitution, legal doesn't necessarily mean accessible. The state has just eight clinics that provide abortions, and both providers and advocates say resources available aren’t enough to meet demand as nearby states reduce abortion access.
Five Things to Know Now That the Supreme Court Has Overturned Roe v. Wade
By undoing that landmark decision, the law of the land since 1973, the court has empowered states to set their own abortion restrictions — so where people live will determine their level of access.
After Two Ectopic Pregnancies, I Fear What Might Happen Without Roe v. Wade
A journalism professor’s four failed pregnancies forced her to use procedures or drugs that could soon be difficult to turn to.
A Post-‘Roe’ World in Georgia Will Mean More Restrictions — And More Political Battles
Abortion will almost certainly face new restrictions in Georgia. Patients will have a harder time finding services, and providers will have to figure out how to navigate the new landscape. Meanwhile, abortion opponents see the moment as an opportunity to put further restrictions on the procedure.

France Rules Against Burkini Swimwear For Religious Reasons
Muslim women said the ruling unfairly targeted their faith and their bodies.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor Voices 'Growing Concern' Over Conservative Supreme Court
The left-leaning Supreme Court justice vehemently disagreed with the high court's rulings on the separation of church and state.
Supreme Court Rules Religious Schools Can Get Maine Tuition Aid
The decision is the latest in a line of rulings from the Supreme Court that have favored religion-based discrimination claims.
Black Pastor Lashes Christian 'Political Whores' For Trump At Southern Baptist Convention
“I think some Southern Baptists lost their minds when a Black man was elected president," said minister Kevin Smith.
An Elite Christian College Has Become The Latest Battleground In America’s Culture Wars
The saga that unfolded after a professor officiated a same-sex wedding has exposed deep rifts over how the school treats members of the LGBTQ community -- and how its church interprets the Bible.

Silver Lake Camp Prepares for Summer with Lots of New Faces
The Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center is bustling in preparation for the start of the summer camp season on Monday, and a lot of new faces are ready to greet the campers and volunteers. “The start of camp season is always a joy-filled time,” said the Rev. Dr. Audrey Price, Executive Minister for Strategic […]
SNEUCC Leaders: Overturn of Roe v. Wade 'Unjust and Dehumanizing '
Below is a letter addressing the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, written by the Rev. James D. Ross II, Minister for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Dear friends, I am sorry. I join in the deep sadness, disgust, and disappointment that many feel following today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturns the Roe […]
Drew Page Stepping Down From Staff
Drew Page, who has served the Southern New England Conference and the historic Connecticut Conference staff for more than 12 years, is stepping down on Friday, June 24, due to health issues. Drew was diagnosed with cancer in 2020, and for the past 2.5 years has undergone various treatments and surgeries, but the disease persists. […]
Annual Meeting Speakers Encourage Churches to Embrace Who They Are Today
The Third Annual Meeting of the Southern New England Conference - held June 18 online - focused on how the churches of the Conference might build on the foundation of their forebears by embracing who they are in these new times, finding relevance in their communities in ways that are transforming and transformative. Rev. […]

A good week for the culture war
(RNS) — The Supreme Court lives up to expectations on guns, education and abortion. The post A good week for the culture war appeared first on Religion News Service.
The abortion question may be decided politically. The real test is a moral one.
(RNS) — Politics is not the point. The point is to make abortion unnecessary. The post The abortion question may be decided politically. The real test is a moral one. appeared first on Religion News Service.
Evangelist Nick Hall: Christians have become ‘loud about everything but Jesus’
(RNS) — Hall remains dedicated to big-event evangelism and is leading Together '22 in Dallas this weekend, hoping to draw tens of thousands in person. The post Evangelist Nick Hall: Christians have become ‘loud about everything but Jesus’ appeared first on Religion News Service.
‘Blessing of Elders’ lauds 7 Black Christian luminaries at Museum of the Bible gala
(RNS) — ‘I believe the 21st century will see the Black church lead the way to hope and healing in a deeply divided nation,’ said the Rev. A.R. Bernard. The post ‘Blessing of Elders’ lauds 7 Black Christian luminaries at Museum of the Bible gala appeared first on Religion News Service.
Photos of the Week: Corpus Christi celebrations; overturning Roe v. Wade
(RNS) — This week’s photo gallery includes Corpus Christi celebrations, the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the U.S., the beginning of the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and more. The post Photos of the Week: Corpus Christi celebrations; overturning Roe v. Wade appeared first on Religion News Service.

Guess Which Republican Congressmembers Sought Pardons After Trying to Help Trump Subvert Vote
The House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol revealed Thursday that six Republican members of Congress who supported Donald Trump’s lies sought broad presidential pardons for their involvement in the campaign to discredit the election results: Mo Brooks of Alabama, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Louie Gohmert of Texas, […]
Top DOJ Staff Threatened Mass Resignation as Trump Weighed Naming Jeff Clark AG to Overturn Election
Former top officials in President Trump’s Justice Department told the House January 6 committee Thursday they threatened to resign en masse when Trump mused about appointing Jeffrey Clark, a loyalist who backed the baseless voter fraud claims, as acting attorney general. “I said, 'Mr. President, within 24, 48, 72 hours, you could have hundreds and […]
"Pure Insanity": Trump Pushed DOJ to Chase Absurd Conspiracy Theories to Overturn 2020 Election
The House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol has revealed new details about former President Donald Trump’s efforts to pressure the Justice Department to help him stay in power after he lost the 2020 election. In the committee’s fifth televised public hearing Thursday, former top DOJ officials testified […]
Radical Supreme Court Guts State Gun Laws & Right to Remain Silent Under Arrest
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a century-old New York state law that limited who can carry concealed weapons in public, with Justice Clarence Thomas writing for the 6-3 majority that the statute violated the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms. The ruling vastly expands gun rights in the U.S. just weeks after […]
Headlines for June 24, 2022
Senate Approves Bipartisan Gun Safety Bill by 65-33 Vote, Supreme Court Strikes Down New York Gun Control Law in Major Expansion of Second Amendment, Trump Pushed DOJ to Seize Voting Machines & Declare Election Results “Corrupt”, Six Republican Congressmembers Who Backed Trump’s Election Lies Sought Pardons, Ukraine Orders Troops to Withdraw from Severodonetsk, Russia Meets […]

Fresh Air Weekend: The sensory world of animals; Mothering as social change
Ed Yong talks about the diversity of perception in the animal world. Justin Chang reviews Good Luck to You, Leo Grande and Cha Cha Real Smooth. Angela Garbes says raising kids is undervalued.
Fasten your seat belts, flight attendant-turned-novelist shares stories from the sky
T.J. Newman began writing the hijack thriller Falling while she was a flight attendant. She'd jot down ideas on paper napkins in the quiet moments on red-eye flights. Originally broadcast July 2021.
Baz Luhrmann's gaudy 'Elvis' is a shapeless blur of a musical biopic
Elvis' longtime manager Col. Parker plays an oversized role, but that's not this film's only problem. There may be a great movie hiding in Elvis, but it's buried under an awful lot of visual clutter.
Why overturning Roe isn't the final goal of the anti-abortion movement
Law professor Mary Ziegler explains how the anti-abortion movement upended the GOP establishment and helped push the courts to the right. Her new book is Dollars for Life.
The human sensory experience is limited. Journey into the world that animals know
In his new book, An Immense World, science writer Ed Yong explores the diversity of perception in the animal world — including echolocation, magnetic fields and ultraviolet vision.

What Does a Pro-Life Economy Look Like?
Abortion has been a national institution for nearly 50 years. Where should Christians spend their pro-life dollars now? During the past 49 years of abortion debates under Roe v. Wade, some have lost track of how profits and poverty drive the issue—and why pro-life Christians must continue to innovate as we put our money where […]
Goodbye Roe v. Wade: Pro-Life Evangelicals Celebrate the Ruling They’ve Waited For
Supreme Court: The landmark abortion-rights case was “egregiously wrong and on a collision course with the Constitution from the day it was decided.” Roe v. Wade—the Supreme Court decision that mobilized generations of pro-life activists and shaped evangelicals’ political engagement for half a century—has been overturned. Millions have marched, protested, lobbied, and prayed for the […]
Presbyterian Church in America Leaves National Association of Evangelicals
The PCA has been a part of the NAE since the denomination's founding, but has always fought about it. At its annual meeting on Wednesday, the Presbyterian Church in America voted to leave the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), which it has been a part of since the denomination’s founding in 1973. Presbyterian elders voting […]
Report Backs Abuse Allegations Against Chris Rice
The singer allegedly groomed students at a Kentucky church through back rubs and unaccompanied sleepovers, according to an investigation by GRACE. Three men reported that Christian musician Chris Rice took advantage of a youth ministry culture that normalized massages and sleepovers to groom them as teenagers more than 20 years ago. An investigation by Godly […]
These Pastors Fell into Sin. Pro-Life Laws Emerged from It.
Three 19th-century scandals led to the protection of women and their unborn children. This article is the first of a four-part series based on the upcoming book by Marvin Olasky and Leah Savas, The Story of Abortion in America: A Street-Level History, 1652–2022. Pastors falling into sordid sin and trying to cover it up. That’s […]

A Pro-Religion Court
What the 6-3 conservative Supreme Court majority’s latest ruling means.
How a Religious Sect Landed Google in a Lawsuit
A video producer claims he was fired after he complained that an obscure group based in the Sierra foothills dominated a business unit at Google.
Así fue como una secta religiosa hizo que Google acabara demandada
Un productor de video afirma que fue despedido después de quejarse porque una organización religiosa en California dominaba una unidad de negocios en Google.
After the Southern Baptist Report on Sexual Abuse, How Can Churches Do Better?
“We often have a very twisted understanding of authority and unity, and it is wielded in a way that keeps whistle-blowers silent.”
400 Years Ago, They Would Be Witches. Today, They Can Be Your Coach.
As more and more Americans call themselves spiritual but not religious, spiritual coaches give us a glimpse of the allure and the hazards of 21st-century D.I.Y. religion.

Two Years Into the Pandemic, Americans Inch Closer to a New Normal
Americans in 2022 find themselves in an environment that is at once greatly improved and frustratingly familiar. The post Two Years Into the Pandemic, Americans Inch Closer to a New Normal appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Trust in America: Do Americans trust the news media?
The declining public trust in the news media and polarization of news audiences have profound effects on civic life. The post Trust in America: Do Americans trust the news media? appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Trust in America: Do Americans trust the police?
While views of and experiences with police vary substantially across demographic groups, there is support for a number of police reforms. The post Trust in America: Do Americans trust the police? appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Trust in America: How do Americans view economic inequality?
Amid rising inequality, many Americans feel that the U.S. economic system is unfair and generally favors powerful special interests. The post Trust in America: How do Americans view economic inequality? appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Trust in America: In the age of COVID-19, do Americans trust science?
Public confidence in scientists has increased during the pandemic, though not among all Americans. We discuss the impact of trust on views of COVID-19 vaccines. The post Trust in America: In the age of COVID-19, do Americans trust science? appeared first on Pew Research Center.

With UCC grant, conference supports clergy mental health in pandemic
Both ordinary and extraordinary, the stresses on pastors and hospital, university and military chaplains during the COVID-19 pandemic are enormous. So the Indiana-Kentucky Conference United Church of Christ is pioneering ways to help clergy cope, using support that includes a UCC COVID-19 Conference Recovery Grant.
Meet UCC Volunteer Ministries volunteer Gail McAfee
The Rev. Gail McAfee is currently serving as a UCC Volunteer Ministries’ volunteer in North Carolina. She was brought in to provide mold remediation following Hurricane Florence. Why does she volunteer? “That’s what I was taught to do," she said. "I was raised by pastors and was taught to respect all people, regardless of their current […]
In typhoon-prone Philippines, recovery from Ambo begins as new storms hit
In the Philippines, UCC Disaster Ministries is aiding recovery from Typhoon Ambo/VongFong as new storms hit diverse areas of this nation of islands. Typhoon Goni/Rolly is on track to make landfall on Luzon Sunday morning (Nov. 1). Just a few days ago, Typhoon Molave killed 22 people in the Philippines.
Deadline extended for COVID-19 grants for conferences
The deadline for United Church of Christ conferences to apply for the UCC COVID-19 Conference Recovery Grant has been extended by two weeks, to December 14, 2020.

Reproductive rights and the economic divide
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade won’t just make abortions more expensive and difficult to access; it’s also expected to exacerbate economic disparities between people who can afford access to reproductive services and those who can’t. Today, a look at the ruling’s impact. Plus, a recap of Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s trip […]
Who’s hurt the most by a cooling job market?
Low-paid workers have seen some of the biggest pay increases since the start of the pandemic. But those gains are already slowing as the Federal Reserve puts the brakes on the economy and cools the labor market. Today, we dig into the real-world consequences of the Fed’s decisions. Then, a reevaluation of credit card late […]
Is the pandemic over? Plenty of companies seem to think so.
Let’s state the obvious: The pandemic is definitively not over. But plenty of larger companies are rolling back COVID restrictions and signaling the end is near. Today, we delve into how corporations make those decisions and how they shape the public’s pandemic mindset. Plus, the future of commission-free stock trading, the ripple effects of pilot […]
What are the odds of a recession?
The stakes are high for the Federal Reserve as it hikes interest rates in its effort to tame rising prices. Getting it wrong could spawn a recession. But different economists use different models to predict the likelihood, magnitude and timing of an economic downturn — so estimates are all over the map. Later on today’s […]
Why the wealth gap between Black and white Americans persists
Juneteenth commemorates the day enslaved Black Texans were informed of the Emancipation Proclamation, though it was years late. While the emancipation from slavery is nearly 160 years old, the economic emancipation of Black Americans is ongoing. Today, we’ll take a look at the structural and legal barriers that have prevented Black Americans from building wealth […]

United but Not Uniform: Finding Faith at the Women’s Convention
Thousands of women gathered in Detroit over Halloween weekend for the Women’s Convention, a conference meant to build upon the energy of January’s Women’s March—the largest single-day protest in U.S. history. Our Women and Girls Campaign Associate Jenna Barnett attended the gathering to learn what role faith played in this Convention. She was surprised by […]
Black and DACAmented in the U.S.
With the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in limbo, our Associate Web Editor Dhanya Addanki talked to Patrice Lawrence and Mwewa Sumbwe of the UndocuBlack Network about what the end of DACA could mean. This network was founded by undocumented black immigrants who wanted to center the voices of black undocumented people that […]
Can Virtual Reality Rescue Humanity?
Video games have long been dismissed from mainstream audiences as shallow or immature, but can they be something more? Our multimedia editor JP Keenan traveled to the "Games For Change" festival to talk with game designers about the power of "empathy games" and learn about future of virtual reality to see if it's the game […]
How These Christian Activists Are Putting the Death Penalty on Trial
In January 2017, 18 anti-death penalty activists were arrested and taken to jail for protesting against the death penalty on the steps of the supreme court. On this episode, our Associate Web Editor, @dhanyaddanki, talks to three of the 18 arrested death penalty abolitionists about why they fight against capital punishment. @ShaneClaiborne, Derrick Wayne Jamison, […]
You Can’t Mute All the Trolls: How to Be a Journalist in 2017
On today's episode, our deputy web editor @chwoodiwiss chats with with journalists @sullivanamy, @dawn_cherie, and @ayshabkhan about something journos usually don’t like talking about: when doing our job becomes too much. We discuss the public's rising suspicion of journalism, dealing with traumatic images, fending off Twitter hate, and—whew—why we still love the work. For more, […]

Letters to the Editor (Resurrecting this Historical Section): Redefining Anthropology?
Editor’s Note The lifeblood of science and social science is competition among ideas in healthy debate testing scholarly standards and findings. In recent years, as standards have begun to disappear in social science and as journals begin to advocate for doctrine in place of social science and discipline, the opportunity to challenge colleagues (and editors) […]
Returning Discipline to the Discipline: A Model Procedure for Reviews in Anthropology, Social Sciences, and Other Related Disciplines
This piece uses participant observation of and research into disciplinary procedures to reveal that review policies in anthropology, other ‘social sciences’, and related disciplines have become arbitrary and politicised with little to protect professional standards of a discipline and to avoid conflicts of interest that prejudice scholarship. To address the problem, this piece takes the […]
The Nonsense and Non-Science of Political Science: A Politically Incorrect View of ‘Poly-T(r)ic(k)s’
The purpose of this short essay is to highlight the failures in contemporary Political Science by sketching a small model of what the discipline would look like if it were in fact a “discipline” driven by scientific questions and methods responsive to public benefit rather than to indoctrination and control. Rather than simply accept, on […]
An International Legal Scholar’s View on “Is Economics in Violation of International Law? Remaking Economics as a Social Science”
An Ecological Economist’s View on “Is Economics in Violation of International Law? Remaking Economics as a Social Science”
Introduction Is mainstream economics with its many theories and recommendations compatible with international law, such as the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP, 2007) or the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development of 1992 (UN Rio Declaration, 1992)? Are globally renowned universities teaching economics in ways that violate international law? Can […]

Carole June Benson Estate Gift Establishes New Endowment Fund to Benefit the Coalition’s New Emergency Family Shelter
The Religious Coalition is the beneficiary of a generous gift from the Carole June Benson Estate. The Coalition has honored Carole’s legacy by naming the Community Living and Dining Rooms at the new Emergency Family Shelter in her honor. Additionally, a portion of her gift established an endowment fund to support the Emergency Family Shelter […]
Frederick couple embarks on 8,400-mile bike expedition across U.S. and back
Almost exactly 33 years ago, Neil and Margie Donnelly embarked on a 4,000-mile bike ride from Frederick to Florence, Oregon. Now, they’re doing it again. And this time, when they get to the West Coast, they’re turning around and coming back. Read more at fredericknewspost.com The post Frederick couple embarks on 8,400-mile bike expedition across […]
Thank you!
Thank you to our generous donors and supporters for helping us reach our goal to make the Emergency Family Shelter a reality. This weekend, Donors, Staff, and Community Leaders gathered at the new shelter for an intimate Grand Opening and walk-through. Executive Director Nick Brown shared these thoughtful words with attendees. “It’s almost cliché, the […]
Renovations at Religious Coalition emergency family shelter set to finish next month
Renovations will soon be complete on the farmhouse the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs acquired in 2019 to house its emergency family shelter program. The coalition aims to finish construction on the building — located at 7516 Hayward Road — next month and start welcoming families to the shelter in early March, according to […]
Beyond Shelter Campaign surpasses $3.5 million in gifts, pledges, and government funding in support of the Coalition’s new Emergency Family Shelter.
Frederick, Maryland – The Religious Coalition Beyond Shelter Campaign has surpassed the fundraising goal of $3.5 million in gifts, pledges, and government funding in support of the Coalition’s new Emergency Family Shelter. The Campaign supports the establishment of a single-site 24-hour Emergency Family Shelter program. Co-Chairs Dr. Gregory Rausch and Pastor Barbara Kershner Daniel led […]

Two Years Into the Pandemic, Americans Inch Closer to a New Normal
Americans in 2022 find themselves in an environment that is at once greatly improved and frustratingly familiar. The post Two Years Into the Pandemic, Americans Inch Closer to a New Normal appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Trust in America: Do Americans trust the news media?
The declining public trust in the news media and polarization of news audiences have profound effects on civic life. The post Trust in America: Do Americans trust the news media? appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Trust in America: Do Americans trust the police?
While views of and experiences with police vary substantially across demographic groups, there is support for a number of police reforms. The post Trust in America: Do Americans trust the police? appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Trust in America: How do Americans view economic inequality?
Amid rising inequality, many Americans feel that the U.S. economic system is unfair and generally favors powerful special interests. The post Trust in America: How do Americans view economic inequality? appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Trust in America: In the age of COVID-19, do Americans trust science?
Public confidence in scientists has increased during the pandemic, though not among all Americans. We discuss the impact of trust on views of COVID-19 vaccines. The post Trust in America: In the age of COVID-19, do Americans trust science? appeared first on Pew Research Center.

PBS NewsHour: Russia’s war in Ukraine leads to historic split in the Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church in Ukraine has been under the authority of Moscow since 1686. Until the 2014 war with Russia, that situation bothered few. Now a growing number of congregations, approximately 500 so far, have joined a new independent Ukrainian … More → The post PBS NewsHour: Russia’s war in Ukraine leads to historic split […]
PBS NewsHour: Following Father Theodore Hesburgh through Civil Rights era
The new documentary, “Hesburgh,” explores the life of Father Theodore Hesburgh, who served as a long-time president of the University of Notre Dame and is recognized now as one of the most important civic and educational leaders of the 20th … More → The post PBS NewsHour: Following Father Theodore Hesburgh through Civil Rights era […]
VIDEO: California’s first Muslim judge on faith and public service
Justice Halim Dhanidina was recently elevated to California’s Courts of Appeal, making him the state’s most senior judge of Muslim faith. NewsHour Weekend Special Correspondent David Tereshchuk talks with Dhanidina about engaging with supporters and critics alike, and setting an … More → The post VIDEO: California’s first Muslim judge on faith and public service […]
America’s Foremost Muslim Judge
America’s Foremost Muslim Judge By David Tereshchuk It wasn’t exactly a surprise for Halim Dhanidina to get a call in 2012 from California Governor Jerry Brown’s office saying he’d been picked to serve as a judge on the state’s Superior … More → The post America’s Foremost Muslim Judge appeared first on Religion & Ethics […]
The relationship between science and religion
The friction between science and religion goes back centuries. While the conflict often lies in beliefs and research, the common ground between the two is sometimes left unexplored. Researchers dive deeper into this debate. The post The relationship between science and religion appeared first on Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly.

France Rules Against Burkini Swimwear For Religious Reasons
Muslim women said the ruling unfairly targeted their faith and their bodies.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor Voices 'Growing Concern' Over Conservative Supreme Court
The left-leaning Supreme Court justice vehemently disagreed with the high court's rulings on the separation of church and state.
Supreme Court Rules Religious Schools Can Get Maine Tuition Aid
The decision is the latest in a line of rulings from the Supreme Court that have favored religion-based discrimination claims.
Black Pastor Lashes Christian 'Political Whores' For Trump At Southern Baptist Convention
“I think some Southern Baptists lost their minds when a Black man was elected president," said minister Kevin Smith.
An Elite Christian College Has Become The Latest Battleground In America’s Culture Wars
The saga that unfolded after a professor officiated a same-sex wedding has exposed deep rifts over how the school treats members of the LGBTQ community -- and how its church interprets the Bible.

Month: February 2017