EVENTS

Radical Rest-Taking
The gifts of sabbath are radically subversive and exceedingly compassionate. In a society that values constant achievement and over-functioning, sabbath keeps us intact.
The Relief of Facts
Maybe it was a miracle. Maybe it was magic. Or maybe it was this: maybe Moses just forced them to truly examine at what they were dealing with: not vampires, but snakes.
Honest to God
I wonder if Jesus prayed the psalms in the days before going to Jerusalem. I wonder if it gave him comfort that he could be that honest with God about his terror and grief.
Noah's Advice
I miss the future. All I can see is a different future: the end of the office, the end of school, the end of church. The end. We are on this journey without a map, without guides.
The Hard Stuff
We’re not terribly interested in the hard stuff of life, are we? Fortunately, it is the nature of God to go straight into and through the hardest stuff, so we know we are not alone.

National ministries add more resources to ‘Coronavirus and the Church’ site
The national ministries of the United Church of Christ are assembling a number of new resources and informational updates for local congregations as the coronavirus pandemic continues to keep most of the country in “Safe at Home” mode.
National UCC Zoom call series kicks off with call to prayer Sunday, April 5
The whole United Church of Christ is invited to a twice-weekly series of gatherings for inspiration and learning via video conference, starting with a Call to Prayer at 6 p.m. EDT Sunday, April 5.
Commentary: Lockdowns, Social Distancing and Working from Home: A View from the Underside
In just over two months, coronavirus has turned the world upside down, forcing us to accept many unsettling realities and to deviate from familiar paths and pursuits.
UCC’s ‘Daily Briefing’ on COVID-19 provides facts to fight fear
The UCC is producing a daily briefing on COVID-19 that simplifies the factual data and shares the latest information about the virus. Barbara Baylor is the “point person” behind the effort.
'God-sent' gifts, volunteers fix hurricane-damaged home, thanks to One Great Hour of Sharing
"If it wasn't for God and you people, I wouldn’t be in my house tonight," Josephine Henry told volunteers who helped restore her hurricane-damaged home in Wilmington, N.C., with support from One Great Hour of Sharing.

American Jesus
What would it mean for Christians to find their identity in Christ with an understanding of Christ’s lowliness?
Sidewalk Angels
There have been instances when I have encountered “challenges” and no “sidewalk angel” has appeared. This time one did.
You Too
You touched without permission. You silenced with intention. You were the problem. You are the problem.
Ready, Willing and Able for Peace
When the President told the United Nations that the United States was “ready, willing and able” for such destruction, he meant my husband.
The Lie of White Supremacy
White supremacy is a lie. It prompts us to indulge the theologically, socially, and economically unjustifiable.

How online learning may be more than a stopgap in the US
While there are still shortcomings to address, new thinking is happening around online learning – and how people think about education’s purpose.
In Kentucky, a Democratic governor gains new fans: Republicans
As they navigate a pandemic, governors are seeing their popularity soar. Kentucky’s Andy Beshear is winning plaudits for a calm, pragmatic approach.
Hot commodity: How toilet paper became an icon of stability
In an uncertain time, toilet paper has taken on outsize proportions as something of an anchor, a marker of personal and societal stability.
Why GOP advised Trump to stop feuding with Michigan's governor
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a first-term Democratic governor, is considered a leading vice presidential candidate. She's criticized Presidential Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus, igniting a Twitter feud. Why both sides are backing down now.
White House coronavirus briefings: How much is must-see TV?
Media outlets are grappling with how to cover the president’s coronavirus briefings, which mix valuable information with inaccurate assertions.

‘You’ve Been Served’: Wisconsin Hospitals Sued Patients Even During Pandemic
Wisconsin hospitals had filed at least 104 lawsuits in small claims court since the state declared a public health emergency March 12. Most now say they are suspending the cases; one hospital has dismissed them after a reporter’s calls.
Trump Administration Uses Wartime Powers To Be First In Line On Medical Supplies
As states scour the world for masks and other protective medical equipment, the federal government has repeatedly invoked a little-known clause in the Defense Production Act to step to the front of the line for sought-after health supplies.
Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes
Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health care policy stories each week, so you don't have to.
Medicaid Nearing ‘Eye Of The Storm’ As Newly Unemployed Look For Coverage
The coronavirus outbreak has forced millions out of work and the federal-state health program for low-income people could face unprecedented strains as many states don’t necessarily have the resources or systems in place to meet the demand.
As The Country Disinfects, Diabetes Patients Can’t Find Rubbing Alcohol
Demand has exploded for rubbing alcohol and alcohol swabs, which are being deployed in the disinfection fight against the coronavirus. Now, people with diabetes who rely on the products for infection control are left scrambling.

Israel Had Never Issued A Press Credential To A Journalist From My Country. It Gave Me One.
As a Pakistani reporter covering U.S. foreign policy, I worried about writing on Palestine and Israel — until visiting gave me an empathy stronger than my fear.
Getting An Accurate Census Count Is Vital. First, Muslim Americans Need To Trust It's Safe.
While the U.S. Census Bureau is bound by law to protect private information, it’s not unreasonable that Muslim Americans would be concerned.
Louisiana Evangelical Pastor Charged With Defying Governor's Ban On Big Gatherings
Tony Spell, pastor of Life Tabernacle Church near Baton Rouge, vowed to continue holding in-person church services despite the pandemic.
Coronavirus Hospital In Central Park Sparks Backlash Over Anti-LGBTQ Ties
The facility is operating in partnership with Samaritan’s Purse, a disaster relief organization founded by evangelist Franklin Graham.
Florida Megachurch Pastor Arrested After Holding Crowded Service In Defiance Of Rules
Rodney Howard-Browne claimed he had special virus-killing machines.

Southern New England Conference Begins
The New SNEUCC.ORG Website The Southern New England Conference officially came into being with the New Year, and the change is becoming more and more visible. At the end of December, the Conference's Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Massachusetts Secretary of State's office, establishing it as a nonprofit. On Jan. 1, employees of […]
Stories from 2019 from CT, MA, and RI
The year two thousand nineteen is over. The roman notation MMXIX has changed to simple MMXX for 2020. For the Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island Conferences of the United Church of Christ, now referred to as the "historic" conferences, the long- anticipated formation of the Southern New England Conference is here. And with it, it […]
Be Prepared ... to be Flocked
The following is a message from Bridge Conference Minister the Rev. Don Remick: It’s Advent and Christmas is just ahead. And we’ll be moving quickly into the New Year. The New Year marks an historic moment as we launch our new Conference and our new way of being Conference. To mark this moment we will […]
Executive Conference Minister Position Description Finalized
By Tiffany Vail Associate Conference Minister for Communications The search committee for the first Executive Conference Minister for the Southern New England Conference has developed a position description - and it looks very different from those of traditional Conference Ministers. "This position is more like a University President," said Bridge Conference Minister Rev. Marilyn Kendrix, […]

With coronavirus infections linked to religious gatherings, debate rages over worship amid pandemic
(RNS) — ‘I just think that puts a lot of vulnerable people at risk,’ said Greg Jones, dean of the Duke Divinity School. The post With coronavirus infections linked to religious gatherings, debate rages over worship amid pandemic appeared first on Religion News Service.
As coronavirus death rates multiply, these monks are giving away caskets
(RNS) — The Trappist monks of New Melleray Abbey have always given away child caskets. Now they're offering adult caskets to people in need. The post As coronavirus death rates multiply, these monks are giving away caskets appeared first on Religion News Service.
Photos of the Week
(RNS) — This week’s gallery includes worldwide responses to the novel coronavirus. The post Photos of the Week appeared first on Religion News Service.
The meaning of COVID-19: We can’t all be right
(RNS) — This pandemic could be a unique opportunity to listen to other voices, to learn how others view the world, to open ourselves to other possibilities. The post The meaning of COVID-19: We can’t all be right appeared first on Religion News Service.
Muslim groups join forces to raise $500,000 for coronavirus relief grants
(RNS) — A Muslim-led crowdfunding campaign has raised nearly $500,000 to offer micro-grants to low-income American families whose livelihoods have been hurt by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. The post Muslim groups join forces to raise $500,000 for coronavirus relief grants appeared first on Religion News Service.

Protect Immigrant Communities: Fear Mounts of Deadly COVID-19 Outbreak in U.S. Border Camps, ICE Jails
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has joined thousands of medical professionals and immigration rights groups to demand that Immigration and Customs Enforcement release all prisoners from immigration jails as the coronavirus continues to spread. Meanwhile, immigration advocates are working to prepare crowded encampments of asylum seekers across the U.S.-Mexico border for a potentially catastrophic outbreak of […]
How Taiwan Contained COVID-19: Early Action, Technology & Millions of Face Masks
Taiwan, despite being just 100 miles from mainland China with regular flights to and from Wuhan, has successfully staved off the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. The country has so far seen five deaths and just under 350 confirmed cases, and most schools and businesses remain open. How did Taiwan do it? "Aggressive action," says […]
As Virus Spreads in Philippines, So Does Authoritarianism: Duterte Threatens Violence Amid Lockdown
In the Philippines, authoritarian President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday he's ordered soldiers to shoot to kill residents if they resist a strict lockdown on the island of Luzon. His order came after residents of Manila's Quezon City shanty town staged a protest, saying they've gone hungry without food promised when the lockdown began more than […]
"Our Bodies Are On the Line": NYC Nurses Demand Protective Gear as COVID-19 Death Toll Skyrockets
Nurses in California, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada and Texas are protesting one of the nation's largest hospital chains for a "lack of preparedness" amid the coronavirus pandemic. They're calling on HCA Healthcare to provide optimal personal protective equipment, or PPE, for nurses and other staff. In New York, the epicenter of the pandemic in the […]
Headlines for April 3, 2020
Nearly 1,200 U.S. Residents Die of COVID-19 in Just One Day, "Sheep Going to Slaughter": NYC Medical Workers Protest Lack of Protective Equipment, Trump Mocks States' "Insatiable Appetites" as Medical Supplies Nearly Exhausted, Florida Governor's Social Distancing Order Exempts Religious Gatherings, Coronavirus-Stricken Cruise Ships Allowed to Dock in Florida After Weeks at Sea, More Than […]

'Fresh Air' Remembers Jazz Guitar Great Bucky Pizzarelli
Pizzarelli, who died April 1 of COVID-19, played with Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Rosemary Clooney, among others. He spoke to Fresh Air in '92 and again, with his son John, in '06.
'Fresh Air' Remembers Fountains Of Wayne Co-Founder Adam Schlesinger
Schlesinger, who died April 1 of COVID-19, won three Emmy Awards for his songs for the TV series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. He spoke to Fresh Air with bandmate Chris Collingwood in 1999.
Branford And Wynton Marsalis Reflect On Their Father, Jazz Patriarch Ellis Marsalis
Fresh Air celebrates Ellis Marsalis, who died April 1 of COVID-19, by listening back to interviews with two of his sons. Branford spoke of his father in 2002; Wynton's interview is from 1994.
'War Doctor' Says Treating COVID-19 Is Like Fighting An Invisible Enemy
Trauma surgeon David Nott has volunteered in war zones and disaster areas around the world. Now he's treating COVID-19 patients in London. He calls the pandemic a "disaster zone for the whole world."
Fighting COVID-19 Is Like 'Whack-A-Mole,' Says Writer Who Warned Of A Pandemic
Atlantic writer Ed Yong warned of a global pandemic two years ago. He says scientists are still working to understand how COVID-19 travels through air — and whether more of us should be wearing masks.

When I Was a Health Risk to Society
My radioactive body brought me shame. But I learned how to bring my fears to the Cross. When I was radioactive, I carried a card in my wallet to explain why I set off alarms at the airport with my body. The card read, “Rachel Jones has undergone nuclear medical treatment.” I keep the card […]
Joy Comes in the Morning
Joy invades the most sorrowful spaces. It reminds us that beauty and goodness and life can grow even in the most unpromising soil. Today’s musical pairing is Saint-Saëns’ The Swan performed by Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott. Note that all the songs for this series have been gathered into a Spotify playlist here. “Weeping may […]
Mexico’s Persecuted Protestants Lack Simple Coronavirus Defense
As COVID-19 spreads, dozens of Protestant converts are still denied access to clean water in Catholic-controlled villages in four states. While many people around the world are reaching for soap, water, and antibacterial hand gel to prevent the transmission of the new coronavirus, Angelina does not have that luxury. Her family and a neighboring family […]
Arab Christians Have Lost Easter Before. Here’s What They Learned.
Whether COVID-19 or ISIS, believers from Iraq, Syria, and Egypt know “neither plague nor persecution can snuff out the church of Christ.” Christians around the world are about to lose their usual Easter celebration—the highlight of most congregations’ annual life together. Yes, there will be a livestream. Their pastor will likely call them. They may […]
Lessons from Moses: Pastor, You Are Not Alone!
Our leaders are seeking endless ways to stave off the fear and anxiety that those under our care are feeling. “Mental health issues in general and burnout in particular are real issues for pastors and leaders as we minister today in our complex world.” When I wrote those words this past January, I couldn’t have […]

El apocalipsis como revelación: esto enseña la religión sobre el fin de los tiempos
Para muchos creyentes, e incluso para quienes no profesan ninguna fe, últimamente puede parecer que el fin del mundo está cerca.
How Are You Observing Passover During the Coronavirus Outbreak?
We would like to hear how you are adapting your plans for Passover during a time when families and communities are usually together.
The Apocalypse as an ‘Unveiling’: What Religion Teaches Us About the End Times
For people of many faiths, and even none at all, it can feel lately like the end of the world is near.
For Shut-In Pilgrims, the World’s Holiest Sites Are a Click Away
The pandemic has closed holy sites across the globe, but virtual reality is providing worshipers a digital window into ceremonies during touchstone holidays.
The Religious Right’s Hostility to Science Is Crippling Our Coronavirus Response
Trump’s response to the pandemic has been haunted by the science denialism of his ultraconservative religious allies.

How Pew Research Center is approaching the 2020 election
As 2020 approaches, here’s a preview of how the Center is approaching the election, both in terms of how we plan to conduct surveys and other studies and what we plan to explore. The post How Pew Research Center is approaching the 2020 election appeared first on Pew Research Center.
5 facts about public opinion in Spain as its election nears
Spaniards head to the polls on Sunday for Spain’s fourth election in as many years. The election comes as the Spanish public is especially pessimistic, harbors strong doubts about democracy, and is concerned about inequality, their children’s financial future and the availability of well-paying jobs. That said, overall sentiment about the economy has rebounded in […]
Public’s Views of National Economy Remain Positive and Deeply Partisan
Americans continue to have positive views of the nation’s economy, though views are split by party. Most Republicans and half of Democrats rate their personal finances positively. The post Public’s Views of National Economy Remain Positive and Deeply Partisan appeared first on Pew Research Center.
A Week in the Life of Popular YouTube Channels
An analysis of every YouTube video posted by high-subscriber channels in the first week of 2019 finds that children’s content – as well as content featuring children – received more views than other videos. The post A Week in the Life of Popular YouTube Channels appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Digital News Fact Sheet
A vast majority of adults in the United States get at least some news online (either via a mobile device or desktop/laptop), and the online space has become a host for the digital homes of both legacy news outlets and new, “born on the web” news outlets. The post Digital News Fact Sheet appeared first […]

UCC Daily COVID-19 Briefing provides facts to fight fear
The UCC wants to ensure that its membership and beyond get facts and not false information about the coronavirus pandemic. So it brought in a public health professional to act as UCC “point person” for the church’s COVID-19 response. Barbara Baylor's job: to help decipher all of the material available from a plethora of respected sources […]
In North Carolina, volunteers restore hurricane survivor to her home
"If it wasn't for God and you people, I wouldn’t be in my house tonight." That's how Josephine Henry described the situation as a crowd joined her recently – before the COVID-19 crisis – to dedicate her restored home in Wilmington, N.C. Hurricane Florence had torn the roof off, but now it was fixed, thanks to One […]
Resources for Combatting the COVID-19 Disaster
Coronavirus resources with special emphasis on disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Check back regularly for updates!
Barbara Baylor is UCC Disaster Ministries' new COVID-19 point person
Barbara Baylor began work Friday, March 20, as UCC Disaster Ministries' Health Liaison and, as such, "point person" for COVID-19 response.

DSPR Update - April 2020
As we approach Holy Week we are all reminded that staying at home is the safest way to celebrate our faith and to ensure that our traditions, communal prayerful rites and rituals would be sustained for years to come. Many of us at DSPR have been invigorated by the Services and Hymns on social media […]
Lockdowns, Social Distancing, and Working from Home: A View from the Underside
In just over two months, coronavirus has turned the world upside down, forcing us to accept many unsettling realities and to deviate from familiar paths and pursuits. With numbers rising daily all over the world, and with vaccine and drugs several months away, the journey ahead is likely to be long and hard.
"Welcome to My Table" - A Ramadan resource from Shoulder to Shoulder
For the past several years, Shoulder to Shoulder has helped facilitate and uplift multi-faith connections during Ramadan through the United States of Love Over Hate campaign. Usually this has happened around real dinner tables sharing real food, face to face. For many of our Muslim neighbors, Ramadan is a time when they are often gathering, […]
COVID-19: Situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Position of the CDCC
Community of Disciples of Christ in Congo Since the first case of COVID-19 had been identified in Kinshasa, the message has spread in the whole country but people were not very aware of what the situation had to become. From radio and social media, they already heard about it but they thought it was a […]

What happens when millions of people can’t make loan payments?
We got the March jobs numbers this morning — 4.4% unemployment, more than 700,000 jobs lost, and it’s going to get a lot worse. Lenders are bracing themselves for missed mortgage payments and investors are avoiding loans that aren’t backed by the government. Today, we’ll dig into the economic ripple effects. Plus, small businesses trying […]
Pay cuts spread further down the ladder
Unemployment claims passed 6.6 million last week, more than double the week before. Many workers who still have their jobs are now doing them for reduced pay. We’ll ask how those pay cuts might ripple through the economy. Plus: the huge number of immigrants who will miss out on checks from the government, and the […]
Why ventilators are getting more expensive
States and FEMA are separately competing for ventilators, which is driving prices up to roughly $25,000 each. Today, we look at the market forces at work. Plus: What it’s like to run a barge company right now, why employers are backing off 401(k)s and how the housing market is adapting to low interest rates and […]
How the COVID-19 crisis compares to the Great Depression
We’re starting to see some devastating economic indicators around the coronavirus pandemic. But just how bad are things going to get? Today we assembled a group of historians to talk about the economic crises of the past, and why it’s unlikely this one will look like the Great Depression. Plus, Britain’s ventilator shortage, insurance hikes […]
Is it ethical to shop online right now?
If your inbox looks anything like ours, you’re seeing a bunch of ads for online sales. With nonessential businesses closed all over the country, many retailers are doing what they can to drum up business. It’s true that consumer spending is a primary engine of this economy, but is it right to splurge on fancy […]

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 what […]
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, and SueZann […]
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, read our companion piece in […]

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 […]

Important COVID-19 Information
The Coalition’s Client Services Office will be closed until the State of Emergency is lifted. Clients can still access emergency financial services by calling 240-446-9649. Email questions or concerns at info@rcehn.org. The Alan P. Linton individual shelter will continue to operate as normal, on a first come, first serve basis. Those who are utilizing the […]
Newsletter: Winter 2020
Download Our Winter Newsletter Here The post Newsletter: Winter 2020 appeared first on The Religious Coalition.
It’s A Wonderful Life
Click for details The post It’s A Wonderful Life appeared first on The Religious Coalition.
2019 Unity Campaign
2019 Unity Campaign: September 11-22 2019 Click Here to Make A On-Line Donation to this year’s campaign Why Is The Unity Campaign So Important? Our Goal is $30,000- Your gift will be boosted by matching funds The post 2019 Unity Campaign appeared first on The Religious Coalition.
Newsletter: Summer 2018
Download Our Summer Newsletter Here The post Newsletter: Summer 2018 appeared first on The Religious Coalition.

About half of Americans are OK with DNA testing companies sharing user data with law enforcement
The use of at-home DNA testing kits has raised concerns about whether consumers are comfortable with the use of their data by police. The post About half of Americans are OK with DNA testing companies sharing user data with law enforcement appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Four-in-ten U.S. drug arrests in 2018 were for marijuana offenses – mostly possession
Police officers in the United States still make more arrests for marijuana offenses than for any other drug, according to FBI data. The post Four-in-ten U.S. drug arrests in 2018 were for marijuana offenses – mostly possession appeared first on Pew Research Center.
5 facts about crime in the U.S.
Both violent and property crime in the U.S. have declined over the long term, but Americans regularly say crime is up. The post 5 facts about crime in the U.S. appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Far more immigration cases are being prosecuted criminally under Trump administration
The first full fiscal year of the Trump administration saw large increases in the number of people arrested and criminally prosecuted for immigration offenses. The post Far more immigration cases are being prosecuted criminally under Trump administration appeared first on Pew Research Center.
Only 2% of federal criminal defendants go to trial, and most who do are found guilty
Trials are rare in the federal criminal justice system: Just 2% of criminal defendants went to trial in 2018. Acquittals are even rarer. The post Only 2% of federal criminal defendants go to trial, and most who do are found guilty 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.

Israel Had Never Issued A Press Credential To A Journalist From My Country. It Gave Me One.
As a Pakistani reporter covering U.S. foreign policy, I worried about writing on Palestine and Israel — until visiting gave me an empathy stronger than my fear.
Getting An Accurate Census Count Is Vital. First, Muslim Americans Need To Trust It's Safe.
While the U.S. Census Bureau is bound by law to protect private information, it’s not unreasonable that Muslim Americans would be concerned.
Louisiana Evangelical Pastor Charged With Defying Governor's Ban On Big Gatherings
Tony Spell, pastor of Life Tabernacle Church near Baton Rouge, vowed to continue holding in-person church services despite the pandemic.
Coronavirus Hospital In Central Park Sparks Backlash Over Anti-LGBTQ Ties
The facility is operating in partnership with Samaritan’s Purse, a disaster relief organization founded by evangelist Franklin Graham.
Florida Megachurch Pastor Arrested After Holding Crowded Service In Defiance Of Rules
Rodney Howard-Browne claimed he had special virus-killing machines.

Meet the Pastor Who Performs Exorcisms Over Skype
Evangelical Pastor Bob Larson performs physical exorcisms on people who believe they’re possessed by the devil. But because this is the 21st century, he also performs them over Skype. Larson has built a business by exorcising demons via video chat, using hand gestures–like crossing people’s foreheads by waving his pointer finger in front of the […]
We’re Gonna Let You Finish, Christianity, But Yeezianity Is The Best Religion OF ALL TIME
In a track off his 2013 album Yeezus, Kanye West requested that we a) hurry up with his damn croissants and then b) remember that he is a God. An anonymous group of people have taken that song pretty literally, it seems, because they’ve formed an official religion centered around Kanye called Yeezianity. According to its website, […]
Here’s an Interactive Birthday Card for the Pope’s 77th Birthday
People who visit the English version of the Vatican’s website today will see a 32-page interactive pop up that says “Best Wishes, Holy Father” in honor of Pope Francis’s 77th birthday, The Guardian reports. Viewers hear a “whoosh” sound as they click through this compilation of photos of the Pontiff and some of his most inspirational quotes […]
The Grand Canyon Will Make You Believe in God
Calling all churches, Planet Earth is your new marketing tool. Though the BBC’s nature-focused series is far from a religious promotional video, a new study shows that Americans who watch Planet Earth are more likely to believe in a god or a higher power, the Independent reports. In a new study published in the journal Psychological Science, scientists asked a […]
Atheists Embrace Megachurch-Style Services
While evangelical Christians are known for celebrating faith in God at mega-churches, now atheists are celebrating their lack of faith in God in a “mega-church” setting. The Associated Press profiled the Sunday Assembly, a movement started in London in January 2013 that’s spearheaded by two British comedians, Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans, who are bringing atheists together in […]