Haiti 2012

Ready…Or Not
The coming of the Lord is not just about rejoicing, but refinement. Advent is not just a celebratory occasion, but a call for self-examination.
Wondering
If you’re currently fighting with God, if you’re still waiting for the dawn, if you’re still wondering where righteousness is, then you are in the good company.
Roar-Cancelling Headphones
Thank God for Advent. Claiming that Jesus’ coming is good news means listening, noticing what God needs me to pay attention to.
Lean In
Get in the game. Are you, am I, standing on the sidelines, or are we in the game—all the way in? It’s difficult to win if you don’t get on the field.
Christmas in Nineveh
This world can be unfair and broken, but there is still so much hope left to claim. When the Prince of Peace comes to us all we will take notice, listen, and dare to change.

UCC leaders join Fonda to decry profits from climate breakdown, migrant detention
Religious leaders, including three speakers from the United Church of Christ, joined actor Jane Fonda on the streets of the nation’s capital Friday, Dec. 6, to demand that financial institutions stop profiting from two related crises: climate and immigration.
Commentary: Waiting for the Bloom
Last year for Christmas, my parents got an amaryllis plant.
The simple act of choosing love
In his Christmas Message, United Church of Christ General Minister and President the Rev. John C. Dorhauer invites the wider church to ground our spirits in God’s love.
Giving Tuesday campaign to abolish medical debt also has justice component
The United Church of Christ is committed to using gifts from Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3, to forgive medical debt for thousands of families in low-income areas around the country. The church is just as committed to advocating for health care reform, so that every American has access to affordable and inclusive medical treatment.

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.

Wedding sites reconsider promoting former plantations as venues
Advocacy efforts have pushed websites like Pinterest and The Knot to review content that romanticizes former slave plantations and their histories.
After Russian trolls target black Americans, one city fights back
Black activists point to a long history of people interfering with African Americans’ right to vote. In 2016, that meddling came from overseas.
Panel calls for removal of outdated racist laws in Virginia
Although they haven't been enforced for decades, state segregation laws still exist. Governor Northam is leading a charge to remove them for good.
Is chastity old-fashioned? An NFL veteran’s take on Seventh Commandment.
Vai Sikahema, now a Philly TV anchor, has seen benefits to observing chastity and fidelity. Part of a series on the Decalogue in modern life.
Where suburban women might matter more than the president
Gov. Kemp snubbed President Trump’s Senate pick in favor of a businesswoman, showing the GOP needs to win back suburban voters, particularly women.

Patient-Induced Trauma: Hospitals Learn To Defuse Violence
Health care workers face a greater threat of workplace violence than workers in most other industries. Hospitals are installing security cameras and panic buttons, arming security guards with stun guns and teaching their employees how to handle potentially violent situations.
Black Mothers Get Less Treatment For Postpartum Depression Than Other Moms
Cultural barriers may keep some African American women from seeking treatment for postpartum depression as early as they need it, and the standard screening tools aren’t always relevant for some black women.
Website Errors Raise Calls For Medicare To Be Flexible With Seniors’ Enrollment
Members of Congress and others complain Medicare’s revamped Plan Finder had problems. Federal officials say they can help consumers who got bad information change their plans next year. But details about how switching will work are yet to come.
KHN’s ‘What The Health?’: We Spend HOW MUCH On Health Care?
The annual accounting of national health spending is out. And the 2018 health bill for the U.S. was $3.6 trillion, consuming nearly a fifth of the nation’s economy. Meanwhile, Congress is nearing the end of the year without having finished either its annual spending bills or several other high-priority health items. Kimberly Leonard of the […]
‘An Arm And A Leg’: How Much For Stitches In The ER? Hard To Gauge Upfront
Consumers are admonished to be “smart shoppers,” but that’s difficult if health care prices are clear as mud. When Sarah Macsalka’s son needed stitches, she did her best to avoid the ER and still ended up with a $3,000 bill.

Tiffany Haddish Embraces Her Jewish Identity With A Bat Mitzvah Ceremony
The comedian and actor discovered her Jewish roots after reconnecting with her father, an Eritrean Jew.
GOP Lawmaker Proposes LGBTQ Rights Bill With Religious Exemptions
Utah's Rep. Chris Stewart claims his bill will “bridge that gap” between preventing discrimination and allowing religion to inform individual decisions.
Texas Judge Says Christian Beliefs Prevent Her From Conducting Same-Sex Weddings
A state judicial commission has reprimanded McLennan County's Dianne Hensley for her stance.
Matthew Shepard Honored With Plaque At Washington National Cathedral
The tribute to the Wyoming student's legacy aims to serve as "a source of strength" for the LGBTQ community.
Pope Francis Brings 33 Refugees To Rome
The new arrivals, who were living in a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, now have a chance to start over in Italy.

Ruth Choate Is New Administrator at Silver Lake
By Jennifer Kronholm Clark SHARON – Silver Lake Conference Center is excited to welcome Ruth Choate to the year-round staff as Administrator. Say hi to Ruth Choate, the new Administrator at Silver Lake, when you call or come to camp. If you were at camp in summer 2019, you might recognize Ruth. She served on the […]
Greg and Pam Arifian Leaving CT Conference Staff
One family is leaving the Connecticut Conference - and their departure will leave two big holes on the Conference staff. Greg and Pam Arifian have announced their plans to move to Napa, California with their daughter, Lena. Greg has served as Site Manager at the Silver Lake Conference Center for the past eight years, and […]
CT Devotional Publication Expanding To MA and RI
A weekly publication of the historic Connecticut Conference is expanding to include readers and writers from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The Starting With Scripture devotional is distributed each Monday by email and posted to the Connecticut Conference website. Written by a different clergy and lay leader each week from the three conferences, the publication serves […]
Three Conference Ministers Call for Support of #GivingTuesday Effort to Erase Medical Debt
Dec. 4 Update: The UCC has surpassed their goal, so far raising nearly $75,000. it's not too late to give at: www.ucc.org/giving_tuesday The three Bridge Conference Ministers are calling for support for the United Church of Christ's Giving Tuesday campaign to erase medical debt. The United Church of Christ has set a goal of raising $50,000, […]

SMU sued as it moves to cut ties with United Methodist Church
(RNS) — Southern Methodist University has moved to cut ties with the United Methodist Church after the denomination voted to strengthen rules barring LGBTQ members from marriage and ordination earlier this year. The post SMU sued as it moves to cut ties with United Methodist Church appeared first on Religion News Service.
Pelosi prays for Trump
(RNS) — The question is not 'Why?,' but why the president would not grasp the well-known Christian concept. The post Pelosi prays for Trump appeared first on Religion News Service.
RNS Updated Budget — Friday, December 6, 2019
NEWS STORY RNS-GC2-SUMMIT: Wheaton mental health summit remembers Jarrid Wilson's 'legacy of hope' WHEATON, Illinois (RNS) — About 400 ministry leaders filled a sold-out auditorium at the Billy Graham Center ... The post RNS Updated Budget — Friday, December 6, 2019 appeared first on Religion News Service.
Statement from the AME Church regarding cuts to Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP)
The AME Church asks that more governmental efforts focus on affordable career training opportunities, affordable higher education, student loan forgiveness programs, student loan interest forgiveness, employment programs, and assisting states ... The post Statement from the AME Church regarding cuts to Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP) appeared first on Religion News Service.
Photos of the Week
(RNS) — This week’s gallery includes a Shinto festival in Japan, a sacrificial festival in Nepal, and more. The post Photos of the Week appeared first on Religion News Service.

Why Are Some of Spain’s Biggest Polluters Sponsoring U.N. Climate Summit?
A group of climate activists walked out of a panel at the U.N. climate summit in Madrid on Thursday to protest the presence of Shell, BP and Chevron. Representatives from the oil companies were taking part in an event organized by the International Emissions Trading Association. This comes as the Spanish government is facing criticism […]
"It's Our Future": Meet the Youth Activists Behind Fridays for Future Movements in Uganda and Chile
In Spain, the 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has arrived in Madrid to take part in today’s strike as well as a major march set for 6 p.m. local time. Greta began the climate strike movement last year when she started skipping school every Friday to stand in front of the Swedish parliament, demanding […]
COP25: Alternative Climate Summit Honors Those "Suffering the Crimes of Transnational Corporations"
We broadcast from Madrid, Spain, where the United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP25, began Monday and will continue through next week, as environmental leaders from around the world gather to negotiate global solutions to the climate crisis. Activists have converged on Madrid for the conference and are hosting an alternative summit of their […]
Headlines for December 6, 2019
Pelosi Calls On Democrats to Proceed With Drafting Articles of Impeachment, Joe Biden Lashes Out at Iowa Town Hall over His Son Hunter’s Work in Ukraine, Pentagon Weighs Sending Up to 14,000 More U.S. Troops to Middle East, Saudi Aramco Raises $25.6 Billion in Historic IPO, 140,000 Died Globally from Measles in 2018, 62 Refugees […]
Sweden Provides Free Higher Education, Universal Healthcare, Free Daycare — Why Can’t the U.S.?
Medicare for All and tuition-free universities have been at the core of the 2020 Democratic presidential campaigns, creating a stark division between progressive candidates and their centrist counterparts. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have proposed to make Medicare for All and public universities cost-free by taxing massive corporations and the super wealthy, and earlier […]

Fresh Air Weekend: Edward Norton; Best Books; 'Stranger Things' Star David Harbour
Norton discusses urban planning and "slow cooking" his new film, Motherless Brooklyn. Critic Maureen Corrigan offers her 2019 book picks. Harbour talks about living with bipolar disorder.
Michael Tilson Thomas On The Thrills And Challenges Of Conducting An Orchestra
Pianist and composer Thomas currently directs the San Francisco Symphony. He'll receive a Kennedy Center award for lifetime artistic achievement on Dec. 8. Originally broadcast in 1995 and 2012.
'We Took Terror Out Of Their Lives': Remembering Youth Advocate Mary Previte
Previte, who died Nov. 16, spent 30 years working with at-risk youth and kids in detention in Camden, N.J. The center she ran became a national model. Originally broadcast in 1993.
Ukrainian President Takes Offense At Suggestion Of Quid Pro Quo, Journalist Says
Time correspondent Simon Shuster recently spoke with Ukraine's president. After six months in office, Shuster says Volodymyr Zelensky is "quite cynical" and feels "there are no reliable allies."
'Portrait Of A Lady On Fire' Paints A Picture Of Forbidden Love
Writer-director Céline Sciamma's gorgeous new costume drama centers on the relationship between a young female artist and the woman she's been commissioned to secretly paint.

LGBT Rights-Religious Liberty Bill Proposed in Congress
Fairness for All advocates hope legislation makes compromise seem possible. Congressman Chris Stewart doesn’t expect his bill to pass. But he is proposing the Fairness for All Act anyway. It’s a step of faith for Stewart, a Republican who represents Utah’s second district, and a marker on the bet that it’s possible to find a […]
Died: Reinhard Bonnke, Record-Setting Evangelist to Africa
Founder of Christ for All Nations, the German Pentecostal held one of the biggest evangelism crusades in history. German evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, whose record-setting crusades led him to be nicknamed “the Billy Graham of Africa,” died Saturday at age 79. His ministry, Christ for All Nations (CfaN), claims that more than 79 million people came […]
Samoa Bans Kids from Church as Measles Outbreak Kills 63
Advent will be “mellow” on South Pacific island as government restricts public gatherings amid vaccination campaign. Children in Samoa have been temporarily banned from attending church services and other public gatherings, due to a growing measles outbreak that has claimed more than 60 lives and threatens to cancel Advent celebrations. The government of the South […]
Defining Leadership: What Is It and Why Does It Matter in Church?
Leadership is a key component in the health of any church or ministry. “Great men lead people,” Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ said. “But greater men train leaders.” As leaders we are called not only to raise up followers, but also to equip leaders. How we define Christian leadership is the crucial starting […]
Nobodies Were the First to Know
When God announced the birth of Christ to sweaty, uncouth shepherds, he signaled something important about the kind of Messiah he was sending. A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to appear on a top-rated national morning show. When I got the email confirming my appearance, my stomach tightened a bit, and I […]

Does the Left Need Organized Religion?
A reader says progressives are doing fine without it, and another points out that the Catholic left is often overlooked. Also: Young scholars shouldn’t have to serve as waiters at writers’ retreats.
Thanks, Mom and Dad
In the season of gratitude, several successful people reflect on what they most appreciate learning from their parents.
Inside the War for California’s Cannabis Churches
Illegal marijuana dispensaries outnumber legal ones more than three to one in California. What’s the role of the cannabis church?
How Churches Fight the Stigma of H.I.V.
In the South, black houses of worship are reducing the social suffering of H.I.V. with an approach that recalls Dr. King’s teachings.
Retirement Home Told a Nun She Couldn’t Wear Religious Attire
Officials apologized and said the case was an incorrect interpretation of France’s secularism law.

The Scientific and Ethical Elements of Human Enhancement
Human enhancement may be just around the corner. How do Americans view these emerging technologies that may one day enhance our human capabilities? The post The Scientific and Ethical Elements of Human Enhancement appeared first on Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech.
U.S. Public Wary of Biomedical Technologies to ‘Enhance’ Human Abilities
Americans are more worried than enthusiastic about using gene editing, brain chip implants and synthetic blood to change human capabilities The post U.S. Public Wary of Biomedical Technologies to ‘Enhance’ Human Abilities appeared first on Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech.
American Voices on Ways Human Enhancement Could Shape Our Future
Focus group participants discuss biomedical developments that could boost the performance of people’s bodies and brains The post American Voices on Ways Human Enhancement Could Shape Our Future appeared first on Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech.
Human Enhancement
The scientific and ethical dimensions of striving for perfection The post Human Enhancement appeared first on Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech.
Video: Are science and religion in conflict with each other?
A majority of the public says science and religion often conflict, but fewer say science conflicts with their own beliefs. And highly religious Americans are less likely than others to see conflict between faith and science. The post Video: Are science and religion in conflict with each other? appeared first on Pew Research Center: Internet, […]

North Carolina hurricane recovery work sites now receiving volunteers
Volunteers are now being accepted to repair and rebuild homes in Eastern North Carolina. Hurricanes Dorian (2019), Florence (2018), and Matthew (2016) caused severe flooding and wind damage. There are 15 centers accepting volunteers of all skill levels to help repair homes affected by natural disasters.
Help for home and livelihoods restoration after Typhoon Hagibis in Japan
UCC Disaster Ministries just contributed $10,000 toward an ecumenical response through CWS Japan to assist 1,000 families with home and livelihood restoration, volunteer mobilization to clear debris, and capturing of lessons learned for reducing risk in the disasters that are sure to follow as climate change brings more unprecedented destructive weather.
UCC Disaster Ministries aids children displaced by Dorian
UCC Disaster Ministries has contributed $15,000 to support care for 25 orphaned, abused, neglected or abandoned children evacuated from Grand Bahama after Hurricane Dorian destroyed the Children’s Home there.
Puerto Rico pastors get a break from post-Hurricane Maria stress
Churches in Puerto Rico are at the stressful and demanding front lines of meeting needs left by Hurricane Maria two years ago. They include UCC Disaster Ministries’ Hurricane Maria recovery partner IEUPR (Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Puerto Rico). More than 80 IEUPR pastors and staff got a break October 16-21 at a retreat in Punta Cana, […]

Update on Centro Romero from Executive Director Carlos Correa Bernier
Carlos Correa Bernier, Executive Director of Centro Romero, was present for the 2019 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the 2019 General Synod of the United Church of Christ. As part of the workshops, Carlos spoke about the current work of Centro Romero.
Update on CONAVIGUA from founder Rosalina Tuyuc
Rosalina Tuyuc, founder of CONAVIGUA, was present for the 2019 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). As part of a larger workshop on the work of Global Ministries partners from Latin America and the Caribbean she spoke about the current work of CONAVIGUA.
“They will run and not grow weary”: Kairos Palestine's 10th anniversary conference statement
“They will run and not grow weary - يسيرون ولا يكلون”Kairos Palestine 10th AnniversaryConference Statement & Call to the ChurchNovember 29, 2019 Meeting in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, we are over 350 persons— women and men, young and old, lay and clergy, Palestinians and friends from all over the world—reaching out to the Church […]
UCC and Disciples leaders join in letter to Congress supporting Palestinian children's rights
On November 18, 2019, twenty-six religious leaders--including United Church of Christ, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ, and Global Ministries leaders--signed a letter to Congress in support of the "Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act" (H.R. 2407), legislation that prohibits any U.S. taxpayer funds from contributing to the military detention, […]

Let’s do the numbers on Uber’s safety report
Uber reported today that of about 1.3 billion rides in the U.S. last year, there were 3,045 sexual assaults, nine murders and 58 people killed in car crashes. Today, we’re looking at those numbers in the context of Uber’s market share: some 70% of app-based ride services in the U.S. Plus: How Amazon changed Baltimore, […]
UPS and FedEx caught in the holiday hustle and bustle
We’re a week into the official holiday shopping season and, thanks to a late Thanksgiving, some shipping companies are already racing to the finish line. Plus: The end of the WTO as we know it, Sen. Rand Paul’s creative proposal for student loan debt and will 5G live up to the hype?
Where the money from food stamps is actually going
The Trump administration is tightening work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP or sometimes “food stamps.” The White House says low unemployment should make finding work easy, and the move will save $5.5 billion over the next five years. Today, we follow the money to find out what impacts the […]
Who gets to ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange?
We’re partial to “Stormy Weather” and “We’re In the Money,” but there’s one iconic sound that means it’s time to do the numbers: the bell that opens and closes the trading day on Wall Street. Today we take a look at that tradition, who gets to ring the bell and how they do it. Plus: […]
Just about everything you own came on a truck
America is short more than 60,000 truckers, and that number is expected to double in the next decade. Today, we talk with a trucker who trains people for the road. Plus, the latest on currency and trade wars, how e-commerce has changed holiday hiring and another shortage Americans are grappling with: not enough access to […]

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 […]

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.
2019 Run (or Walk) for Shelter
Thank you for supporting the 11th Annual Run (or Walk) for Shelter! For Finisher Times-Click Here The post 2019 Run (or Walk) for Shelter appeared first on The Religious Coalition.
2017 Report to the Community
2017 Report to the Community 2017 was a huge year of growth for us! We turned over a new leaf aesthetically and internally. We hired new talent, and we keep developing in fresh and innovative ways. We expanded programs and pruned old ideas. Our energy was put into changing and growing, moving towards sustainability and longevity […]

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.
From police to parole, black and white Americans differ widely in their views of criminal justice system
Attitudes vary considerably by race on issues including crime, policing, the death penalty, parole decisions and voting rights. The post From police to parole, black and white Americans differ widely in their views of criminal justice system appeared first on Pew Research Center.
The gap between the number of blacks and whites in prison is shrinking
Blacks have long outnumbered whites in U.S. prisons. But a significant decline in the number of black prisoners has narrowed the gap. The post The gap between the number of blacks and whites in prison is shrinking 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.

Tiffany Haddish Embraces Her Jewish Identity With A Bat Mitzvah Ceremony
The comedian and actor discovered her Jewish roots after reconnecting with her father, an Eritrean Jew.
GOP Lawmaker Proposes LGBTQ Rights Bill With Religious Exemptions
Utah's Rep. Chris Stewart claims his bill will “bridge that gap” between preventing discrimination and allowing religion to inform individual decisions.
Texas Judge Says Christian Beliefs Prevent Her From Conducting Same-Sex Weddings
A state judicial commission has reprimanded McLennan County's Dianne Hensley for her stance.
Matthew Shepard Honored With Plaque At Washington National Cathedral
The tribute to the Wyoming student's legacy aims to serve as "a source of strength" for the LGBTQ community.
Pope Francis Brings 33 Refugees To Rome
The new arrivals, who were living in a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, now have a chance to start over in Italy.

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 […]