Americans: Marijuana isn’t sinful but not sure it should be legal
WASHINGTON (RNS) American views on marijuana are evolving much like their views on gay marriage, with many ambivalent but growing numbers in favor of legalization.
Archives: April 2013
Black pastors: Gun violence isn’t just a problem for white suburbs
WASHINGTON (RNS) Black clergy have launched a new coalition to fight gun violence, saying they are undeterred by the recent failure of legislation on Capitol Hill.
Atheists rally around jailed Bangladeshi bloggers
(RNS) A international consortium of nonbelievers is planning rallies Thursday (April 25) outside Bangladeshi embassies and consulates to demand the release of several Bangladeshi bloggers who were arrested on charges of blasphemy.
Boston amputees face a long spiritual struggle ahead
BOSTON (RNS) For the 14 people who lost a limb in the Boston Marathon bombings, the path forward to a satisfying life depends largely on how they handle the spiritual challenges at hand, according to amputees and researchers.
Video: Faith in the Five Boroughs presents Allah on Bath Avenue
“How do we understand ourselves as young Muslims in America?” asks Rami Kawas. He’s camp counselor-meets-spiritual advisor for the nearly 500 young people who pray, play and hang out at the Muslim American Society (MAS) Youth Center.
Wednesday’s Religion News Roundup: Terror guru? * Jesus drinks PBR? * Celebrity cult
The mentor-acolyte motif is being investigated as a possible factor in the Boston bombings, while other trails are also followed. Did Jesus wear Chuck Taylors? Go ahead, Royals, marry a Catholic!
D.C. houses of worship compete for preservation funds
(RNS) Four landmark houses of worship in the nation’s capital are competing for preservation cash in a campaign launched Wednesday (April 24) by American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Former National Council of Churches leader Bob Edgar dead at 69
(RNS) The Rev. Bob Edgar, a Democratic congressman and United Methodist minister who went on to lead the National Council of Churches through a painful series of restructuring cuts, died suddenly Tuesday at age 69.
Quote of the Day: Author and activist Asra Nomani
“It’s time to acknowledge the dishonor of terrorism within our communities, not to deny it because of shame.” – Muslim author and activist Asra Nomani, writing in The Washington Post about the Muslim community’s response to the Boston Marathon bombing.
Colm Toibin’s “Testament of Mary” brings Jesus’ mother down to earth
NEW YORK (RNS) How far can one go in retelling a Bible story, adding things that are not in the original? Colm Toiben’s “The Testament of Mary,” which opens on Broadway, goes a long way in recrafting the story of the Virgin Mary.
