Monthly Archives: December 2015
Ending the year with prayers for peace (MULTIMEDIA)
By Sally Morrow — December 31, 2015
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (RNS) On the eve of a new year, religious leaders from different traditions pray and meditate for peace.
Disgraced former rabbi’s ties to Whole Foods questioned
By Lauren Markoe — December 31, 2015
(RNS) A former rabbi enjoys rising popularity as a spiritual leader, but hundreds of Jewish leaders say he needs to be exposed as a sexual predator.
Novel depicting Jewish-Arab love banned from Israeli schools
By Michele Chabin — December 31, 2015
JERUSALEM (RNS) A ministry committee recommended that the book not be taught in high schools at a time of heightened Palestinian attacks against Israeli Jews and reprisals by Israeli troops.
Pope Francis: ‘I don’t know how to sing. I don’t even know how to speak well.’
By Rosie Scammell — December 31, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The give-and-take included insights from Francis about growing up in Argentina and his thoughts on media and anger.
Singing, cooking and shooting — nuns made news in 2015
By Leslie Miller — December 31, 2015
(RNS) From reality TV to Twitter, here's a recap of some of the year’s top headlines about women religious -- and a nod to nostalgia.
Explaining the demand for safe spaces
By Mark Silk — December 31, 2015
It's not just college students who want them.
Trump: Christian refugees rebuffed while US takes in ‘Trojan horse’ Muslims
By Brianne Pfannenstiel — December 31, 2015
"If you’re Christian it’s almost impossible to get into this country. But if you’re Muslim you can come in," he said at an Iowa campaign stop.
Merkel to Germans rattled by rising anti-Muslim views: Immigrants are an ‘opportunity’
By Reuters — December 31, 2015
In her New Year's address, the German chancellor said the country will ultimately benefit from the influx of migrants, many of them Muslims fleeing war in the Middle East.
InterVarsity’s unabashed support for #BlackLivesMatter may be its boldest move yet (ANALYSIS)
By Tobin Grant — December 30, 2015
(RNS) During the 1950s and '60s, evangelicals stayed clear of joining the civil rights movement. That's why InterVarsity's move to embrace #BlackLives Matter may be a watershed moment.
3 reasons Christians should back religious freedom for all (COMMENTARY)
By Ed Stetzer — December 30, 2015
(RNS) What Americans, especially Christian Americans, must understand is this: Religious freedom for some is not religious freedom for long.
Who died: Religion leaders lost in 2015
By Lauren Markoe — December 30, 2015
(RNS) They lived lives of preaching, writing and service -- some of which ended in martyrdom.
Jewish and Muslim hate crimes soar in London
By Trevor Grundy — December 30, 2015
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) The rise may also be a sign that Britain’s 280,000 Jews and estimated 2.7 million Muslims are more willing to report hate crime violations to the police.
Why this may be the final week I watch football, and why Americans should quit it, too (COMMENTARY)
By Charles C. Camosy — December 30, 2015
(RNS) As long as we continue to support a game deeply connected to violence, each of us is implicated in the terrible toll this is taking on football players in their retirement.
Does Teen Mania’s closure signal the end of ‘war’ for evangelicals?
By Laura Turner — December 30, 2015
It seemed like Teen Mania was poised for explosive growth -- and then it closed. What went wrong?
Winning God’s vote: boundaries for the candidate/clergy courtship in ’16
By David P. Gushee — December 30, 2015
Protecting our politics and our religion by setting some limits on the courtship between clergy and presidential candidates.
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