Kimberly Winston
Kimberly Winston is a freelance religion reporter based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
All Stories by Kimberly Winston
Who are you calling a Puritan?
By Kimberly Winston — November 21, 2017
(RNS) — Quick — what's the difference between a Puritan and a Pilgrim? Did either of them actually 'land' at Plymouth Rock? And who sat down for the original Thanksgiving?
Almost four decades after Jonestown, an author looks back to look forward
By Kimberly Winston — November 17, 2017
(RNS) — A madman, a church, many people dead. It's not 2017 and Sutherland Springs. It's nearly 40 years since the November day in 1978 when the Rev. Jim Jones led more than 908 people to their deaths — some by suicide, some by murder. Jeff Guinn, author of 'The Road to Jonestown,' connects the dots.
The Slingshot: Church security; Tech bias; Robot religion
By kimberly-winston-and-jerome-socolovsky and Kimberly Winston — November 15, 2017
Since the Texas church shooting, a security consultant said his firm has been overwhelmed with so many requests that congregations will have to wait up to a year for its training.
Policing themselves? Hate speech watchdog ADL enlists Facebook and others
By Kimberly Winston — November 14, 2017
SAN FRANCISCO (RNS) — The new Center for Technology and Society wants to place tech companies on the front lines in combating online hate speech. But can Silicon Valley police itself?
Pence tells grieving town ‘Faith is stronger than evil’
By Kimberly Winston — November 9, 2017
FLORESVILLE, Texas (RNS) — The memorial service, held in a neighboring town of Sutherland Springs, followed Christian tradition and was replete with Bible readings and prayers to Jesus.
The Slingshot: Sutherland Springs; Russell Moore; Tariq Ramadan
By Kimberly Winston and Jerome Socolovsky — November 8, 2017
Christians and some Muslims from the area surround a grieving town with love. Southern Baptists feel the horror ‘more viscerally.’ Islamic scholar on leave from Oxford amid rape allegations.
Texas law requires unborn child of shooting victim be counted
By Kimberly Winston — November 7, 2017
(RNS) — More than three dozen states have similar laws, most of which stem from the 2002 murder of a California woman.
Craving the spiritual in Alice McDermott’s new novel
By Kimberly Winston — November 7, 2017
(RNS) — While McDermott's novels are often concerned with Irish Catholics in her native Brooklyn, this book — her eighth — is her most specifically religious.
Atheists confronted possibility Texas shooter was one of their own
By Kimberly Winston — November 6, 2017
(RNS) — Often when a terrorist strikes in America, many Muslims say, "Please don't let it be a Muslim." After 26 people were killed at a Texas Baptist church, it was atheists hoping the gunman wasn't one of their own.
The Slingshot: Reformation redux; ISIS pride; Pontifical slumber
By Kimberly Winston and Jerome Socolovsky — November 1, 2017
On Reformation anniversary, Lutherans bridge divides with other faiths. Terror group’s supporters celebrate deadliest attack in Manhattan since 9/11. Francis admits: 'When I pray, sometimes I fall asleep.'
UN demands Tajikistan free detained Jehovah’s Witness
By Kimberly Winston — October 25, 2017
(RNS) — Daniil Islamov, an 18-year-old Jehovah's Witness, is being detained for refusing to join the military.
The Slingshot: Reformation reflections; Catholic funerals; Muslim homes
By Kimberly Winston and Jerome Socolovsky — October 25, 2017
Two theology professors — one Catholic, one Protestant — get to the heart of what divides them. Queer Catholics in Wisconsin may be denied religious funerals. Maryland development under fire after selling homes only to Muslims.
‘Peace Cross’ is unconstitutional, court rules
By Kimberly Winston — October 19, 2017
(RNS) — When is a cross on government land a violation of the establishment clause?
The Slingshot: No religion necessary; Split Samaritans; Reformation quiz
By Kimberly Winston and Jerome Socolovsky — October 18, 2017
More Americans say amen to being good without God. Middle East’s Samaritans link Muslims and Jews. Who said that — Martin Luther or William Shakespeare?
Who said that — Martin Luther or William Shakespeare?
By Kimberly Winston — October 17, 2017
(RNS) — Pit the Great Reformer and the Great Bard against your knowledge of both.