COMMENTARY: Facebook, the new town square

Tom Ehrich

(RNS) Why do I find Facebook encouraging? I am encouraged when people want to express themselves. I am encouraged that people risk disagreeing. I am encouraged that people still care about their society, and that we haven't left the public square to the shouters and ideologues. By Tom Ehrich.
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Wednesday’s Religion Roundup: Ashes on the go; Obama’s faith; Mormon Pinners

Daniel Burke | Feb 22, 2012

Here's wishing all our Christian readers a prayerful Lent. Today, of course, is Ash Wednesday. Episcopalians have started a tradition of sorts with an "Ashes on the Go" program for commuters. Episcopal priest and serial memoirist Lauren Winner says Ash Wednesday belongs on the streets. CNN...
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Tuesday’s Religion Roundup: Fat Tuesday; “Catholic” Glenn Beck; Southern Baptists’ name

David Gibson | Feb 21, 2012

Lent starts early for an ESPN editor who wrote that regrettable Jeremy Lin headline. Lent can't start soon enough for Cardinal Dolan. Glenn Beck is feeling Catholicky. Rick Santorum is feeling heat for his "phony theology" comments. But check out his spokeswoman's gaffe. And Southern Baptists will stick with their name.
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Marvin Winans will add soul to Whitney Houston’s funeral

Barry Carter | Feb 17, 2012

NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) At the end of the day, those in pastoral and gospel circles say Marin Winans is a preacher and a good one who'll lean on the gospel to eulogize Whitney Houston at the New Hope Baptist Church here in Newark on Saturday. By Barry Carter.
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Tuesday’s Religion News Roundup: St. Valentine’s Day edition

Daniel Burke | Feb 14, 2012

You may know that St. Valentine was a martyred Roman cleric, but did you know what he was arrested and imprisoned for? Secretly marrying Christian couples. Speaking of prison, ah, um, marriage (kidding honey!) Washington state became the seventh state (not including D.C.) to legalize gay marr...
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Dickens and religion: A tale of two views

Peggy Fletcher Stack | Feb 7, 2012

(RNS) "It is Christianity to be gentle, merciful, and forgiving, and to keep those qualities quiet in our own hearts, and never make a boast of them, or of our prayers or of our love of God, but always to show that we love Him by humbly trying to do right in everything." -- Charles Dickens, The Life of Our Lord
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10 minutes with … Joanna Brooks

Lauren Markoe | Feb 1, 2012

(RNS) Lauren Markoe talks with Mormon writer Joanna Brooks about why she can't vote for Mitt Romney, why Americans are weirded out by Mormonism and how her interfaith marriage will affect the afterlife.
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COMMENTARY: Upon this stubborn rock

Tracy Gordon | Jan 31, 2012

(RNS) I don't think any enterprise has done more huffing, more blocking, bickering and begging for time than Christianity. We are the case study for trying to stand still in a rapidly moving stream, getting swept away, and still claiming the moral high ground while we drown. By Tom Ehrich.
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COMMENTARY: Spike Lee does the right thing by religion

Dick Staub | Jan 25, 2012

PARK CITY, Utah (RNS) Imagine my surprise when Spike Lee's new film, "Red Hook Summer," delivered a humorous, honest look at the vibrancy, complexity, sincerity and messiness of Christianity in the African-American community. By Dick Staub. 750.
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‘A miniature Christian bookstore’ in the palm of your hand

Kay Campbell | Jan 24, 2012

(RNS) God may hold the whole world in his hand, but Christians around the world can now hold an entire seminary library on a fingertip. By Kay Campbell. 500.
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Shhh! Pope praises value of short tweets, silence

Alessandro Speciale | Jan 24, 2012

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI praised new communications technologies like Twitter on Tuesday (Jan. 24), saying that even "concise phrases, often no longer than a verse from the Bible," can convey "profound thoughts." By Alessandro Speciale. 250.
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