Lead story
Editor's note:
United Methodists are illustrating in real-time that a church schism isn’t like a lightning strike or the flip of a switch. Instead, the messy denominational divorce is happening in slow motion amid accusations of hardball tactics and the spreading of falsehoods on all sides. Associated Press reporter Peter Smith explains that so far the majority of congregations are staying, but hundreds have already left this year and hundreds more are moving toward the exits. Smith brings the full weight of his journalism experience and expertise to this story. He has covered the United Methodist Church and its issues for almost two decades, which means he’s known some of his sources or their Methodist organizations for several years. Many churches plan to join the newly created Global Methodist Church, formed by conservatives frustrated by ongoing defiance of the UMC’s bans on same-sex marriages and the ordaining of openly LGBTQ clergy.
Religion News
Are the culture wars changing how Christian students choose colleges?
'You see it’s a Christian college, and then immediately ask, what kind of Christian college is it?' said one student. By Kathryn Post/Religion News Service
Michael Flynn’s ReAwaken roadshow recruits ‘Army of God’
The tour serves as a traveling roadshow and recruiting tool for an ascendant Christian nationalist movement that’s wrapped itself in God, patriotism and politics and has grown in power and influence inside the Republican Party. By Michelle R. Smith and Richard Lardner/The Associated Press
Grief-stricken families prayed at a Buddhist temple filled with children’s keepsakes, flowers and photos of the smiling toddlers who were slain as they napped on blankets at a day care center in northeastern Thailand. By Tassanee Vejpongsa and David Rising/The Associated Press
A food truck at Duke University offers a truce to rising tensions on Mideast politics
The Yalla food truck serves food that meets the most stringent dietary needs of two constituencies: Jews and Muslims. The food is both certified kosher and halal. By Yonat Shimron/Religion News Service
Oldest public library in the Americas has Catholic origins
The library owes its existence to one of Puebla’s early Catholic bishops, Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, who in 1646 donated his private library of 5,000 volumes to a local religious college. By María Teresa Hernández/The Associated Press
Commentary and Analysis
Controversy of veils goes back more than a century, a scholar of Iran explains. By Eliz Sanasarian for The Conversation
Buddhists believe that bodhisattvas reside in heavenly realms but can also appear on Earth disguised as humans, animals or other types of beings. By Pierce Salguero for The Conversation
People of different faiths shouldn’t have to miss important work events to celebrate their holidays. By Khyati Y. Joshi/Religion News Service
Imposing restrictions on women has been a way for many countries to demonstrate to the world what policies they want to pursue. By Deina Abdelkader for The Conversation
Hindu women smear vermilion powder on each other's faces during Durga Puja festival in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022. The festival commemorates the slaying of a demon king by lion-riding, ten armed goddess Durga, marking the triumph of good over evil. (AP Photo/ Mahesh Kumar A.)
Did a friend or colleague forward this to you? Click here to subscribe.
- This Week in Religion is a publication of the Global Religion Journalism Initiative, a collaboration among the Religion News Service, The Associated Press and The Conversation U.S.
- The three news organizations work to improve general understanding and analyze the significance of developments in the world of faith.
No comments:
Post a Comment