RNS Morning Report: For Iranian converts claiming religious persecution, European courts require proof of faith

Top Stories For Iranian converts claiming religious persecution, European courts require proof of faith LONDON (RNS) — Judges across Europe are having a tough time deciding whether asylum-seekers claiming religious persecution are ‘genuine’ Christians.   Southern Baptist leaders expel two churches for allegedly mismanaging abuse (RNS) — The committee also voted out a church in Kentucky for having a woman pastor.   Amid protester demands, North Carolina city council calls for a Gaza cease-fire (RNS) — Durham is the second city in North Carolina to vote for a cease-fire resolution and one of 70 nationwide, including Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit and Seattle.   Hinduism has no rules against marrying outside the faith. But couples say it has its bumps. (RNS) — Among American Hindus, a survey by the organization Interfaith Shaadi found that 38% marry outside the umbrella of Dharmic faiths — Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism. RNS Opinion Bipartisanship is dead; can it be resurrected? (RNS) — Partisanship is baked into our political system because of gerrymandering, primaries and campaign financing.   As a rabbi, philosopher and physician, Maimonides wrestled with religion and reason (The Conversation) — Faith and reason are often treated as opposites. But some philosophers believe they can only strengthen each other, including the Jewish sage Maimonides, who wrote the famous ‘Guide to the Perplexed.’ ICYMI Brazilian evangelical Christians disrupt pre-Lenten partying with ‘Gospel Carnival’ SÃO PAOLO (RNS) — Once content to avoid Carnival's excesses, evangelicals, who make up about 30% of Brazil's population, have a new strategy, working to short-circuit the festival with displays of Christian faith.   SBC task force plans to start nonprofit to oversee abuse database and reforms NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — The new nonprofit is designed to get past the SBC Executive Committee’s ongoing financial and legal challenges. In Other News Rome to host 7th Day of the Catacombs, opportunity to reflect on early Christians Supreme Court declines to weigh whether jurors can be excluded for religious beliefs in case involving lesbian plaintiff   Talk to Us We want your feedback on the RNS Morning Report — what you think we're doing right and what we should be doing differently. Send us an email at Comments@ReligionNews.com Subscribe to other RNS Newsletters. Forward this email to a friend. View the archive of past newsletters. Religion News Service is free to read, but it's not free to produce. If you value our reporting, please consider making a donation today at religionnews.com/donate. If you prefer to mail a donation, please address to: Religion News Foundation, PO Box 1808, Columbia, MO 65205. Yes, I support the work you're doing! Forward this email to a friend