Lead story
Editor's note:
With an eye on the 100th anniversary, AP Religion Team news editor Holly Meyer delved into the history of the famous “monkey trial” and what led to the conviction of Tennessee teacher John Scopes for teaching human evolution in a public school. What happened in July 1925 sounded a lot like the debates over religion in public schools and the cultural tensions playing out in 2025.
Today, new state laws requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms are facing legal challenges. It is just one part of an ongoing conservative push to infuse more religion — often Christianity — into taxpayer-funded education. Advocates of religious diversity and church-state separation are countering it in capitols, courts and public squares.
Religion News
Plaintiff in refugee ban lawsuit, Pacito v. Trump, arrives in North Carolina
A 22-year-old Congolese refugee is the lead plaintiff in a suit challenging Trump’s executive order freezing all refugee resettlement. By Yonat Shimron/Religion News Service
Here's what triggered the latest deadly sectarian clashes in Syria, and why it matters
Syria remains deeply divided after 14 years of civil war and the fall of President Bashar Assad. The Druze, a minority religious group, are wary of the Islamist-led government and fear losing their rights. By Abby Sewell and Bassem Mroue/The Associated Press
Christ Kirk DC is the latest example of pastor Doug Wilson's growing sphere of influence among a cadre of conservatives sometimes described as the 'New Right.' By Jack Jenkins/Religion News Service
One tireless Jesuit priest keeps alive a pilgrim path for St. Ignatius in Spain
Josep Lluís Iriberri is a Jesuit priest who designed a pilgrimage path for St. Ignatius in northern Spain more than a decade ago. Since then, he has kept it alive almost single-handedly by leading pilgrims on the path for six months of every year. By Joseph Wilson/The Associated Press
In African politics, the rampant belief in witchcraft fortifies some and vexes others
In Uganda, politics often intertwines with spiritual beliefs, as many politicians secretly consult traditional healers or witch doctors for perceived advantages. This reliance on the occult is widespread despite Christianity being the dominant religion. By Rodney Muhumuza/The Associated Press
Commentary and Analysis
Swaggart’s calls for a return to conservative Christian norms live on in today’s world of tradwives, limited access to abortion and calls to repeal gay marriage, writes a scholar of religion. By Diane Winston for The Conversation
Those remembering the 1995 massacre of 8,000 Bosniak Muslims lamented the delayed recognition of their suffering, wishing the world had paid attention sooner. By Omar Suleiman/Religion News Service
There’s only one known instance of a church losing its tax-exempt status because it violated the Johnson Amendment, but Republicans have tried to get rid of it before. By Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer for The Conversation
Mamdanis belong to the Khoja community, who were categorized by the British in the early 19th century as “Hindoo Mussalman” because their traditions spanned both religions. By Iqbal Akhtar for The Conversation
Dan Beazley, left, holds a large cross as he prays with visitors at a memorial for flood victims on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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