Lead story
Editor's note:
Two weeks into war with Iran, some American Christians are speaking of the conflict in biblical terms.
Some interpret today’s events in light of end-time prophecies. Often, they emphasize Christian Zionist beliefs – referring to many conservative Christians’ strong support for Israel, rooted in the biblical account of God's covenant with Abraham.
Such views took off in the 19th century and deepened after Israel’s creation as a state. In particular, the new country’s victory in the Six Day War of 1967 marked a turning point. For some evangelicals, the outcome represented “the triumph of divinely ordained good over evil,” explains Shalom Goldman, a religion professor at Middlebury College. “For them, God’s plan in history, revealed to humanity in the Bible, was now unfolding in the Holy Land” – a prelude to the Second Coming.
So these beliefs aren’t new. But their influence has grown, Goldman writes – particularly in the halls of government and the military.
Religion News
Deportations surge, aid collapses and faith groups in Latin America struggle to respond
'There simply isn’t enough capacity even for the local community. It’s much harder with a population that has been abandoned in places that are extremely difficult,' said Karen Perez, the country director for Jesuit Refugee Service in Mexico. By Fiona Murphy/Religion News Service
As pope seeks dialogue and diplomacy, 2 US cardinals reject US-Israeli war in Iran
Pope Leo XIV calls for an end to the U.S-Israel war in Iran, issuing a new but still muted appeal. Two of his U.S. cardinals have condemned the war, rejecting the rationale for launching it and the 'video game' way it was being portrayed. By Nicole Winfield/The Associated Press
More than 850 Episcopal Church leaders gathered in Charlotte to talk about the future of the church and what the denomination still has to offer. By Bob Smietana/Religion News Service
Cardinal Sako, head of Chaldean Church in Iraq, retires as war engulfs the region
The patriarch of one of the most important Christian churches in the Middle East has retired, setting the stage for new leadership as war engulfs the region. By Nicole Winfield and Abby Sewall/The Associated Press
Federal jury awards damages to Muslims pepper-sprayed by prison guards while praying
A US federal jury awarded $667,000 in damages to a group of Muslim men incarcerated in Missouri who were pepper-sprayed by state correctional officers while praying. By The Associated Press
Commentary and Analysis
Medieval texts and frescoes show how Francis of Assisi’s legends formed – and why his call to poverty and care for creation still resonates. By Vanessa Corcoran for The Conversation
Couples in interfaith marriages came under intense pressure in Nazi Germany. But women’s protests in February 1943 may have helped save their husbands. By Danielle Wirsansky and Nathan Stoltzfus for The Conversation
Chopra’s friendship with Epstein is dismaying, in part for what it says about the spiritual and wellness culture he exemplifies. By Ann Gleig/Religion News Service
Rooted in the Buddhist teaching of the bardo − states of ‘in-between’ − the text offers a way to understand death, life and transformation as deeply intertwined. By Jue Liang for The Conversation
Devotees cheer as colored powder and water is sprayed on them in celebration of Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, at the Kalupur Swaminarayan temple in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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