Outdoor displays once reserved almost exclusively for Christmas are now lighting up lawns during the Islamic month of fasting.
26.02.2026 02:00
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Outdoor displays once reserved almost exclusively for Christmas are now lighting up lawns during the Islamic month of fasting.
βChemistry is a moment. Synchronized living is chemistry for a lifetime,β says the star of Netflix's "Jewish Matchmaking." It's why she emphasizes the importance of matching prospective daters' religious practices, first and foremost.
Black and Jewish America traces an interlocked history of hope, cooperation and contention. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is good at this stuff, and he gets good help here from Tony Kushner, Cornel West and many others. Highly recommended.
The Jesus-friendly Super Bowl ad takes on the noise of online influencer culture - a big change from the "can't we all get along" tone of earlier ads.
religionnews.com/2026/02/04/j...
Fantastic @rns.org slideshow on the faith response to events in Minnesota:
How are faith communities in Minneapolis responding to the escalating crisis in the Twin Cities? Join a live virtual discussion this Tuesday, Jan. 27, with RNS reporter @jackjenkins.me and faith leaders involved in community responses to ICE. Register now: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
A new PRRI report explores Americansβ views on political violence, protesters, Trumpβs Jan. 6 pardons, and more, finding that two-thirds of Americans (67%) believe political leadersβ failure to condemn violent rhetoric contributes a lot to violent actions in society.
Here are a few key findings:
BREAKING:
We've found 40+ cases of agents using banned chokeholds & other moves that can cut off breathing
People have had seizures. They passed out.
βI felt like I was going to dieβ said 16-yr-old citizen
Admin won't say whether any agents have been punished
www.propublica.org/article/vide...
Think 2025 was a firehose of news? 2026 is already proving to be a gusher as well. My smart colleagues at Religion News Service offer a look here at some of the topics they expect to write about this year.
@clgrossman.bsky.social interviews @ryanburge.bsky.social = winning combo
Some folks are seeing red over the Lobster Nativity set. Others see it as just another in a long line of novelty Nativities.
Beer used to be considered kosher by default. But with the proliferation of novelty flavors related to craft brewing, questions are bubbling up.
Some of the same churches that are part of the Undocumented Underground in New York played key roles in the fight against slavery.
They are springing back into action to defend migrants.
talkingpointsmemo.com/feature/insi...
ProPublica is hiring and we have a slew of great job opportunities:
* Copy editor
* Texas reporter
* Senior editor, Business
* Senior editor, LRN
* YouTube senior producer
* YouTube producer (two-year)
job-boards.greenhouse.io/propublica
Readers have already brought us halfway to unlocking a $5,000 Giving Tuesday challenge match. With the day moving quickly, your gift could be what carries us the rest of the way. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom today?
#GivingTuesday @GivingTuesday
rns.donorsupport.co/page/2025-gi...
American Jewish anxiety, to the left and to the right: bit.ly/3WIdtzq @rns.org
This deeply reported piece is the kind of thing @religionnews.com.web.brid.gy excels at, with details you won't find anywhere else.
We are so grateful for everyone who joined us at our fall symposium, "God, the Government and the Algorithm." Whether you attended in person in New York or watched our livestream, it is because of you that we bring people together for these inspiring, thought-provoking and informative conversations.
People of faith are often at the forefront of solving problems in their communities. Through our Love Thy Neighbor series, weβll explore how faith communities are tackling civic challenges and inspiring hope.
Tell us what gives you hope in our short survey: mailchi.mp/religionnews...
The deal includes a 10-year suspended sentence, and Morris will serve 6 months in jail, the article says.
Interesting polling data: Those with unfavorable views of Donald Trump are the LEAST LIKELY to support political violence.
Two Seattle teens founded Voices of Understanding last fall, a nonprofit that helps classmates bridge differences and rethink their views on Israel and the Palestinian territories amid rising tensions.
religionnews.com/2025/09/05/t...
The confession particularly stung trauma survivors who trusted Bell with their stories of abuse within patriarchal church systems, several alleged survivors wrote on social media.
religionnews.com/2025/09/04/a...
Put your thinking cap on and try these out!
NEW: In June, Johnnie Moore, an evangelical PR expert and Trump adviser, surprised many when he took over the widely criticized Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Folks outside the religion world were left wondering: how did he end up there?
So @rns.org investigated: religionnews.com/2025/08/27/j...
Two weeks into the Trump administration's takeover of the police in Washington, D.C., some local churches are experiencing drops in attendance as worshippers fear being detained.
www.npr.org/2025/08/24/n...
JD Vance @JDVance β’ 2h β’ β’ We pray because our hearts are broken. We pray because we know God listens. We pray because we know that God works in mysterious ways, and can inspire us to further action. Why do you feel the need to attack other people for praying when kids were just killed praying? Jen Psaki @jrpsaki β’ Aug 27 Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does not end school shootings. prayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers. β’ 2.8K 17 5.5K 33K 1h1 1.2M JD Vance @JDVance Of all the weird left wing culture wars in the last few years, this is by far the most bizarre. "How dare you pray for innocent people in the midst of tragedy?!" What are you even talking about?
Sisters of Mercy Statement on Minnesota Catholic school shooting Today, during the first week of the school year, as children at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis gathered for Mass, a gunman opened fire through the windows of the Church. Two young children were killed and many more were injured; some are in critical condition. The gunman took his own life. The education of children has always been central to our mission as Sisters of Mercy. Many of our sisters have spent their lives in classrooms and have formed young minds, hearts and souls. We deeply grieve today's actions. Our response can no longer be "thoughts and prayers" alone. Children were literally praying during the attack. Our Critical Concern of non-violence underlies our lives and ministry as sisters. We must address this culture of violence with a culture of love. As followers of the nonviolent Christ, we continue to advocate for laws that keep weapons out of the hands of those intent on harm. Guns remain the number one killer of our children and teens. We must act. The obsession with the gun ownership in the United States has denigrated our ability to respect the image of God and human dignity of all persons. We call on our lawmakers and all persons of goodwill to work towards and pray for an end to violence.
VP Vance frames this as a left-wing argument opposed to faith, but that's not how it's worked. Faith leaders *themselves* regularly made similar arguments β including in his own tradition, Catholicism.
E.g., this is a statement from Sisters of Mercy of the Americas (Catholic nuns) on the shooting.
βHe loved his work deeplyβ: the five Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza airstrike
While Republican lawmakers in some states, like Alabama, have passed laws to protect IVF access, some of their colleagues are pushing back.
via @stateline.org
BIG NEWS: Dade Phelan, the Texas House member who was ousted this year as House speaker for, among other things, overseeing the impeachment of Ken Paxton, announces retirement. Phelan was a major foe of the TxGOP's Tim Dunn/far right faction, and recently broke with the party on school vouchers.