Christianity

Very few superheroes wear their faith on their sleeves like Daredevil. But the Season 2 opener for Disney+ series “Daredevil: Born Again” has pulled back on those elements. If that reflects the rest of the season, it will be to the show’s detriment.

When Americans call President George Washington the “Father of His Country” it’s an honorary title based on politics and history. When modern citizens of the Republic of Georgia refer to Patriarch Ilia II as the “Godfather of Our Land” they are being quite literal, in terms of the rites and traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith.

(ANALYSIS) The Supreme Court recently announced a major decision in what seems like a quintessential religious freedom case: A Christian preacher charged with violating a city ordinance for sharing his faith in a public park. But outrageous as it may have been, the preacher’s arrest was not actually at the heart of this case.

A new report from the Pew Research Center found that religious radio stations remain ubiquitous — with 98% of U.S. adults living within the local coverage area of at least one of them. The report found that an “overwhelming majority” of those stations are Christian. Despite the rise of digital media, 45% of U.S. adults say they’ve listened to religious programming on the radio.  

(ANALYSIS) Don Mattingly, a pioneering Southern Baptist leader, created Centrifuge youth camps to “spin” teens toward meaningful futures in faith, service and careers. Launched in 1979, the program has reached millions. Remembered as both a visionary and organizer, Mattingly shaped generations by helping young people explore calling, purpose and lifelong decisions.

India’s leading Catholic publisher has been awarded a papal knighthood in recognition of his groundbreaking efforts in developing Catholic editions of the English Standard Version (ESV) and the New Living Translation (NLT), both American Evangelical translations of the Bible.

Even Chuck Norris’s granddaughter bought into the memes that described her Papa as indestructible. He was, as she wrote recently, the man who “counted to infinity twice, the man who got bit by a cobra and the cobra died.” Chuck Norris didn’t do pushups, she added; he “would push the earth down.”

When “The Faithful: Women of the Bible” trusts the Bible’s voice, it does a great job of giving voice to the women that it portrays. Unfortunately, far too often, the filmmakers shout their own voices too loud for you to hear the real women they claim to be elevating.

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary hosted a Sandlot Revival worship night on March 13, marking the tour’s first event outside Savannah. Led by Banana Ball players including Coach RAC, the gathering featured testimonies, worship music and a Gospel message, highlighting the movement’s growth from a team Bible study into a nationwide outreach effort.

Losing one’s sight can be difficult, but Christians who are blind in Kenya are finding new hope through solar-powered audio Bibles. Koki Ann, who works with the Montana-based “Your Network of Praise” in Nairobi, said: “Getting to reach people who are visually impaired was such a great breakthrough and pure providence.”

(ANALYSIS) Cesar Chavez, revered labor leader and co-founder of the United Farm Workers, built a legacy of nonviolent activism rooted in the Catholic faith. New allegations of decades-old sexual abuse now challenge his image, raising questions about power, morality and how society should reassess historical figures and their complicated legacies.

A former Ohio worship pastor and American Idol contestant, accused of murdering his wife pleaded not guilty to 11 charges during a March 19 arraignment.

Steve Gaines, longtime pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis and a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, died March 20 after a long battle with cancer. He was 68.

(ANALYSIS) If you’ve ever taken a sociology course in college, there’s a good chance that the instructor spent at least a little bit of time talking about the power of symbols in a society. They can be nothing more than a single word or just a short phrase that can convey a world of meaning, purpose and solidarity.

I have this short conversation at least once a month, since I do so much of my journalism via telephone and that often means dealing with people I have never met. “What is your name?”

In true Trump fashion, Jackson Lahmeyer — founder of Pastors for Trump — is touting a “HUGE Announcement” next week and hinting strongly that he’ll enter the race for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District seat.

A former star of the TLC reality series “19 Kids and Counting” has been arrested on felony child sex abuse charges in Florida.

Church leaders across the United States are increasingly embracing technology as a vital part of ministry — even as concerns about authenticity, privacy and spiritual impact continue to shape how digital tools are used, according to a new report.

Grand Canyon University has entered into an agreement with the Navajo Nation for a tuition discount of 10% for its eligible employees and citizens.

The movie has all the beats you want: Likeable characters, a clear villain, good pacing, decent scares and a clear social fear it’s tapping into. It also has the typical horror contrivances where characters have to be extremely obtuse or be insanely unlucky to keep them from getting out of the situation almost immediately. 

The island unfolds as a constellation of churches and cathedrals. Malta is often said to have more churches per square mile than any other country in the world. Whether or not that statistic is exact is debatable, but the impression is undeniable. While St. Paul’s arrival links Malta to the early church, Caravaggio’s genius shows just how powerful this belief has been over the centuries.

(ANALYSIS) The NCAA men’s basketball tournament once again features a strong group of religiously affiliated schools, particularly those with Catholic and Protestant traditions. These programs bring a mix of championship expectations and underdog potential into this season’s March Madness. The action all starts with a glut of first round games.

Many of the most enduring displays of human artistic greatness have been, in some way, religious. In today's secular world, the purpose of art is much more varied. Culture Critic Joseph Holmes interviewed actor, director, and producer David Henrie about his recent documentary series “Seeking Beauty.”

(ANALYSIS) Having spent a considerable amount of time in Ireland over the past year, St. Patrick’s Day will mean something different for me this year — and, probably, in years to come. Growing up, attending Catholic school, St. Patrick’s Day meant not having to wear the standard uniform — dark blue plaid jumpers with white blouses for the girls — in favor of bright green. 

More than 31 million people in the United States claim Irish ancestry — nearly six times the population of Ireland itself. When St. Patrick’s Day — a Catholic feast day originally honoring Saint Patrick, a missionary who brought the Gospel to the island in the 5th century, but is now more widely celebrated with parades and pints of beer — rolls around, Americans go hard. 

While churchgoers may be praying about ways to tell others about Jesus, many aren’t doing much to make that happen. According to Lifeway Research’s State of Discipleship, U.S. Protestant churchgoers often struggle to grow in their own discipleship. The latest findings indicate they also frequently miss opportunities to make new disciples by not sharing their faith with others.

(ANALYSIS) John M. Perkins rose from orphaned sharecropper roots in Mississippi to become a leading Christian evangelist, civil rights activist, and advocate of racial reconciliation. Founder of the Christian Community Development movement, he preached “Jesus and a job,” combining faith, community and reconciliation throughout a remarkable lifetime of service.

Moody Bible Institute will be allowed to participate in Chicago Public Schools’ student teaching program after the college alleged religious freedom violations in being excluded. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) first said Moody couldn’t participate in the student-teacher internship unless the institute abandoned its religious-based hiring practices, but agreed to drop the requirement after Moody filed a federal lawsuit.

(REVIEW) “Midwinter Break” is a film that, from its synopsis, seems quaint and charming, but beneath this charm, the tensions and conflicts run deep. It’s a meditative movie on the nature of faith and relationships that’s sure to have an impact — particularly for those who believe their lives need a major change. 

(ANALYSIS) One thing I am always probing the edges of is how deeply religion is embedded in each one of us. There’s a saying that bounces around the sociology of religion: “you may be done with religion but religion is not done with you.”