Culture
Americans: Marijuana isn’t sinful but not sure it should be legal
WASHINGTON (RNS) American views on marijuana are evolving much like their views on gay marriage, according to a new poll, with many people ambivalent but growing numbers in favor of legalization.
The poll, conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute in partnership with...
More
|
Comments (0)
Boy Scouts proposal displeases religious leaders on both sides
(RNS) Conservative and liberal religious leaders may not agree on much, but both are expressing displeasure with the Boy Scouts' proposal to accept gay members but reject gay leaders.
The Boy Scouts of America released its draft proposal on Friday (April 19) that will be voted...
More
|
Comments (0)
Colm Toibin’s “Testament of Mary” brings Jesus’ mother down to earth
NEW YORK (RNS) How far can one go in retelling a Bible story, adding things that are not in the original? In "The Testament of Mary," Colm Toibin goes a long way.
His 2012 book is now a Broadway play presenting a view of the mother of Jesus so different from pious tradition tha...
More
|
Comments (0)
COMMENTARY: Isolated in America
(RNS) I wonder if social isolation -- not extremist religion or Chechen roots -- explains the two brothers who set off bombs during the Boston Marathon, killing three and wounding more than 170.
The older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was quoted as saying "I don't have a single A...
More
|
Comments (0)
COMMENTARY: America’s rough week
Eds: A version of this story originally appeared in USA Today. It is available for use by RNS subscribers. Please use the USA Today byline.
(RNS) Life is difficult. It can knock you down. Sometimes, an entire nation gets knocked down.
First it was Boston. Some mad man (or men...
More
|
Comments (0)
Former ‘Jesus freak’ traces the evolution of Christian rock
(RNS) Bob Gersztyn owned a fine collection of 300 rock'n' roll albums in 1971, the year he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. Among them were some choice 1960s vinyl from Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and the Mothers of Invention.
But all of a sudden...
More
|
Comments (0)
Boston Marathon’s holy ground and sacred bonds
(RNS) When it comes to running, America often looks like a country of apostles and apostates.
For true believers like Olympian Ryan Hall, marathons assume an almost-biblical importance. "I have heard stories and had personal experiences in my own running when I felt very strong...
More
|
Comments (0)
SIDEBAR: Atheists embrace Sunday-morning music
Eds: See mainbar, RNS-ATHEIST-CHURCH, also transmitted April 16
HOUSTON (RNS) Atheists may not have hymns, but that doesn't mean they ain't got the beat.
In the so-called "atheist churches" that have popped up across the globe in the last year -- there are Sunday morning gath...
More
|
Comments (0)
Atheists find a Sunday-morning connection with other nonbelievers
Eds: See related sidebar, RNS-ATHEIST-MUSIC, also transmitted April 16
HOUSTON (RNS) Sunday mornings at Houston Oasis may have the look and feel of a church, but there's no cross, Bible, hymnal or stained glass depictions of Jesus. There's also nary a trace of doctrine, dogma or t...
More
|
Comments (0)
COMMENTARY: Jackie Robinson’s faith missing from ‘42’ movie
Eds: A version of this story originally appeared in USA Today. It is available for use by RNS subscribers. Please use the USA Today byline.
A new film about Jackie Robinson, titled 42 -- the number he wore during his historic career -- tells the triumphant story of how the Civil R...
More
|
Comments (0)
