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Religious leaders support transitional housing for the homeless; a violinist finds the divine order in the world through music; and the meaning and practices behind a Jewish harvest festival. More
“If we don’t in some concrete way help people to have a decent life here on earth, we are not fulfilling the gospel. It’s that simple,” say Pastor Dan Bryant, senior minister of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Eugene, Oregon, and president of the board of Opportunity Village. More
“Music has been, in a sense, my religion, and it is what brings me closest to God or truth or whatever you want to call it.” More
The Catholic Church debates the pastoral challenges of family life; an American Muslim convict argues for the religious freedom to grow a beard; the humanitarianism of Doctors Without Borders dedicates itself to medical care and bearing witness. More
We set the stage for the October 5 opening of the Vatican’s two-week discussion and debate, called by Pope Francis, on the church and the pastoral challenges of contemporary family life, including topics such as marriage, divorce, remarriage, annulments, and cohabitation. More
According to lawyer Douglas Laycock, this religious freedom case is not just about Gregory Holt, the American Muslim convict who now goes by the name of Abdul Maalik Muhammad and who is the plaintiff in Holt v Hobbs. “It’s about all those other prisoners that were not getting their scriptures, not getting their dietary needs, not getting the other things essential to religious practice.” More
For decades now, the mission of this Nobel-Prize-winning humanitarian group has been “medical care and bearing witness.” But bearing witness has had to be tempered by real-life considerations, observes medical sociologist Renee Fox. “When they were young, they thought witnessing was an unmitigated virtue. As they matured they came to see how complex the ramifications of witnessing might be.” More
A historic Protestant church in New York City calls its first female senior pastor; two spiritual leaders celebrate opportunities for grateful living. More
“There are several prominent pulpits in which women are now coming into those jobs, and it’s an indication society is shifting in many different ways,” says the Reverend Amy Butler, first female senior pastor of the Riverside Church in Manhattan. “Women are increasingly moving into leadership roles in other parts of our society, and it’s time for that to happen in the church.” More