In blue Maryland, some religious parents find hope in Trump’s position on education (RNS) — Religious residents have swung to the right due to a fight over curriculum changes that introduce LGBTQ subject matter to elementary age students. The post In blue Maryland, some religious parents find hope in Trump’s position on education appeared first on RNS.

New documentary tells America’s story of religious freedom (RNS) – ‘The film humanizes that history through the stories of brave citizens who defended the right to exercise their most deeply held beliefs,’ explained co-director John Paulson. The post New documentary tells America’s story of religious freedom appeared first on RNS.

A Christmas miracle in Syria (RNS) — Assad was the King Herod of our time. Like Herod, he slaughtered the innocent. The post A Christmas miracle in Syria appeared first on RNS.

Religious traditions can help with holiday blues, mental health experts say (RNS) — ‘During the holidays, we are practicing relational spirituality and engaging in our awakened brain,’ said one professor of psychology. The post Religious traditions can help with holiday blues, mental health experts say appeared first on RNS.

Trump’s cabinet selections represent an unusual slice of American religious life (RNS) — Trump’s cabinet selection includes everything from pastors to Catholic converts to one nominee who credits their spiritual rebirth to a book by a Swiss psychiatrist. The post Trump’s cabinet selections represent an unusual slice of American religious life appeared first on RNS.

Spiritual Literacy Month is one couple’s legacy of right intention (RNS) — Mary Ann Brussat and her husband, Frederic, introduced ‘Spiritual Literacy Month’ back in the 1990s. They’re still at it. The post Spiritual Literacy Month is one couple’s legacy of right intention appeared first on RNS.

3 dead, others injured in a shooting at a private Christian school in Wisconsin MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes offered no details about the victims but said other people were wounded at Abundant Life Christian School, a K-12 school with about 390 students. The post 3 dead, others injured in a shooting at a private Christian school in Wisconsin appeared first on RNS.

‘Wicked’: A midrash on ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (RNS) — Not surprisingly, many midrashim — these imagined Torah backstories — are about women. The post ‘Wicked’: A midrash on ‘The Wizard of Oz’ appeared first on RNS.

American pilgrim imprisoned in Assad’s Syria calls his release from prison a ‘blessing’ DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Travis Timmerman said he had gone to Syria on a Christian pilgrimage and was not ill-treated while in Palestine Branch, a notorious detention facility operated by Syrian intelligence. The post American pilgrim imprisoned in Assad’s Syria calls his release from prison a ‘blessing’ appeared first on RNS.

Timothy Snyder On Religion, Power, and Freedom Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush talks with Timothy Snyder, best-selling author, historian, and public intellectual, about his latest book, “On Freedom.” The post Timothy Snyder On Religion, Power, and Freedom appeared first on RNS.

Episcopal Bishop Prince Singh suspended but not deposed after Title IV investigation concludes (RNS) — Singh’s son called the outcome ‘a tragic conclusion to what has been a deeply painful and retraumatizing process.’ The post Episcopal Bishop Prince Singh suspended but not deposed after Title IV investigation concludes appeared first on RNS.

My favorite murder (RNS) — Brian Thompson’s killing is one manifestation of America’s appetite for redemptive violence. Jordan Neely’s is another. The post My favorite murder appeared first on RNS.

Photos of the Week: Marian feast days; Syrian leadership changes (RNS) — This week’s photo gallery includes several Marian feast days, Syrian leadership changes and more. The post Photos of the Week: Marian feast days; Syrian leadership changes appeared first on RNS.

The national strategy to combat Islamophobia is a huge step forward — for Sikhs, too (RNS) — People are most likely to thrive in societies where everyone is given equal opportunity and where governments and citizens work proactively to quash bigotry and discrimination. The post The national strategy to combat Islamophobia is a huge step forward — for Sikhs, too appeared first on RNS.

When a public schoolteacher is punished for controversial books (RNS) — It’s part of a problem on both sides. The post When a public schoolteacher is punished for controversial books appeared first on RNS.

Latest Vatican mystery surrounds missing keffiyeh from Palestinian nativity (RNS) — The appearance of a keffiyeh on a Palestinian-made nativity scene at the Vatican caused a stir. So did its sudden disappearance. The post Latest Vatican mystery surrounds missing keffiyeh from Palestinian nativity appeared first on RNS.

US Senate chaplain Barry Black hospitalized after brain bleed WASHINGTON (AP) — Black, 76, suffered a subdural hematoma earlier this week and is at a local hospital and under the care of the Capitol’s physician, said Rev. Lisa Schultz, Black’s chief of staff. The post US Senate chaplain Barry Black hospitalized after brain bleed appeared first on RNS.

A Keffiyeh Conundrum: the Politics of Baby Jesus (RNS) — A keffiyeh-wrapped baby Jesus sparks a global conversation about faith, politics and justice, revealing deep tensions and potent symbolism in Advent traditions. The post A Keffiyeh Conundrum: the Politics of Baby Jesus appeared first on RNS.

Santa, maybe? Why we have different names for who ‘hurries down the chimney’ on Christmas (The Conversation) — You may call him Santa Claus, but the bearded guy in the red suit is a man known by many names. That doesn’t make him disreputable, just a reflection of changing American culture. The post Santa, maybe? Why we have different names for who ‘hurries down the chimney’ on Christmas appeared first on RNS.

Why the religious beliefs of Trump defense pick Pete Hegseth matter (The Conversation) — Hegseth’s Christian views have been shaped by a 20th-century movement, Christian Reconstruction, which seeks to make America a Christian nation built on biblical law, writes a religion scholar. The post Why the religious beliefs of Trump defense pick Pete Hegseth matter appeared first on RNS.