Southern Baptists don’t get votes to add ‘only men’ pastors language to constitution INDIANAPOLIS (RNS) — It is rare for Southern Baptists to not affirm a measure with a second consecutive vote. The post Southern Baptists don’t get votes to add ‘only men’ pastors language to constitution appeared first on Religion News Service.

The future of SBC abuse reform is now in the hands of denominational committee INDIANAPOLIS (RNS) — A volunteer task force said it did not have the funds or influence needed to make abuse reforms stick. Now local church messengers have asked the SBC’s Executive Committee to take on the task. The post The future of SBC abuse reform is now in the hands of denominational committee appeared first on Religion News Service.

New Data supports 1300 Year-old “666” Theory Independent The post New Data supports 1300 Year-old “666” Theory appeared first on Religion News Service.

North Carolina pastor Clint Pressley elected SBC president (RNS) — Pressley, a North Carolina megachurch pastor, was elected after a pair of runoffs. The post North Carolina pastor Clint Pressley elected SBC president appeared first on Religion News Service.

On Eid al-Adha, Senegal’s star sheep are for luxury, not sacrifice DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — As Muslims worldwide prepare to celebrate Eid Al-Adha, the second most important holiday in the Islamic calendar, the coveted Ladoum sheep prepare to be sacrificed. The post On Eid al-Adha, Senegal’s star sheep are for luxury, not sacrifice appeared first on Religion News Service.

More than 1.5 million foreign Muslims arrive in Mecca for annual Hajj pilgrimage MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi officials say more than 1.5 million foreign Muslim pilgrims have streamed into Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Mecca since Tuesday, ahead of the start of the Hajj later this week, as the annual pilgrimage returns to its monumental scale. Saudi officials have said they expect the number of pilgrims this year to exceed…

The Rev. James Lawson Jr., civil rights leader who preached nonviolent protest, dies at 95 LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Rev. James Lawson Jr., an apostle of nonviolent protest who schooled activists to withstand brutal reactions from white authorities as the Civil Rights Movement gained traction, has died, his family said Monday. He was 95. The post The Rev. James Lawson Jr., civil rights leader who preached nonviolent protest, dies at 95 a…

How reciting the Pledge of Allegiance became a sacred, patriotic ritual (The Conversation) — On Flag Day, a historian of religions in America explains how Pledge of Allegiance, which honors the American flag, is part of American civil religion. The post How reciting the Pledge of Allegiance became a sacred, patriotic ritual appeared first on Religion News Service.

‘Fiddler on the Roof’ may be many Americans’ image of Judaism – but American Jews’ heritage is stunningly diverse (The Conversation) — Most ideas about Jewish culture in the United States come from Ashkenazi traditions, but there’s a vast landscape of Jewish cultures around the world – and represented in the US. The post ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ may be many Americans’ image of Judaism – but American Jews’ heritage is stunningly diverse appeared first on Religi…

At Florida homeschool convention, an education in MAGA politics KISSIMMEE, Fla. (RNS) — Amid more typical homeschool concerns such as combating screen time and filling gaps in homeschool math curricula, the overarching message of the 40th annual Florida Homeschool Convention was about politics, not education. The post At Florida homeschool convention, an education in MAGA politics appeared first on Religion …

Slideshow: SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis Scenes from the opening day of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Indianapolis, Tuesday, June 10, 2024. The post Slideshow: SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis appeared first on Religion News Service.

Mike Pence speaks about politics, prayer to Southern Baptists at Indy event INDIANAPOLIS (RNS) — ‘I honestly think we haven’t come to the end of the debate over life: We’ve come to the end of the beginning,’ Pence said. The post Mike Pence speaks about politics, prayer to Southern Baptists at Indy event appeared first on Religion News Service.

National Eucharistic Pilgrimage passes through Washington, draws fervent Catholics WASHINGTON (RNS) — In Brookland, the Catholic crowd of more than 1,200 were fervent about their faith, but it remains to be seen if the evangelizing project will reach beyond those already committed. The post National Eucharistic Pilgrimage passes through Washington, draws fervent Catholics appeared first on Religion News Service.

Vatican convenes astrophysicists to discuss black holes, quantum theory VATICAN CITY (RNS) — ‘We think we have put together a dream team,’ said organizers of the event, which hopes to reconcile quantum theory and cosmology. The post Vatican convenes astrophysicists to discuss black holes, quantum theory appeared first on Religion News Service.

At second-ever global convening, Zoroastrian youth seek a more connected future (RNS) — Youth from the ancient faith campaigned to fund an interfaith center in England to promote the goals of inclusivity and interorganizational communication.  The post At second-ever global convening, Zoroastrian youth seek a more connected future appeared first on Religion News Service.

Donald Trump tells a group that calls for banning all abortions to stand up for ‘innocent life’ INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Trump has repeatedly taken credit for the overturning of a federally guaranteed right to abortion — having nominated three of the justices who overturned Roe v. Wade — but has resisted supporting a national abortion ban and says he wants to leave the issue to the states. The post Donald Trump tells a group that calls for bann…

Cambodians gather for “He Neak Ta,” praying for good fortune, prosperity, and rain PHUM BOEUNG, Cambodia (AP) — This ancient ritual ceremony has been celebrated annually for several hundred years by Phum Boeung villagers during the beginning of rainy season. Though marked in almost every village throughout the country in ancient times, the ceremony has become rarer. The post Cambodians gather for “He Neak Ta,” praying for good…

India investigates attack by suspected militants in Kashmir that killed 9 on Hindu pilgrimage NEW DELHI (AP) — A police officer said some of the victims had gunshot wounds and blamed the attack on Muslim militants who are fighting Indian rule in Kashmir. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which left 33 others injured. The post India investigates attack by suspected militants in Kashmir that killed 9 on Hindu pilgri…

Oxford University to return bronze sculpture of Hindu saint to India LONDON (AP) — The planned repatriation comes amid a push by foreign governments, including Nigeria, Egypt and Greece, as well as Indigenous peoples from North America to Australia, seeking to reclaim precious antiquities looted or acquired by questionable means during the heyday of the British Empire. The post Oxford University to return bronze …

Catholics could decide the 2024 election (RNS) — Catholics are a good weathervane for how the country will vote: If you win Catholics, you likely win the country. The post Catholics could decide the 2024 election appeared first on Religion News Service.