Religious leaders say that a bill passed by the West Virginia House of Delegates this week could criminalize faith-based groups that provide assistance to undocumented immigrants. HB 5031 changes the definition of “human smuggling” in state code to transporting or harboring individuals who are known to be in the country […]
Read MoreTag: Religion
Protestant Leaders Balance Cultural Divides as LGBTQ Issues Split Appalachian Statehouses
On a cloudy March evening, Roxy von Teddy stands in front of what used to be the altar of a Disciples of Christ Church in downtown Athens, Ohio. The former church is now home to the Southeast Ohio History Center, which purchased the building in 2017, but vestiges of the […]
Read MoreFood and Faith: Church Dinners Have Served as Places to Build Community for Generations
For years, Roberta Lee Levine has baked noodle kugel – a traditional Jewish egg noodle casserole made with apples, cinnamon, cream cheese, cottage cheese, and raisins. “I’ve made it for bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, weddings, ” she said. “Everybody says I make the best.” Saturday, Levine and her husband, Richard, […]
Read MoreWhite Supremacy and White Christianity, An Interview with Author Robert P. Jones
In his book “White Too Long,” Robert P. Jones, president and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute, digs into how white supremacy as part of the history of the white Christian church and the implications the past has for understanding racism in the United States today. In this interview, […]
Read MoreWhite Supremacy in White American Christianity, Explained
The phrase “White Christian Nationalism” may well be the religious term of 2022. Since the House Subcommittee hearings on the January 6 Insurrection this summer, many Americans have seen photos and videos of Christian flags and crosses alongside banners supporting then-President Donald Trump. Seeing the overt mingling of Christian symbols […]
Read MoreWhy the Religion Beat? Reporting on Faith Can Protect Our Democracy
I’ve been asked the same question for a few months now. It goes something like this: “Why the religion beat?” That’s usually followed by: “I’ve never heard of religion as a journalism beat.” This question came up a lot earlier this summer during Report For America’s national gathering in Chicago. […]
Read More