Officials from Syria and Israel are set to resume U.S.-mediated talks in Paris in hopes of reaching a security agreement to defuse tensions between the two countries, officials said Monday. religionnews.com/2026/01/06/s...

As Maduro hails from a Catholic-majority nation and was born Catholic, one might assume his faith fits neatly into that box. But a number of prominent Venezuelan politicians including Maduro are devotees of the late Indian guru Sri Sathya Sai Baba. religionnews.com/2026/01/06/s...

Two groups with decidedly differing views of the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol marked the fifth anniversary of the day’s events today, both appealing to what they argued were divine truths. religionnews.com/2026/01/06/t...

To Church of the Epiphany's rector, the new, handcrafted organ represents more than a commitment to quality music; it’s emblematic of the final phase of a multiyear, $70 million effort to relocate and rebuild the Episcopal congregation, an investment in community as much as sound.

OPINION: There may be only one real predator in the tank. But the whole system is set up to keep the predator satisfied. religionnews.com/2026/01/06/w...

Auschwitz survivor Eva Schloss, the stepsister of teenage diarist Anne Frank and a tireless educator about the horrors of the Holocaust, has died. She was 96. religionnews.com/2026/01/06/h...

Noelle Cook arrived in DC on Jan. 6 to photograph the Stop the Steal rally, expecting to gather some images for a project in women’s and gender studies. She ended up chronicling an insurrection — and, more unexpectedly, growing close to some of the women who breached the U.S. Capitol that day.

OPINION: The foreign policy of President Donald Trump combines the worst of isolationism with the worst of interventionism in a uniquely disastrous way.

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OPINION: "Marty Supreme" is just the latest entry in a century-old tradition of dark tales about morally defective Jewish sons hustling to make it in America. religionnews.com/2026/01/05/m...

School officials say a misunderstanding and distrust led to Moore's departure. religionnews.com/2026/01/02/j...

The Rev. Franklin Graham, CEO of Samaritan's Purse and son of the Rev. Billy Graham, praised Trump on X as a president who “doesn’t just talk, but takes action." religionnews.com/2026/01/03/r...

OPINION: Strong departments of justice and finance are essential if the Vatican is going to operate effectively and efficiently without more scandals. religionnews.com/2026/01/02/t...

OPINION: “That’s exactly why I decided to do this in the first place,” said my Sikh friend who had worked on Mamdani's campaign. “Because it was so unimaginable.” religionnews.com/2026/01/02/t...

RNS reporters Adele Banks and Jack Jenkins reflect on a pivotal year in which faith communities played a visible role in responding to political, social and economic upheaval, from immigration advocacy to support for federal workers and marginalized groups. religionnews.com/2026/01/03/w...

"Whatever you're doing here in San Francisco is more important than everything everybody's doing in Christian work in the rest of the world, combined," said tech billionaire Peter Thiel in his recent lecture series. religionnews.com/2026/01/02/t...

OPINION: When discussing the Eucharist, the cardinals should avoid repeating the mistake made by U.S. bishops of focusing almost entirely on belief in Jesus’ real presence in the bread and wine while neglecting the Eucharist’s other meanings. religionnews.com/2025/12/23/t...

Over 80 faith leaders sent Trump a letter urging him to build on his legacy as “a stalwart defender of peace and international religious freedom” and "officially recognize the Religion 20 Summit (R20) as part of America’s presidency of the G20 in 2026.” religionnews.com/2026/01/02/c...

OPINION: "Queen Esther" is a literary riffing on a biblical story. It also might be the most sympathetic treatment of Jewish themes by a non-Jewish novelist in decades. religionnews.com/2026/01/02/j...

These milestones reflect the longstanding and vibrant Muslim residents of the nation’s most populous city, according to a scholar who helped Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, select one of the books. religionnews.com/2026/01/03/z...

Religion played a role in some of the biggest political stories of the past year. That’s likely to continue in 2026, as clergy and politicians say their public policy actions are shaped by faith. religionnews.com/2025/12/31/a...

OPINION: Our nation hardly needs to normalize white male megalomania even more than it already has, Timothée Chalamet’s dramatic virtuosity notwithstanding. religionnews.com/2025/12/31/t...

A federal judge in Texas has ruled that a prominent group defending the separation of church and state can’t take an active role in a case involving political endorsements during sermons. religionnews.com/2026/01/05/j...

OPINION: “Radical amazement has a wider scope than any other act of man,” Heschel wrote in his 1955 book, “God in Search of Man.” religionnews.com/2026/01/05/t...

After one year as executive director of the New York City Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, Vijah Ramjattan feels hopeful. Ramjattan’s aim has been to build relationships and education from the bottom up. religionnews.com/2025/12/18/n...

OPINION: There has been outcry on social media about the word “collectivism” because it sounds like “collectivization.” religionnews.com/2026/01/05/w...

For a growing number of women in the West, Shakti, found especially through dance, is the embodied feminism that is just the right antidote to modern woes. religionnews.com/2025/12/02/h...

Across the United States, vigils have been adopted as a way to build community around a principle or to grieve outside of expressly political or religious gatherings organized by institutions. religionnews.com/2026/01/05/w...

Pope Leo XIV will close the final Holy Door on the Feast of the Epiphany, officially ending a Jubilee Year marked by the death of Pope Francis and the election of a new pontiff. religionnews.com/2026/01/05/j...

OPINION: Many Christian leaders see the recognition of a Palestinian state as consistent with international law and with biblical principles of justice, equality and the inherent dignity of all peoples. religionnews.com/2025/12/24/r...

In the wake of the devastating war in Gaza, many younger Americans, including evangelicals, have become skeptical of Israel and of the billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded weapons the U.S. provides to it. religionnews.com/2025/12/23/c...

The religious movement leader’s life was punctuated by harrowing moments, from enduring the death of her four infant children to facing violent mobs who condemned her as a heretic. religionnews.com/2025/12/22/a...

This technology is now a key part of China’s push for global influence, as it provides cash-strapped governments cost-effective, if invasive, forms of policing — turning algorithms and data into a force multiplier for control. religionnews.com/2025/12/22/u...

Across several social media platforms, Christian Nightmares routinely goes viral by reposting unedited sermons, political speeches and worship moments. religionnews.com/2025/12/24/c...

‘Our community is definitely experiencing heightened levels of stress, insecurity, uncertainty, anxiety and fear,’ said Xiomara Arauz, a Denver-based yoga and meditation teacher. religionnews.com/2025/12/23/f...

Join Religion News Service for a timely conversation with social scientist @ryanburge.bsky.social. As moderate American churches disappear Burge explains how congregations once mixed Democrats and Republicans and why that’s no longer true. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

“As we see a decline in church membership, we see a decline in trust of church organizations; then we’re seeing a rise of magic.” religionnews.com/2025/12/16/f...

After years of decline, religion appears to be on the rebound, especially as a force in American politics. religionnews.com/2025/12/31/a...

A Catholic and the father of three, Loh, 43, has watched the development of AI with concern for its profound impact on society, especially on young people. religionnews.com/2025/12/23/a...

OPINION: The movie is creative, resisting the usual formulas of the underdog sports flick in favor of a frenetic plot that could legitimately have ended in many different ways. religionnews.com/2025/12/31/t...

Israel said it had suspended more than two dozen humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders and CARE, from operating in the Gaza Strip for failing to comply with new registration rules. religionnews.com/2025/12/30/i...

“The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration,” the pope said. religionnews.com/2026/01/03/r...

In an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, 17 families of the dead and wounded called for a federal inquiry known as a royal commission to investigate a rise in antisemitism in Australia since the Israel-Hamas war. religionnews.com/2025/12/31/f...

There are some unusual dynamics that could make 2026 an especially difficult year to predict religious trends. religionnews.com/2025/12/31/r...

Pastor Doug Wilson, celebrating 50 years in his pulpit, has never had more influence than he does under the current presidential administration. religionnews.com/2025/12/10/c...

OPINION: Many Christian leaders see the recognition of a Palestinian state as consistent with international law and with biblical principles of justice, equality and the inherent dignity of all peoples. religionnews.com/2025/12/24/r...

As moderate American churches disappear, and with them a key space for cross-partisan connection, social scientist @ryanburge.bsky.social explains how congregations once mixed Democrats and Republicans and why that’s no longer true. Register now: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

A group of faith leaders, including several prominent conservatives, is pushing the Trump administration to formally include a religion engagement group within the Group of 20 summit, to be hosted at Trump’s golf club next December. religionnews.com/2026/01/02/c...

OPINION: Prior to the Second Vatican Council, authority in the church was highly centralized in the papacy. The council stressed the role of the bishop as the vicar of Christ in his diocese and the role of bishops’ conferences. religionnews.com/2026/01/02/t...

Joy Moore was hailed as a leader for Northern Seminary’s future. Then everything went sideways. religionnews.com/2026/01/02/j...