Football and faith have long been connected. But the scale of that event – and the fact that college athletes were baptizing other students – was unusual, said Paul Putz, director of the Faith and Sports Institute at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary. (Vugrincic, NPR)
Read MoreIt’s simple to point to Swift’s much-discussed intense relationship with her fan base, or the success of her music, with its ultimate relatable themes about growing up and life and love, or the fact that she hadn’t toured in five years; but in reality, the reasons go deeper. (Yahr, The Washington Post)
Read MoreA snapshot of the most-searched topics by category on Google in 2024. (Google Trends)
Read MoreArcheologists have discovered what they believe to be the tomb of Saint Nicholas, the philanthropic Greek bishop and inspiration behind Christmas icon Santa Claus. The six-foot-long limestone sarcophagus was found buried 6 feet deep within the two-story annex of St. Nicholas Church in Demre, Antalya, Turkey. (Bryce, Euro News)
Read MoreNow is an unlikely time for a Catholic ministry to grow. Fewer and fewer Americans embrace any religion, and the U.S. Catholic Church is shrinking. Yet Word on Fire continues to expand. (Worthen, The Atlantic)
Read MoreBrian Willoughby knows he’s doing a good job when parents become uncomfortable. That’s because part of his job involves telling them that their teenagers are looking at pornography — hard-core, explicit, often violent. Sometimes, the conversation is with a church group. (Richtel, The New York Times)
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