And across Western Europe, Christians report “discrimination and bullying” and in some instances “even loss of employment” for expressing faith-based opinions in their workplaces. Some have even faced repercussions for views expressed in “private conversations or posts on private social media accounts.” (Thompson, Christianity Today)
Read MorePope Francis on Monday appointed Sister Simona Brambilla to head the Vatican office that oversees religious orders for both men and women — including more than a quarter of the world’s priests — making her the first woman to reach the No. 1 position in an office in the Holy See. (Povoledo, The New York Times)
Read MoreWe asked an array of thinkers — futurists, scientists, foreign policy analysts and others — to lay out some of the possible “Black Swan” events that could await us in the new year: What are the unpredictable, unlikely episodes that aren’t yet on the radar but would completely upend American life as we know it? (Walsh, Politico)
Read MoreA new Pew Research Center report on the religious composition of the 119th session of Congress, convening today for the first time, reveals that the majority of its members are Christian. (André, Religion News Service)
Read MoreIs reincarnation real? Is communication from the “beyond” possible? A small set of academics are trying to find out, case by case. (Solomon, The New York Times)
Read MoreYoung, single men are flocking to the Orthodox church after discovering the “masculine” Christian religion through online influencers. Some converts said they felt disillusioned with the “feminisation” of the Protestant church and were attracted to the “authenticity” of Orthodoxy, which they claim pushes them physically and mentally. (Coen, The Telegraph)
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