Angel Studios’ new animated film The King of Kings is an unusual Biblical biopic that depicts the life of Jesus in the form of stories told by Charles Dickens – voiced by Kenneth Branagh – to his young son Walter. I am not surprised that it has done record-breaking business for a Biblical animation in its opening weekend, taking almost $20 million in the US alone. (Kerridge, The Telegraph)
Read MorePope Francis has elevated Antoni Gaudí to “venerable” status — bringing the modernist Spanish architect, who dedicated his life to building the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, a step closer to sainthood. (Timsit, The Washington Post)
Read MoreAccess to new oil or gas boilers has been restricted under a Church of England commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030. A Telegraph investigation can reveal that the policy has left dozens of churches in the cold for months on end, with rural churches bearing the brunt of the policy. (Eastham, The Telegraph)
Read MoreRecent Pew Research findings suggest that the decadeslong decline in American Christianity may be stabilizing, leaving religion sociologists like me to ask, “Why would the rate of religious disaffiliation suddenly slow after years of steady increase?” (Schnabel, Religion News Service)
Read MoreThe state’s actions have fueled opposition to the proposed housing development, known as EPIC City, before any initial plans have been submitted. At a hearing on the project in Collin County, where part of it would be located, hours of public comment included expressions of anti-Muslim hostility. (Goodman, The New York Times)
Read MoreShe found that the plaintiffs lack standing, or the legal right to sue, since only a handful of immigration enforcement actions have been conducted in or around churches or other houses of worship and that the evidence at this point doesn’t show “that places of worship are being singled out as special targets.” (Whitehurst & Kunzelman, AP News)
Read More