For many religious individuals, attending church is not enough. They wish instead to become more active members of the church, and they strive to hold official positions within the church’s hierarchy. For Catholics, one potential option is to become a deacon. But what exactly is a deacon, and how do you become one? What is a Deacon? Read More

Although Paganism has an established history in the United States, the religion has recently experienced a surge in exposure after the January 6th protests. The “QAnon Shaman” famously appeared at the Capitol dressed in a Pagan-inspired outfit with several pagan runes tattooed across his body. Of course, this represents only one example of Paganism in Read More

For the entirety of human civilization, people have been voicing various opinions about beards. The people of Ancient Mesopotamia clearly had an affinity for beards – and various carvings highlight this with clarity. However, some Sumerians eventually started shaving – and the trend continued into Egypt and Ancient Rome. The Romans were the first to Read More

A veteran recently admitted to beheading a Baphomet statue inside the Iowa State Capital, calling his actions “Christian civil disobedience.” This has not stopped him from facing criminal charges of criminal mischief in the fourth degree, but numerous individuals – including local Satanists – aren’t exactly happy. This has sparked a wider debate over potential Read More

Many people in the United States have claimed that they have a religious objection to the Covid-19 vaccine. What exactly does this mean? How can someone object to a vaccine on religious grounds, and what is the connection between an mRNA vaccine and the Christian faith? For those unfamiliar with this debate, the subject can Read More

After the Tennessee state legislature passed a law explicitly barring ministers who were ordained online from solemnizing legal marriages in 2019, the Universal Life Church (ULC) immediately filed suit and were successful in obtaining a restraining order blocking the law from taking effect. In August of 2023, the ULC began the trial against the Tennessee Read More

The phrase “gas chamber” does not conjure up pleasant images for Americans. In fact, it is closely associated with the Third Reich, the Holocaust, and one of the most deadly acts of ethnic cleansing the world has ever seen. Despite these negative connotations, the United States will soon adopt gas executions on an industrial scale Read More

The conflict in Ukraine has highlighted numerous religious tensions across Russia, Ukraine, and the West. It began when elements of the Ukraine military were accused of blatant Nazism – with many soldiers of the Azov Brigade proudly wearing swastikas and other far-right symbols on their uniforms. Controversy ensued when Ukraine hid precious relics associated with Read More

What is the legal definition of a religion in the United States? When you strip away the ideology and tax benefits, religion is simply an organization of people who agree to come together and follow certain rules. With this simplistic view, an obvious question often arises among so-called non-believers: Why can’t I create my own religion and Read More

There is a fierce debate in many religious communities about LGBTQ issues, and the United Methodist Church (UMC) is certainly no exception. Due to the unique legal structure of the UMC, this debate is triggering a serious fracture within the church – one that is causing many individual congregations to leave. The process of leaving Read More