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

Despite America’s official secular stance, there are many situations in which an American citizen might be asked to swear an oath to God. For example, someone might be ordered to swear that they will tell the truth before testifying during a trial. Often, the witness is required to swear on a Bible. In addition, elected Read More

In the United States, the right to express one’s political or religious views is protected. But how far do these protections really go? Time after time, state and federal governments have sought to limit these rights and even penalize those who have expressed their viewpoints in public. A recent case in California initiated by a Read More

All too often, people who dare to challenge the status quo have their careers destroyed. Even if they win their lawsuits, the publicity and the negative stigma might follow them for the rest of their lives. Such is often the case with religious lawsuits, as the topic is inherently divisive in the United States. However, Read More

Believe it or not, there are still many countries with draconian religious restrictions in 2023. Many US residents may be completely unaware of these restrictions. While this might not be an issue if residents choose to stay in the United States, traveling while following one’s faith could prove problematic under certain circumstances and in certain nations. But Read More

Religion and education have always had a fraught relationship in U.S. schools. Technically speaking, America has no state religion. Because of this, any overlap between federal funding and religion is seen as a potential constitutional violation. However, this does not mean that children cannot experience religious teachings alongside other educational lessons on math, English, and Read More

The separation of church and state is a contentious issue throughout the United States, and this debate has led to several important legal decisions over the years. The Constitution states that America should not have a national religion, and this means it cannot offer preferential treatment to any particular religious teaching. It also means that Read More

Christians and Muslims have not exactly seen eye-to-eye over the years. After all, there was that whole business about the Crusades. More recently, tensions have been stirred up by conflicts in the Middle East, terrorist attacks, and so on. But it is important to note that there are certain things that Muslims and Christians agree on, and Read More

The assumption is that when you send your child to school, they will be free to speak their mind. Schools – and especially colleges – are supposed to be places where new ideas can flow freely. These are places where intellectuals debate interesting ideas and challenge each other’s philosophies. As long as a student’s speech Read More

The repeal of Roe vs. Wade is still a relatively new development in the legal world. As such, there are still many details that are being ironed out – especially in states that support legislation that bans abortions. Because of this, it should come as no surprise that many new, unexpected lawsuits are suddenly arising Read More