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

Catholicism is one of the strictest religions on the planet, and it has a history of excommunicating segments of the population (or entire nations, as the English can attest). There are reportedly 62 million Catholics in the United States and not all of these individuals always see eye-to-eye with the Vatican. A certain degree of controversy is Read More

The Biden Administration has prided itself on embracing diversity, appointing a wide range of individuals to key government positions. One of the inescapable realities of diversity is not only the variations in skin color or religion but also variable points of view. What happens when government employees begin fighting among themselves over divisive issues like 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

Since settlers first arrived in North America, churches have served as a central hub for communities. The church was the original community center – a meeting place for discussions, celebrations, and connections. Today, churches in the United States are shutting down at a high rate. With each passing week, it seems like a new church Read More

Over the past few months, an average USPS worker has been in and out of the news – and the courts. Although his refusal to work on Sundays might seem like a trivial matter, it has gained the attention of the Supreme Court insofar as it involves religious discrimination. Furthermore, it could affect the way Read More

The United States is now a multicultural country filled with people who identify with all kinds of religions. You might argue that it has always been this way, as even the early Christian settlers came from a range of denominations. One of the most important processes in any religion is marriage, and each religion has Read More

One particular baker has once again become intertwined with legal questions about religious rights and the First Amendment. In 2012, a same-sex couple tried to have this baker make them a cake for their upcoming wedding. The baker refused, and ever since then, this individual has been fighting numerous lawsuits against LGBTQ folks who want Read More

The history of education and religion in the United States are heavily intertwined, and religious schools have always fought for the ability to teach their own religious doctrines free from governmental interference, including most recently, the role of Title IX. The first schools in the nation were Christian, and they were established by groups such Read More