Copies of the Jewish Bible and the Quran sit next to each other on a bookshelf in the Mosaic, a prayer room in Duke University's Keohane dorm, which is open for prayer and meditation by students of all faiths.

IDEMA: Should the Bible be taught in public schools?

President Trump has recently tweeted that the Bible should be part of a secondary education. This is astonishing considering that the president has said he does not read, although he has also said his favorite book is the Bible.

Feb 20, 2019 at 3:00 PM

The executive pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel West Olive, Todd Hostetter

Religion

Local chapels no longer affiliated with HBC-Chicago

The Harvest Bible Chapels in Northwest Ottawa County are no longer affiliated with the Harvest Bible Chapel-Chicago embroiled in controversy over the firing of its lead pastor, James MacDonald.

Feb 17, 2019 at 11:00 AM

James MacDonald delivers a sermon about financial responsibility at Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, on March 31, 2013.

Religion

Senior pastor fired from mega-church he founded

CHICAGO — James MacDonald, the senior pastor and founding member of Harvest Bible Chapel, has been fired, the church announced early Wednesday morning.

Feb 17, 2019 at 10:00 AM

Community Columnist

KOEDYKER: Forgiveness is what people need, more than ever

We have all heard the old adage, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” I have would have to agree with that.

Feb 13, 2019 at 2:00 PM

A faithful Remington typewriter captured many special memories of Noralee and Paul Fisher, pictured in their 1946 wedding photo.

Religion

Angels unaware? Remarkable tale saved for posterity

America is flush with personal stories, those bits and pieces of history often told ‘round a crackling campfire or on a grandma’s warm lap. Nonetheless, as memories gray and young’uns colorful images fade, repeated tales stretch — with a wink or two.

Feb 10, 2019 at 10:00 AM

Grand Haven Christian School began offering a Spanish Immersion Kindergarten class beginning with the 2017-18 school year.

Religion

Hashtag stirs debate over role of Christian schools

For their supporters, the thousands of Christian schools across America are literally a blessing — a place where children can learn in accordance with biblical teachings, untainted by the secular norms of public schools.

Feb 9, 2019 at 8:00 AM

From left, Vanessa Hudgens, Jordan Fisher and cast members in "Rent" on Fox. (Ray Mickshaw/Fox)

Community Columnist

CRAMER: What 'Rent' taught me

The first time I saw the Broadway musical “Rent,” I was on a trip to New York City with the other thespians from Grand Haven High School.

Feb 6, 2019 at 3:00 PM

The La Lomita church sits a few hundred yards from the banks of the Rio Grande and the border with Mexico in Mission, Texas. A border fence is soon to be built on the levee road, potentially complicating access to the church for parishioners and visitors.

Religion

Border fence could seal off an old Texas church

When the Border Patrol filed a lawsuit in federal court to condemn land around the chapel and begin surveying for a fence, Father Roy has spoken out. He worries it would block access and scare away the faithful, most of whom are Latino.

Feb 3, 2019 at 12:00 PM

Lawyers for Bradenton Tropical Palms have threatened to file suit against Millie Frances, 85, a Bradenton, Florida, woman, over a painting of the Virgin Mary on the front of her mobile home.

Religion

Trailer park pressures resident to remove Virgin Mary painting

A legal battle is brewing over a portrait of the Virgin Mary that an 85-year-old devout Catholic woman commissioned to replace a window on her Florida mobile home.

Jan 27, 2019 at 10:00 AM

In celebration of a previous Catholic Schools Week, a group from St. Mary’s Catholic School participated in Mass with other Catholic students at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Grand Rapids. Pictured: St. Mary’s Catholic School student council, Principal Steve VanHammen, and St. Mary’s Catholic Church Father Dave Gross pose for a picture.

Religion

Diocese of Grand Rapids joins national Catholic Schools Week celebrations

More than 6,550 students in 31 Catholic schools across the Diocese of Grand Rapids are celebrating national Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 27 to Feb. 2.

Jan 27, 2019 at 8:00 AM

Community Columnist

KOEDYKER: Reflecting on the preciousness of human life

As a Christian, I cannot help but be against abortion. It is quite obvious, and science clearly shows, that human life begins long before a baby is born.

Jan 23, 2019 at 3:00 PM

Religion

Speaker to address Israeli-Palestinian situation at Holland church

West Michigan residents are invited to join the community in conversation about the realities of the Israeli and Palestinian situation at Third Reformed Church in Holland at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29.

Jan 20, 2019 at 10:00 AM

Lynne Mapes-Riordan, left, pictured July 15, 2012, in Evanston, Illinois, wants the opportunity to enter the Catholic Church's deacon formation program, which does not allow women. Here, she is in the Sunday Mass procession at St. Nicholas Church in Evanston. At right is visiting pastor Father Casmir Damor. (Chuck Berman/Chicago Tribune)

Religion

Women strive for larger roles in male-dominated religions

Women around the world in recent months have been finding new ways to chip away at centuries of male-dominated traditions and barriers, with many of them emboldened by the surge of social media activism that's spread globally in the #MeToo era.

Jan 20, 2019 at 8:00 AM

St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California, is embroiled in controversy after two nuns allegedly stole hundreds of thousands of dollars and a teacher claims she was wrongfully fired.

Religion

Catholic school can be sued for firing teacher with breast cancer

In the spring of 2014, Kristen Biel had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and needed time off from her teaching job at St. James Catholic School in Torrance, California, for a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Jan 13, 2019 at 8:00 AM