I am twelve years old, and it is my birthday. My birthday gift: my first guitar. Days later, on Hanukkah, I got another gift — my first songbook, with words, music, and guitar chords. It is a volume of Bob Dylan’s songs. A week later, I had already figured out how to play “Mr. Tambourine Man. Read more » »

(RNS) — Since being elected to lead the World Council of Churches earlier this month, the Rev. Jerry Pillay, former general secretary of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, has been rebuffing critics who accuse him of making antisemitic remarks by referring to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians as tantamount to apartheid. Read more » »

Pope Francis “I pray for the children, the adults killed and their families. It is time to say ‘enough’ to the indiscriminate trafficking of guns.” Catholic bishops of Texas “We pray for those who lost loved ones, for the first responders, and for those in leadership. Read more » »

(RNS) — Last summer, Princeton University agreed to organize an exhibit of works by American Jewish artists in the second half of the 19th century. The exhibit would feature 50 pieces including a life-size marble sculpture called “Faith” by the the most renowned Jewish American sculptor of the period, Moses Jacob Ezekiel (1844-1917). Read more » »

(RNS) — Each week Religion News Service presents a gallery of photos of religious expression around the world. This week’s photo selection includes Buddhists in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, an annual dancing devils festival in Venezuela and more. Note: RNS is expanding Photos of the Week to include reader photos. Read more » »

“How does it feel?” we might collectively sing to him, echoing the chorus of his most famous song. “How does it feel?” — for Bob Dylan to turn 80, as he does today. In 1963, as he was preparing to play a concert at Carnegie Hall, he told an interviewer: “My past is so complicated you wouldn’t believe it, man. Read more » »

© Copyright 2020, Religion News Service. All rights reserved. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy, Privacy Statement and Cookie Notice. Read more » »

Bob Dylan, Nobel laureate (RNS) — It has only been four days since the release of Bob Dylan’s first album of original songs in eight years — „Rough and Rowdy Ways.” In those few days, several of its songs — most notably, „I Contain Multitudes” and „Mother of Muses” — have become ear worms. They have taken up permanent residence within my brain. Read more » »