• ABC’s Sitcom 'Black-Ish' Tackles Belief In God, Promotes Theological Respectability

  A recent episode of ABC's "Black-Ish" series, which was simply entitled "God," focused viewers on the confusion of the featured TV family's oldest daughter who refused to pray at the start of a family meal because she has growing doubt concerning the reality of God. For Zoey (played by Yara Shahidi), the suffering that overwhelms human experience challenges belief. "Can there really be a God in light of so much misery in the world?" she pondered.

  

• New Religion Rules Proposed In China Too Restrictive, Warn Catholics

  Catholic experts warned new rules governing religion in China could hamper the church's work severely by curbing their foreign contacts and imposing heavy penalties for unauthorized activity.

  

• ‘American Idol’ Winner 'Fantasia' Stronger With God After Suffering, Suicide Scare

  One American Idol champion says her celebrity status caused her to attempt to end her life. But the 2004 Idol winner Fantasia Barrino also recently shared how the dark days led her to a close tie with God after her struggles.

  

• Ryder Cup Crowd Unites for Stunning 'God Bless America,' Team USA Wins Trophy

  Breaking golf etiquette and history, this year's Ryder Cup crowd of 45,000-plus fans in Minnesota broke into a spirited, booming rendition of God Bless America at the first tee on Friday morning. Some attendees said it was unlike anything they've ever seen before at a golf tournament, and was louder than what's often heard at most sports stadiums. The crowd's magical spin worked, because for the first time since 1975, every U.S. player won at least one match. And for the first time since 2008, t

  

• Religious Persecution, Abuse in North Korea Markedly Worse for Christians

  For North Koreans, local residents say contact with Christians in China is sufficient to warrant execution or consignment to a political prison camp upon repatriation.