Bob Smietana
@bmietana.bsky.social
National writer Religion News Service. New grandad. Author of Reorganized Religion. Enthusiastic Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Sci-Fi fan. Ridiculously Gregarious
New details made public in case alleging abuse by Seth Day and Heather Thompson Day religionnews.com/2026/10/07/c...
New details emerge in abuse allegations against author Heather Thompson Day and Seth Day
(RNS) — A criminal complaint alleges that Seth Day sexually assaulted the couple's daughter. The couple has been barred from seeing their children by an emergency protective order.
religionnews.com
More details about the arrest of Seth and Heather Thompson Day. Shock from followers--and a teacher who reported abuse religionnews.com/2026/09/30/d...
Daughter of Heather Thompson Day and Seth Day reported alleged abuse, leading to arrest
(RNS) — The Days, popular Christian authors, were arrested after a teacher reported concerns about abuse. The couple had been reported to Child Protective Services in the past. Police in Keene, Texas,...
religionnews.com
In the US, evangelicals are both a voting bloc and a religious movement -- and the two aren't the same. That's caused a group of evangelical journalist to consider dropping the word evangelical from their name religionnews.com/2026/09/30/e...
Evangelical Press Association to vote on dropping the 'e-word'
(RNS) — The group of journalists wants to change its name to the Christian Communicators Network, saying the word 'evangelical' has too many political overtones and a bad public image.
religionnews.com
Evangelicals journalists might drop the 'e-word' as too political and controversial religionnews.com/2026/09/30/e...
Evangelical Press Association to vote on dropping the 'e-word'
(RNS) — The group of journalists wants to change its name to the Christian Communicators Network, saying the word 'evangelical' has too many political overtones and a bad public image.
religionnews.com
David Sills sued the SBC after being labeled an abuser in the Guidepost Report. A judge dismissed most of the claims, ordered settlement talks on the issue of defamation religionnews.com/2026/09/30/j...
Judge dismisses most of David Sills' claims against SBC leaders, orders settlement conference
(RNS) — A federal judge ruled a defamation claim filed by former professor David Sills, who lost his job to sexual misconduct allegations, could go forward against the SBC's Executive Committee, Guide...
religionnews.com
A popular Christian author and her professor author were arrested for alleged abuse religionnews.com/2026/09/29/h...
Heather Thompson Day and Seth Day, Christian authors, arrested for alleged abuse
(RNS) — The Days are co-authors of a best-selling Christian book on relationships.
religionnews.com
And here's the thing... while our instinct may be to dismiss these "Jim Crow Theobros" as fringe, the reality is that, while their in-person congregations are small, their online audiences number in the hundreds of thousands. This is such an important piece from @bmietana.bsky.social.
Roys Report@roysreport.bsky.social · 2w agoA group of pastors and online influencers is repackaging segregationist theology for a new generation, preaching that slavery wasn't evil, that Black Americans shouldn't be citizens and that the Nazis were misunderstood. roysreport.com/the-rise-of-...
First Tim Tebow said he'd drop out of speaking at LifeSurge's wealth and faith events. Now Craig Groeschel, pastor of one of the nation's biggest churches has dropped out religionnews.com/2026/09/28/c...
Megachurch pastor Craig Groeschel follows Tim Tebow in suspending ties to Life Surge
(RNS) — An investigation by podcaster Pablo Torre and Mother Jones magazine alleged that Life Surge, which runs Christian leadership and wealth events featuring sports stars and Christian celebrities,...
religionnews.com
A group of pastors has merged the hyper-masculinity of the manosphere with old-school segregationist ideas and outrage commerce. Meet the Jim Crow Theobros religionnews.com/2026/09/24/t...
The rise of the Jim Crow theobros
(RNS) — A group of Reformed pastors and influencers has wedded old-school segregationist theology with the hypermasculinity of the manosphere and the savvy of the attention economy to preach and sell ...
religionnews.com
Been working on this for a while about pastors who see the racism and antisemitism of America's past as a feature, not a bug. Meet the Jim Crow Theobros religionnews.com/2026/09/24/t...
The rise of the Jim Crow theobros
(RNS) — A group of Reformed pastors and influencers has wedded old-school segregationist theology with the hypermasculinity of the manosphere and the savvy of the attention economy to preach and sell ...
religionnews.com
Why are folks mad about Meryl Streep and Aslan? Hint-- theology and the love of CS Lewis religionnews.com/2026/09/23/m...
Meryl Streep as Narnia's Aslan: Why some evangelicals call it blasphemy
(RNS) — News that Streep will play Aslan in "Narnia: The Magician's Nephew" has sparked casting debates similar to those over "The Odyssey." But for evangelicals, the concerns go deeper than culture w...
religionnews.com
21 years ago, I got a call from a CT editor, who had a headline for a story he wanted me to write. The headline was "CS Lewis Superstar," and the charge was to look into the logistics of how Lewis became an evangelical icon. Was so much fun www.christianitytoday.com/2005/11/c-s-...
C. S. Lewis Superstar - Christianity Today
How a reserved British intellectual with a checkered pedigree became a rock star for evangelicals.
christianitytoday.com
Was writing today about why folks are upset with Meryl Streep being cast as Aslan -- a mix of culture war, theology and fan angst -- and remembering back to one of my favorite stories to work on www.christianitytoday.com/2005/11/c-s-...
C. S. Lewis Superstar - Christianity Today
How a reserved British intellectual with a checkered pedigree became a rock star for evangelicals.
christianitytoday.com
Got a story about how a clash with members of Congress led a Muslim charity to change its name. Was able to add some history-- like time Chuck Grassley investigated Paula White for alleged financial mismanagement at her former church religionnews.com/2026/09/22/m...
Under congressional pressure, a major Muslim charity cuts ties and changes its name
(RNS) — Islamic Relief USA, a humanitarian organization with a $150 million annual budget, rebranded itself as the Islamic Development and Empowerment in America after members of Congress threatened t...
religionnews.com
A reminder that immigration, mostly by Hispanic Catholics, has offset some of the decline of Christianity in the U.S., which is driven mostly by White Americans losing their faith-- not the arrival of non-Christian immigrants. religionnews.com/2025/11/18/w...
Why Trump's immigration crackdown may make America less Christian
(RNS) — America has become less religious because white Americans are less religious. Most recent immigrants are religious, and many are Christians.
religionnews.com
Some background about why Baptists in the U.S. are touchy about state churches and blasphemy religionnews.com/2024/10/30/w...
We tried Christian nationalism in America. It went badly.
(RNS) — Nostalgia for a ‘Christian America’ overlooks the realities of religion in the founding era — which included taxes, jail time, exile and even public hangings for anyone who defied state-run ch...
religionnews.com
Now Al Mohler, SBC seminary president, says blasphemy laws are a bad idea - after online pushback religionnews.com/2026/09/14/a...
Al Mohler reverses course, rejects blasphemy laws after controversy
(RNS) — The longtime president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary said he erred in saying the government should be able to punish those who don’t believe God was part of America’s founding.
religionnews.com
Anything is a legal case if you can convince a lawyer to represent you and file a suit. Eventually a suit like that is (hopefully) likely to be dismissed, but in the meantime it's time and money for the defendant and who knows if they will get their legal fees reimbursed.
mal@malatruse.bsky.social · last mo.Is there actually a legal case to be made for an author "stealing your idea" if they read it off a note like that?
Received a story pitch today citing a survey that said 69% of Red Sox fans believe they'd make a good GM, while 63% think they'd do a better job than Craig Breslow. I immediately deleted it. 69 percent and 63 percent? That's crazy. Obviously it's 99 percent and 93 percent.
How about Jake Bennett there? Runner on second, and he carves up Bellinger on three pitches to end the inning. Still 1-0 Sox after 4 in the Bronx.
RFK Jr seen speeding to Rhode Island with a fork and a bib
The Associated Press@apnews.com · 2mo agoA tractor-trailer rollover sent a truckload of squid spilling into a Rhode Island roadway, leaving a stench as they sat in the road for hours in the summer heat.
Spent some time with scholars who study new worship music religionnews.com/2026/08/18/s...
If Jesus showed up today, would he play guitar?
Nashville (RNS) — During a gathering in Nashville, scholars looked at the theology, money and music reshaping how Americans worship and experience God.
religionnews.com
He hit a 449-foot homer on the first pitch he saw. What an amazing thing.
Peter Abraham@peteabeglobe.bsky.social · 2mo agoGreat to see the Cardinals have called up Boston native Joshua Báez and plan to start the 23-year-old outfielder against the Cubs on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field Baez played at the Dexter School in Brookline. He was a second-round pick in 2021.
Joshua Báez became the first player to hit three home runs in his first three at-bats in the major leagues. The 23-year-old Cardinals left fielder from Boston drove in five runs in all at Wrigley Field. 1,199 feet worth of homers. What a day.
A former SBC president claimed that his misconduct was a private matter and sued his denomination for disclosing it. Now the suit is over religionnews.com/2026/08/12/j...
Johnny Hunt's last defamation claims rejected by federal judge
(RNS) — Hunt's lawyers had argued he was a private figure and his misconduct was nobody's business. He also claimed a tweet criticizing him was defamatory.
religionnews.com
Spent the whole day at Rate Field yesterday covering the game and Pope hat giveaway. Came away impressed by the pros who are on the beat. And also, was reminded there is magic in baseball. religionnews.com/2026/08/12/p...
Pope Leo hat giveaway turns White Sox game into the church of baseball
CHICAGO (RNS) — After three terrible years, the White Sox are in the midst of a revival — with good young players and perhaps a little divine intervention. The team's best-known fan is Pope Leo XIV.
religionnews.com
It's a hella tight race but the White Sox, a while after I last checked, continue to keep a firm grip on 1st place in the AL Central. (But be it noted that the Cubs are also running hot, even though they're currently at 2nd in the NL Central.)
Bob Smietana @bmietana.bsky.social · 2mo agoAlways wanted to be a baseball writer. Thanks Pope Leo religionnews.com/2026/08/12/p...
Always wanted to be a baseball writer. Thanks Pope Leo religionnews.com/2026/08/12/p...
Pope Leo hat giveaway turns White Sox game into the church of baseball
CHICAGO (RNS) — After three terrible years, the White Sox are in the midst of a revival — with good young players and perhaps a little divine intervention. The team's best-known fan is Pope Leo XIV.
religionnews.com
World Vision and a consortium of local faith-based groups are to receive a State Department award of “up to $850 million” to provide global healthcare services. My, @yonat.bsky.social, @bmietana.bsky.social @rns.org story: religionnews.com/2026/08/11/a...
After cuts, Trump administration gives $2B to Christian groups for global aid
(RNS) — The largest portion of the funding — $1.4 billion — is expected to support some 2,500 faith-based hospitals and clinics and train and pay tens of thousands of community health workers to provi...
religionnews.com