The Columbian

Churches & Religion

The charred scroll from En-Gedi was too fragile to open, but scientists read it anyway. (B.

Scientists read ancient, fragile biblical scroll without unrolling it

September 24, 2016, 6:00am Churches & Religion

When it was discovered in Israel in 1970, the En-Gedi scroll was clearly in no shape to be read: It had been found in the Holy Ark of a Jewish community dating to around 700 B.C. and had burned along with the rest of the settlement in the year 600.… Read story

Young monks brush their teeth at the Kongri monastery in Spiti Valley, India. For centuries, the valley nestled in the Indian Himalayas remained a hidden Buddhist enclave. That's all now starting to change.

Change coming to Buddhist valley

September 24, 2016, 5:59am Churches & Religion

For centuries, the sleepy valley nestled in the Indian Himalayas remained a hidden Buddhist enclave forbidden to outsiders. Read story

Jenny Thompson, the executive director for the Vancouver Police Activities League, falls into the dunk tank Thursday at Mill Creek Pub during Give More 24!

Give More 24! raises $915,539 for local causes

September 23, 2016, 10:31am Churches & Religion

Thursday’s all-day giving spree, Give More 24!, raised $915,539 for Southwest Washington charities. While almost $85,000 shy of the day’s $1 million fundraising goal, it's about $240,000 more than was raised last year. Read story

Former President Jimmy Carter speaks on Thursday at a Baptist conference in Atlanta. Carter says the United States is experiencing "a resurgence of racism" and called on Baptist faith leaders to lead change in their communities.

Carter: ‘Resurgence of racism’

September 17, 2016, 6:02am Churches & Religion

Jimmy Carter said the United States is experiencing a “resurgence of racism” and he’s calling on Baptist faith leaders to foster change in their churches and communities. Read story

Battle Ground: The Landmark Church team visited Guatemala, and built two houses for single women and their children.

Battle Ground church group visits Guatemala

September 14, 2016, 6:02am Churches & Religion

Battle Ground -- A team of 17 adults from Battle Ground's Landmark Church traveled to Chimaltenango, Guatemala, Aug. 20-27. Read story

In this photo provided by the St. Lucie Sheriff's Office, firefighters work at the scene of a fire at the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce on Monday in Fort Pierce, Fla. (St.

Official: Circumstances suggest hate crime in mosque fire

September 12, 2016, 10:42am Churches & Religion

Investigators believe a deliberately set fire at a Florida mosque could be a hate crime, based on the circumstances, but they are still trying to verify that, a law enforcement official said Monday. Read story

Catholic schools for Native Americans try to repair relations

September 10, 2016, 6:03am Churches & Religion

“The majority of the kids I went to school with are dead,” says Manny Jules, “because of the experience they had, the abuse.” Read story

Women on horseback ride in Norco, Calif. The Southern California city has rejected plans for a proposed Hindu cultural center partly because officials say the large, domed building doesn't fit in with its Old West motif.

Indian-Americans clash with cowboy town over proposed center

September 10, 2016, 6:00am Churches & Religion

The Southern California city of Norco markets itself as “Horsetown USA,” and it’s not unusual for cowboy hat-wearing residents to head out for lunch or run errands on horseback in its Old West-styled downtown. Read story

The west steeple of the First Congregational United Church of Christ remains tarped as crews wait for asbestos removal. Once completed, crews can fully assess the damage and move forward with planning for the repair.

Church arson investigation going strong, despite lack of answers

September 8, 2016, 2:41pm Churches & Religion

When Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway thinks about the arsonist -- or arsonists -- who damaged three local church buildings this past spring, he is met with mostly questions. Read story