(ANALYSIS) Cesar Chavez, revered labor leader and co-founder of the United Farm Workers, built a legacy of nonviolent activism rooted in the Catholic faith. New allegations of decades-old sexual abuse now challenge his image, raising questions about power, morality and how society should reassess historical figures and their complicated legacies.
Read MoreBefore the war broke out, knowledgeable observers agreed that a vast majority of long-suffering Iranians despised the ruling theocracy’s incompetence and oppression. So a revolution now might seem as likely as in 1979, when such widespread revulsion brought down one dictator, only to be replaced by another one.
Read MoreIn the past three years, Bahrain, a small Middle-Eastern country off the coast of the Arab Peninsula, has been promoting women’s empowerment despite its strict religious laws and criticism from religious clerics.
Read More(ANALYSIS) If you’ve ever taken a sociology course in college, there’s a good chance that the instructor spent at least a little bit of time talking about the power of symbols in a society. They can be nothing more than a single word or just a short phrase that can convey a world of meaning, purpose and solidarity.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Modern culture claims to have outgrown religion, yet quietly rebuilds it through astrology, crystals and spiritual wellness. These practices offer meaning without authority and comfort without discipline. Paganism hasn’t vanished; it has adapted, trading temples for timelines and gods for vibes, while preserving the same ancient hunger for order.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Each March, many of the country’s most selective colleges and universities release their admissions decisions, reviving debates over the roles of race, wealth and privilege — and putting Americans’ cultural obsession with rankings back in the spotlight.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The Democratic Senate candidacy of James Talarico in Texas represents more than a conventional partisan contest. If he succeeds, it would signal a reopening of that religious space for the left. If he fails, it will only reinforce the notion that overtly Christian rhetoric remains the domain of conservative politics.
Read MoreI have this short conversation at least once a month, since I do so much of my journalism via telephone and that often means dealing with people I have never met. “What is your name?”
Read MoreIn true Trump fashion, Jackson Lahmeyer — founder of Pastors for Trump — is touting a “HUGE Announcement” next week and hinting strongly that he’ll enter the race for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District seat.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Every major escalation in the Middle East sends shock waves far beyond the region. In the United States, those shock waves arrive not as distant tremors — but as catalysts for domestic radicalization and violence, particularly against Jewish communities. The data, in this regard, is unambiguous.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Silent retreats have become increasingly common in the United States in recent years. To calm down and reset their nervous systems, people relinquish their phones and reading materials and commit to speaking at a bare minimum to learn practices of self-awareness.
Read More(ANALYSIS) In theory, many Christians support pacifism or non-violent resistance, but for Iranian Christians, those theories are challenged by the harsh realities of a hellish regime and an ongoing war. This question of ‘just war’ has a long history, going back to the first centuries of the church.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The NCAA men’s basketball tournament once again features a strong group of religiously affiliated schools, particularly those with Catholic and Protestant traditions. These programs bring a mix of championship expectations and underdog potential into this season’s March Madness. The action all starts with a glut of first round games.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The war in the Middle East is rapidly expanding across the Gulf countries, including Iran and Lebanon. The conflict has already targeted the region’s civilians, natural resources, tourist destinations and U.S. military bases. Some Muslim community leaders in the U.S. warn that people far from the conflict could experience backlash.
Read More(ANALYSIS) If you had the opportunity to share a nice family dinner — emphasis on “family” — with a Hall of Fame pro-football coach, who would you choose? For many Americans, maybe even most folks in flyover country, the National Football League legend Tony Dungy would be at the top of the list.
Read More(ANALYSIS) John M. Perkins rose from orphaned sharecropper roots in Mississippi to become a leading Christian evangelist, civil rights activist, and advocate of racial reconciliation. Founder of the Christian Community Development movement, he preached “Jesus and a job,” combining faith, community and reconciliation throughout a remarkable lifetime of service.
Read More(ANALYSIS) As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, debates about religious freedom continue to occupy the center of American public life.
Read More(ANALYSIS) It’s Oscars season and some of Hollywood’s most notable films about religion — from “Ben-Hur” to “A Man for All Seasons” — were made many decades ago. Why do explicitly faith-centered films appear less often in mainstream Hollywood today? How does spirituality continue to shape storytelling in different ways? We answer all these questions and more.
Read More(ANALYSIS) For millions of Iranians — especially religious minorities — the central political question is no longer simply whether the Islamic Republic can reform itself. After decades of repression, including the criminalization of peaceful religious expression and the systematic restriction of independent faith communities, the deeper question is what kind of political future could realistically secure freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all Iranians.
Read More(ANALYSIS) One thing I am always probing the edges of is how deeply religion is embedded in each one of us. There’s a saying that bounces around the sociology of religion: “you may be done with religion but religion is not done with you.”
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