What can news consumers learn from this complicated drama? Surely it is a commentary on the age in which we live that many Americans laughed when they read the early New York Times headline about the terrorist attack that fizzled near the New York home of Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Read MoreInevitably, international reporting trips produce a memorable moment, be it frightening, frantic or funny. Sometimes, the notable occurrence relates to the actual story. Other times, an indelible personal experience stands out.
Read MoreSports gambling doesn’t have a specific season, but certain times of the year are considered to be its Super Bowl or March Madness. Crowning the National Football League champion remains the biggest single-game bet among Americans. The next few weeks, however, bring a tsunami of gambling due not only to March Madness’ popularity, but also the sheer number of games on which to wager.
Read More(ANALYSIS) “KPop Demon Hunters,” a global hit, has sparked debate among Christians over whether its themes are spiritually dangerous. The controversy reflects deeper cultural shifts in Korea and the U.S., where declining organized religion and rising spirituality are widening divides between traditional beliefs and a newer ethos.
Read More(ANALYSIS) As the American and Israeli war with Iran unfolds, some American Christians are speaking of the conflict in biblical terms — mapping end-time prophecies on to current events in the Middle East. In a sermon on March 1, for example, John Hagee, founder of Christians United for Israel, described the war as part of a divine plan.
Read More(ANALYSIS) During the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 5, Paula White-Cain, senior adviser to the White House Office of Faith, introduced President Donald Trump as “the greatest champion of faith that we have ever had in the executive branch.” Taking the podium after her, Trump declared, “I’ve done more for religion than any other president.”
Read MoreEvery morning begins the same for Paul Ridlon, who also goes by Magnus de Rhuddlan. No matter the weather, he steps out of the round yurt where he lives in Portland, Maine, and lights incense at his southern altar, a tree stump topped with two crane statues and a figurine of the Egyptian god Horus.
Read MoreIt’s a rupture that may not be reversible. Conservative Anglicans from around the world voted to part ways with the church’s leadership in England. When Sarah Mullally — the first woman chosen as the Archbishop of Canterbury — is formally installed later this month, she will be inheriting a church already reorganizing itself without her.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Alasdair MacIntyre’s journey from Marxism to Catholicism wasn’t a retreat from critique but its completion. He concluded that moral language collapsed without God, that virtue needs tradition and that societies survive only when they share a vision of what human life is ultimately for.
Read MoreWith the Oscars being awarded this Sunday, Religion Unplugged’s Culture Editor Jillian Cheney and chief film critic Joseph Holmes sat down with theologian Paul Anleitner, an author and the President and CEO of Goodmakers. Cheney, Holmes and Anleitner discussed the spiritual and religious themes of some of this year’s most-beloved nominees.
Read MoreIt’s a modern solution to an age-old issue. Many centuries-old monasteries are turning to Etsy-style e-commerce and renovating their convents to appeal to the growing Airbnb crowd. Like other religious establishments in Spain, Catholic nuns have had to think of new ways to generate income in the face of skyrocketing maintenance costs.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Our polarized era features unique and quasi-religious devotion toward President Donald Trump from his MAGA base, set against profound hostility from foes of his words and deeds. Church leaders in that second camp, mostly mainline and liberal Protestants, have issued a new plea worth noting for the extent of its supporters and a markedly fierce denunciation of America’s “cruel and oppressive government.”
Read MoreUntil recently, DNA technology was not widely available in most African countries. However, in the past few years, it has not only become widely available but also increasingly affordable for many. At the same time, various social media platforms are abuzz with cases of ‘paternity fraud’, creating increased demand for these tests.
Read MoreThe report critiqued other branches of the U.S. government that have undercut protections for religious freedom. It criticized, for example, cuts to USAID programs, since many of those programs were specifically aimed at protecting religious freedom.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader on Sunday marks a pivotal moment for the country’s political and religious future — and for the religious minorities who have long lived under the constraints of the Islamic Republic’s theocratic government. As the war rages on, it remains to be seen what his elevation means for Iran and the region.
Read MoreBarack Obama honored civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, praising his lifelong commitment to justice, equality, and hope. From confronting segregation to building the Rainbow Coalition and running for president, Jackson answered the call to serve. Obama credited him with inspiring generations and expanding American democracy, urging others to follow Jackson’s example and say, “Send me.”
Read More(OPINION) As a journalist, I’ve met thousands of people over more than three decades, and heard a lot of … interesting theories about life, spirituality, current events and so forth.
Read MoreThis five-year housing target — one of the boldest by a British government in a generation — was enshrined in the Labour Party’s promises and embedded in policy through planning reforms and legislative frameworks looking at speeding up development and cutting through bureaucratic inertia. However, will there be room for houses of worship to be built?
Read More(ANALYSIS) Following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country has begun a rare leadership transition overseen by an interim council and the Assembly of Experts. As clerics consider successors such as Mojtaba Khamenei and Alireza Arafi, the process highlights how political loyalty often outweighs religious credentials in selecting Iran’s supreme leader.
Read MoreIt’s a tough time for Christian farmer Jorge Sanchez. A U.S. blockade on oil shipments to this Caribbean island nation has spurred Cuba’s deepening humanitarian crisis.
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