(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 decades ago. Why do explicitly faith-centered films appear less often in mainstream Hollywood today and how spirituality continues to shape storytelling in different ways.
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 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) 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 More(ANALYSIS) “Write what you know,” is advice given to many who feel inspired to take up the pen — or, these days, sit at a computer. When it comes to writing about religion, though, including the Catholic Church, it’s amazing how little some writers know (including those who are Catholic themselves). This is evident, where scenes depict liturgies or other expressions of faith and get them wrong.
Read MoreStained glass is a highlight of English cathedrals, with many windows dating to medieval times. Tourists admire famous examples like York Cathedral’s Rose Window, St. George’s Chapel’s West Window in Windsor and Basil Spence’s Baptistry window at Coventry. In a recent public campaign, Carlisle Cathedral’s magnificent East Window was voted the nation’s favorite.
Read MoreThese stories tumbled into public view in a court filing in a lawsuit against Laurie and Harvest. The filing consolidated the 23 lawsuits filed by survivors of alleged childhood sexual abuse by another former Harvest pastor, Paul Havsgaard. As reported previously by The Roys Report, the men and women who grew up in church-funded homes in Romania accuse Laurie and Harvest of covering up years of sexual abuse.
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 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 MoreThe Pew Research Center surveyed thousands of adults in 25 countries and found that 53 percent of Americans said their fellow countrymen had “somewhat bad” or “very bad” morals. Those findings broke with the international trend: In every other country surveyed, the majority said that others in their country have “somewhat good” or “very good” morals.
Read More(ANALYSIS) This year’s nominees’ bias toward personal faith over organized religion reflects the move our own society is making in that direction. It remains, however, to be seen whether that spirituality will evolve to meet the challenges of hyper-individualism, or if organized religion will simply outlast it. The Academy Awards will be handed out March 15 in Los Angeles.
Read MoreThe Rev. Jesse Jackson was honored at the South Carolina Statehouse as national leaders, civil rights veterans and family members paid tribute to his life and legacy. Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden were invited to attend his funeral on Friday in Chicago, an event billed as “The People’s Celebration.”
Read MoreThe summit unfolded against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical tension, coinciding with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the prospect of regime change in a country gripped by Shi’a rule for nearly 50 years. For many of the attendees who flew to Malta, regime change in Iran is the start of a new era.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Understanding this distinction can help get past oversimplified narratives. The Middle East’s conflicts are not simply ancient religious feuds. They are modern political struggles shaped by history, identity and political interests. Here’s what you need to know about Sunni and Shia Islam — and how it impacts Iran and the current situation there.
Read MoreVenezuela's president has been in U.S. custody for two months now. But has the situation in Venezuela improved, and what does it mean for religious freedom? We talk with human rights experts about concerns for Latin American liberty at large.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Three rounds of nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran failed to persuade President Trump that a solution to the nuclear impasse lay in diplomacy, rather than military action. A perceived lack of progress on Feb 26, was enough to prompt Trump to green-light a massive onslaught of missiles that has degraded Iran and killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Read More(ANALYSIS) An intriguing religious issue is raised by an odd space-age colloquy in mid-February between Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Out of the blue, political podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen asked Obama, “Are aliens real?” He immediately replied, “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them” and he knows of no proof that extraterrestrials exist.
Read MoreWith a U.S.-Israel bombardment underway and President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly pressing for regime change, related questions now loom large: What are the Iranian people prepared for — and who, exactly, is positioned to lead them if the Islamic Republic falls?
Read More(ANALYSIS) Imagine a world where crimes are stopped before they even take place. Science fiction has imagined this world, most famously in the 2002 film “Minority Report,” where society can predict criminal acts and allow authorities to intervene in advance. Thanks to AI, this dystopian reality could be coming to your neighborhood in the not-so-distant future.
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