(ANALYSIS) The Strip has not vanished, and its “Sin City” label remains relevant. The Nevada Gaming Control Board reported $8.82 billion in gross gaming revenue (what operators keep after payouts) for the Strip in 2025. But the world has changed. Researchers struggle to describe online gambling today — from $100 billion global GGR in 2023 to a Gaming Compliance International estimate of $5.9 trillion in unregulated activity.
Read MoreDr. Charles Ramsey happened to be in Tehran when the country’s leader was in a helicopter crash and died. Soon, whisperings of ill intent began to emerge, and, of course, eyes fell on the American roaming around Iran. These days, he uses his experience to connect with international students at Baylor University.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Hundreds of pilgrims traveling to Mount Kailash were among those affected by devastating floods that struck the Nepal–Tibet border on Aug. 26. The floods destroyed the border crossing most commonly used to reach what is arguably the most revered holy mountain in the world, which sits in the Tibet autonomous region of China.
Read More(TRAVEL) I recently returned from leading an educational program in Thailand focusing on how Buddhists practice the religion in their day-to-day lives. The participants — Buddhist practitioners from North America and Europe — wanted to deepen their understanding and practice of the religion.
Read More(ESSAY) Taiwanese religious culture is a unique mix of Chinese Buddhism, Taoism and other Southeast Asian influences — and this blending is especially apparent at Taiwanese funerals. Now, as fewer Taiwanese folks have kids, raising pets instead, we can get a new perspective on these rites by observing the relatively new phenomenon of traditional pet funerals.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Every year, millions of pilgrims walk from the deserts of southern Iraq to the holy city of Karbala for Arbaeen, one of the largest annual pilgrimages in the world. In 2026, pilgrims will converge on Karbala on Aug. 5.
Read MoreIt’s a life-changing religious pilgrimage. The Camino De Santiago trail has attracted hundreds of thousands of tourists to Spain and surrounding countries each year. But scorching heatwaves, caused by climate change, are threatening the ancient tradition and forcing hikers to rethink their plans.
Read MoreMore than a century after a mysterious Bible was reportedly discovered among a crop of yams in a rain-soaked Nigerian field, testimonies of miraculous births, healings and deliverance continue to draw thousands of pilgrims to the sacred ground. The Araya Bible Site is especially popular during the Christmas and Easter season.
Read More(ESSAY) Cozy eateries and hole-in-the-wall cafes serve up flavorful stew alongside legendary potato-and-meat casseroles every Thursday night. The long lines are a testament to the delicious dish’s well-deserved reputation. Its history stretches back centuries and the dish has become a sabbath ritual.
Read MoreWe’re curious to know what sticks. So it’s time for a Weekend Plug-in pop quiz. When you click the right answer, the related column will appear.
Read MoreAcross India, another brutal summer stretches into its third month, killing workers and others caught in the heat. In a country where only 30% of people can afford air conditioning, faith communities — including Hindus, Christians and Sikhs — are stepping up to provide life-saving shade and water.
Read MoreFifty years ago, America celebrated its Bicentennial. The 200th anniversary of the nation’s founding occurred on a Sunday. For many, celebrations mixed faith, family and fireworks.
Read MoreTourists used to just stop in Lima on their way to Cuzco and Machu Picchu. These days, it has become a destination with trendy restaurants and restored historic buildings that tell the story of “The City Of Kings.” Founded in 1535 by Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro, Lima was once the most important city in South America.
Read MoreLos turistas solían detenerse en Lima únicamente de camino a Cuzco y Machu Picchu. Hoy en día, se ha convertido en un destino con restaurantes de moda y edificios históricos restaurados que cuentan la historia de la “Ciudad de los Reyes”. Fundada en 1535 por el conquistador español Francisco Pizarro, Lima fue en su día la ciudad más importante de Sudamérica.
Read MoreAs the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday on July 4th, the neo-Gothic cathedral has emerged once again as one of the nation’s most symbolic gathering places. It’s not just a church, but also a civic sanctuary where Americans wrestle with questions of identity, memory, grief, hope and democracy.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Once the cranes disappear, the basilica will cease from being an evolving construction project and instead become something more fixed — a monument subject to preservation battles, increased tourism pressures and the inevitable weight of history. Nonetheless, Pope Leo’s Spain trip, with a stop in Barcelona, represents the fulfillment of decades of hard work.
Read MoreLand of Milk and Honey Farms in Deep Gap, North Carolina — nestled in a mountainous region called the High Country — has found a niche: Faith-based agritourism, offering visitors nature, serenity and even cuddle sessions with lambs. The farm’s name was inspired by a Bible passage in which God promises his people “a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Read MoreIn the heart of Budapest lies a theater unlike any other. Founded 20 years ago, Gólem Theater stands as the only professional Jewish theater in Hungary. By blending humor with questions of identity, the theater seeks to engage audiences with a different side of Jewish culture.
Read MoreRelax with a beer at a cathedral? From beer festivals to bespoke brands, beer and cathedrals are becoming an increasingly popular pairing in the United Kingdom. Cathedrals have always had links with brewing. Most of English cathedrals, such as St. Edmundsbury in Suffolk, owe their origins to monastic orders, who used to brew their own beer.
Read MoreTravel to Cairo and you’ll find Muslims and Christians intertwining their faiths, borrowing one another’s saints and celebrating religious festivals side by side. The official iconography of Saint George, for example, shows a knight on horseback — an image that echoes ancient Egyptian depictions of Horus striking a hippopotamus with a spear.
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