Faith emerged as one of the defining storylines of this election, influencing how candidates presented themselves, how voters understood issues and how young people connected their personal beliefs with their political choices. From James Talarico’s progressive interpretation of Christianity to Abdul El-Sayed, a practicing Muslim, religion became more than personal identity.
Read MoreThe results demonstrate that faith and politics often intersect in various ways. Moral questions are often put to voters, candidates’ interpretations of religious teachings and debates over the constitutional place of religion in public life were all on the ballot this year. These results are a prelude as voters prepare for the 2028 presidential race.
Read MorePrague Zoo’s Hindu ashram — built in 2013 as an educational attraction — has evolved into a living religious space. Visitors toss coins, perform rituals and treat its statues as sacred. The site raises questions about cultural representation, religious authenticity and appropriation in a European tourist attraction.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Pope Leo XIV’s playful balancing act between his papal neutrality and his enduring Villanova loyalties offered more than a lighthearted moment at the Vatican. The gathering of Villanova and Notre Dame in Rome demonstrated how sports can transcend school rivalries and national boundaries, bringing people together through shared traditions, faith and community.
Read MoreThe rising price of weddings are discouraging men from marrying. Religious leaders said they worry the trend may undermine family stability. A Ugandan Demographics and Health Survey report from 2011 found that 38% of men ages 15 to 49 have never been married, compared with 24% of women in the same age group. The report noted that men tend to marry at much older ages than women.
Read MoreFrom ghostly monks and spectral nuns to unexplained footsteps and phantom screams, Britain’s ancient religious sites are steeped in supernatural folklore. Discover how centuries of faith, conflict, burial traditions and architectural grandeur have inspired haunting legends that continue to captivate ghost hunters and Halloween enthusiasts alike.
Read MoreReligious participation in the United States is showing signs of stability following years of decline, but new research from Pew also suggests that reports of a religious revival among young adults may tell only part of the story. For now, these latest findings point to a recovery in religious attendance alongside continued long-term uncertainty about faith in America.
Read MoreOver the last few years, young educated adults are finding Catholicism more attractive than other forms of Christianity. Even at secular universities, these young men and women have settled on the Catholic Church, drawn in by its 2000-year-old intellectual tradition and beauty. Data from the prayer app Hallow shows that colleges saw students involved with Catholicism jump 115%.
Read MoreChristians make up roughly 1% of Japan’s population, and churches are increasingly multicultural, welcoming immigrants from neighboring countries. However, national politics have taken a decidedly nationalistic turn in recent years — worrying Christians that they will once again be ostracized and even face persecution.
Read MoreThe latest grant round drew 466 applicants and includes the program’s first recipient in Arkansas, as historic houses of worship seek funding to preserve their buildings and community services.
Read MoreThere used to be only a few regionalized mainline churches to choose from and husbands were once in total control of family decisions. When the African continent started to rapidly urbanize, family dynamics changed and it has become common for marriages to form across different church denominations, sparking a trend called “two-church families.”
Read MorePope Leo XIV underwent surgery on Tuesday in Rome that confirmed he has lung cancer. Doctor’s removed the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung after tests confirmed the diagnosis. A Vatican statement made no mention of treatment going forward. The Vatican, however, said doctors were not currently speaking of chemotherapy or other therapies.
Read MoreThe highest peak in Zimbabwe, standing at 2,592 meters above sea level, has been the source of local intrigue for decades: People have gone missing, strange natural phenomena have created inexplicable mystical experiences, and now, some are even claiming the mountain is home to UFOs. Whatever the case, it has attracted curious travelers from around the world.
Read MoreMore than 9,000 Anglican churches and chapels across the United Kingdom participate in the A Rocha U.K. Eco-Church movement, which encourages congregations to care for the environment around their buildings. This has become a bigger part of church outreach, especially in the six years since the pandemic.
Read MoreAn anti-Islam rally promoted as a “Christian Crusader March” drew hundreds of demonstrators and counterdemonstrators to this majority Arab American city of Dearborn, Michigan. A few participants carried assault rifles as police in riot gear patrolled. The Sunday after the recent protest, minister Wayne Beason felt compelled to speak up for his Muslim neighbors.
Read MorePuppies in the pews? Churches worldwide are gearing up to celebrate St. Francis, patron saint of animals, by inviting pets, including goats, cats, tortoises and more into their buildings to receive a special blessing — chaotic comedy often ensues.
Read MoreSt. Francis has inspired people for generations — and now, on the 800th anniversary of his death, he will inspire people once more, though a moving composition about his life.
Read MoreA private Christian college in a historically red state isn’t usually a campaign stop for a Democratic candidate. But James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Texas, did just that, making it a priority to recently visit Baylor University, the largest Baptist university in the nation. Talarico’s Christian faith — combined with his progressive agenda — has made him an appealing candidate.
Read MoreExperts said that the Taliban is using women’s own Muslim faith to “dehumanize” them. “The very religion that gives them strength is being used against them,” one expert said. In a country where only Sunni Muslims are considered citizens, religious minorities increasingly face danger, imprisonment and even death.
Read MoreTwenty-five years after 9/11, American Muslim communities face record levels of anti-Islamic bias, attacks and political hostility. From Michigan’s police partnerships to Texas’s legal battles, mosques are strengthening security and grassroots vigilance, seeking to protect worshippers while preserving spaces of faith, fellowship and belonging.
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