St. 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.
Read MoreIn Hulu’s “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” half of the show’s reality TV cast are unceremoniously disinvited from their friend’s baby blessing party. Their alleged transgression? Not being Mormon enough. The episode hits on a larger cultural trend: Mormons appear to have grown less religious, according to a new study.
Read MoreFarmers were not burning fields out of ignorance about the harm it caused — they were burning because it was what they had always seen done. The answer? The connecting of agricultural lessons with spiritual truths. For Delhi, whose winter air quality crisis is inseparable from what happens in Punjab’s fields each October, that lesson carries direct and urgent relevance.
Read MoreThe pope’s upcoming South America trip will temporarily double the population of his adopted hometown in Peru. With limited hotel capacity compared to Lima or Cusco, the Chiclayo government is preparing the residents to have rooms available for the visitors who will arrive to see Leo. As part of Leo’s first apostolic journey to South America, he will visit 10 cities in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
Read MoreThe pope’s upcoming South America trip will temporarily double the population of his adopted hometown in Peru. With limited hotel capacity compared to Lima or Cusco, the Chiclayo government is preparing the residents to have rooms available for the visitors who will arrive to see Leo.
Read MoreActivist Malala Yousafzai returned to New York this week to discuss the paperback release of her memoir “Finding My Way” — but the conversation moved beyond her story of attending college and growing up. At the center was the issue that has defined much of Yousafzai’s public life: The Taliban’s treatment of Afghan women and girls and its use of religion to justify restrictions on their rights.
Read MoreWalk along the River Thames, and you can encounter thousands of years of history through artifacts that wash ashore. Some “mudlarkers” spend significant time looking for the treasures — and now a nearby cathedral has named its first Mudlark-in-Residence to help visitors learn about the area’s history.
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 MoreA church in New York City offers visitors a place to find peace as they mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11. St. Nicholas is a small Greek Orthodox parish that was destroyed when the South Tower collapsed. More than two decades later, the church has been completely rebuilt and is now a national shrine.
Read MoreBuddhism is experiencing a revival in northern Bangladesh as thousands of Indigenous Oraon people have embraced the faith since the mid-1990s. Supporters see it as a return to an ancient religious heritage, though the movement faces challenges, including a shortage of monks and criticism from some religious leaders.
Read MoreAs many dioceses in Europe and North America continue to contend with declining numbers of priests, church leaders in Kenya face the opposite problem. So many young men want to become priests that seminaries have to waitlist applicants, build more dorms and look for spots at seminaries in neighboring countries.
Read MoreThe Manchester City striker — long one the game’s most recognizable figures — went for a new look ahead of Sunday’s Premier League opening game against Bournemouth. Gone were his long blond locks. Instead, Haaland chopped off his hair for a buzz cut.
Read MoreThe legendary country singer, songwriter and entertainer died on Tuesday at 80. Raised in a deeply Christian family in Tennessee, she credited her faith in God for guiding her life, music and philanthropy. Her enduring legacy includes countless hit songs, films, charitable work and a message of hope.
Read MoreThe falling birth rate across many parts of the world has become an issue that is leading educational institutions around the world to analyze its impact on enrollment. In the United States, some schools have closed their doors because they don’t have enough students. In Latin America, the “demographic cliff” is becoming just as severe.
Read MoreBoko Haram, an Islamic terrorist group, warps Muslim theology into an extremist ideology in order to attract young men to its ranks. Now, a unique program aims to de-radicalize former fighters through counseling and showing them how to live a peaceful Muslim life.
Read MoreThey’ve survived ISIS, genocides and persecution. Their homeland has been destroyed. Now the Yazidis in Iraq are rallying together to build their own soccer stadium — a symbol of resilience and hope despite their difficult past.
Read MoreOn hills just east of Ramallah is the village of Taybeh. Its population has fallen to 1,200 today, while more than 80% of the town's sons and daughters now live abroad. What sets Taybeh apart from every other village in the West Bank is that all of its residents remain Christian — Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic and Latin — making it a symbol of a presence that is fading but refusing to disappear.
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