Rastafarians celebrate Emperor Haile Selassie I because they believe he is the living God, or Jah, who appeared in human form to bring salvation to people of African descent. His coronation in 1930 was seen as the fulfillment of a prophecy that a Black king would be crowned in Africa, signaling the beginning of deliverance from oppression.
Read More(ANALYSIS) In his first major interview as pope, Leo XIV offers a glimpse into a papacy shaped by his American identity and a diplomatic, morally grounded approach. Speaking to Crux for an upcoming biography, the first U.S.-born pontiff addressed global issues including President Trump, artificial intelligence, and the crisis in Gaza.
Read MoreIt’s the Jewish High Holiday season, and Jews the world over are preparing to visit their local synagogues — for community, for prayer, and to hear the arresting, soulful sounds of the shofar. An animal horn — typically a ram’s horn — used as a wind instrument, the shofar is featured over 70 times in the Torah.
Read MoreFor nearly two years, the ongoing war in Gaza has disrupted one of the most sacred traditions for thousands of Christians worldwide — pilgrimages to the Holy land. Israel’s war in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, has led to the near collapse of a once-thriving pilgrimage and tourism sectors within Israel and the Palestinian territories. This disruption came some three years after the same pilgrimages were affected by the pandemic.
Read More(ANALYSIS) As Algeria tries to assert itself on the international stage as a civilizational bridge, the country’s Christian community continues to face renewed challenges. In late July, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune traveled to Italy to meet with both Pope Leo XIV and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The latter meeting produced a joint initiative to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for several historic sites in Algeria linked to early Christianity.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Recognition of a Palestinian state is likely to dominate proceedings at the U.N. beginning this week when world leaders will gather for the annual general assembly. Of the 193 existing U.N member states, 147 already recognize a Palestinian state. But that number is expected to swell in the coming days, with several more countries expected to officially announce such recognition.
Read MoreA 3,000-year-old basalt stone bearing the earliest known extrabiblical reference to the “House of David” is on display at the Museum of the Bible through Nov. 3 at no cost to viewers, the museum has announced.
Read MoreChina has introduced sweeping new regulations that strictly control how clergy from the country’s five state-recognized religions can operate online. The 18-article “Code of Conduct for Religious Clergy on the Internet” bans livestreaming, social media preaching, AI-generated religious content and all online outreach to minors.
Read MoreIn the run-up to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Rabbi Chase Foster was staring down three sermons, a war in Gaza approaching its second anniversary and a congregation split on how to talk about it.
Read More(ANALYSIS) As Bangladesh grapples with political instability for a year since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee the country following mass student-led protests in August 2024, Islamist radicals have been trying to make a comeback in this South Asian nation of 173 million people.
Read MoreThe only humans yet to set foot on the Moon are American astronauts in the series of six Apollo landings that ended 53 years ago. But last January, President Donald Trump’s Inaugural Address proclaimed a far more extraordinary goal: “We will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars. . . . Americans are explorers, builders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and pioneers. The spirit of the frontier is written into our hearts. The call of the next great adventure resounds from within our souls.”
Read MoreThe monastery is in the news again, and for unhappy reasons connected to the court decision. Under pressure from Greek Orthodox leaders internationally, the monastery's head, Archbishop Damianos, announced that he would resign as of last Friday. Meanwhile, on Sept. 8, the Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem unanimously resolved that Damianos be already deposed.
Read More(ANALYSIS) What do Joe Rogan, Charlie Sheen and Charlie Kirk have in common? On many levels, the correct answer is, “Not much.” And I never thought that I would be discussing Sheen in the context of someone like Kirk who, whatever you thought of his MAGA messages, was maturing into an increasingly effective public apologist on topics of faith, family and public life.
Read More(ANALYSIS) It is entirely accurate to say that Christianity continues to thrive as an international religion, spanning vast regions across the world. But it is also necessary to acknowledge that the global Christian community is not without its travails. And it is increasingly necessary to take a careful look at the “world’s largest religious group,” revealing not only thriving communities across several continents, but also increasing numbers of endangered religious believers who continue to face real threats to their survival.
Read MoreAfter 40-plus years on the Godbeat, let me offer this observation: It’s extremely difficult to write about ancient, complex, often mysterious religious beliefs and doctrines in language that is both accurate and easily understandable in the mainstream media.
Read MoreA majority of Americans do not believe God plays a role in presidential elections — a view that has remained consistent across several cycles, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. The survey found that 49% said God does not get involved in presidential elections, while another 14% say they don’t believe in God at all. About a third said election results are part of God’s overall plan.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Leo Tolstoy spent half a century avoiding arguably the most essential truth of them all: Everything comes to an end. If that’s true, which it is, what’s the point? He’d conquered every peak the world could name. “War and Peace” made him immortal. “Anna Karenina” made him rich. Critics worshipped him in tongues he didn’t even speak. Russian aristocrats name-dropped him like Scripture.
Read More(ANALYSIS) For now, it would be premature to declare that that moment has arrived. Yet it would be incautious, too, to ignore the warning signs. The latest terrorism in Jerusalem may not be the turning point. But unless the trajectory changes — unless there is a serious Israeli effort to address Palestinian grievances, rather than inflame them — the explosion everyone fears may soon become impossible to prevent.
Read MoreAs Southern Baptist churches in Metro New Orleans commemorate Katrina on Friday, they’ll do so with a New Orleans Baptist Association of churches that is more diverse and more united than it was when the waters dirtied the city.
Read More(ANALYSIS) With two dramatic actions, the “Religious Right” is suddenly prodding the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its historic 2015 Obergefell decision, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Such a radical and unpopular switch after only 10 years might seem implausible — but a close parallel already happened in the 2022 Dobbs decision.
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