(ANALYSIS) On Sept. 13, 1993, the world watched as Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat shook hands on the White House lawn. It was a stunning moment. The famous handshake between adversaries marked the beginning of what became known as the Oslo Accords, a framework for talks between Israeli and Palestinian representatives, mediated by U.S. diplomats.
Read MoreMany Americans may think Buddhism is a philosophy tied to mindfulness and yoga — but across much of Southeast Asia, being Buddhist is an important part of national identity, a new study reveals. The same is also true of the region’s Muslim-majority nations.
Read MoreThe crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, or “MBS,” is bringing a new vision of a “moderate, balanced” Saudi Islam by minimizing the role of Saudi religious institutions once seen as critical to the monarchy.
Read MoreIn the devastating Himalayan floods in India’s Himachal Pradesh, Sikh temples have emerged as bastions of support and assistance for those affected by the calamity. As nature unleashes its fury, gurdwaras — places of assembly and worship for Sikhs — across regions hit by flooding have opened their doors, hearts and kitchens to provide essential services.
Read MoreDhanak of Humanity was founded in 2004 by Asif Iqbal, who started it as a support group for interfaith couples in India, aimed at providing guidance and assistance to those facing challenges due to societal prejudices surrounding interreligious unions.
Read MoreThe New Orleans Saints won their season opener in dramatic fashion — defeating the Tennessee Titans 16-15 — but it was linebacker Demario Davis who stole the spotlight after the game with an amazing story of faith. Instead of talking about Sunday’s win, Davis took the time to thank God after his 4-year-old daughter Carly-Faith had suffered a seizure two days earlier.
Read MoreSpiritually active, governance-engaged conservatives will gather in Washington, D.C., from Sept. 15-17 to hear from speakers about issues of concern to them in the hopes of learning how to respond from a biblical worldview. Candidates for the Republican nominations for president will be attending, including former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Read MoreThe horrific events of that day also reveal a story of heroism, hope, love and sacrifice. On that very day and the weeks that followed, New York became a city of quiet heroes. Tim Brown was one of them, though he doesn't consider himself a hero. Brown, a decorated 20-year FDNY firefighter, survived the attack on the World Trade Center and was also a first responder to the 1993 terrorist attack at the building complex.
Read MoreThese days, the 56-year-old Sanders is known less for what he did on the field and more for what he’s doing on the sidelines and what he’s saying in the locker room as coach of the University of Colorado’s football team. Sanders is also making headlines for his Christianity and how he’s used his faith to motivate himself and his players.
Read More(EXPLAINER) The Modi-led government is likely to bring a resolution for changing India’s official name during the special session of Parliament that’s scheduled for Sept. 18. Critics of the move have said the name change is in line with Modi’s Hindu nationalist messaging, while also stripping the country of names tied to colonialism.
Read MoreA recent ruling in Uganda that emphasizes proof of adultery in order for courts to grant a divorce has stirred a hot debate among Christians and lawyers. In the High Court ruling regarding a divorce case filed by a man against his wife, Justice John Eudes Keitirima noted that without proof of adultery, the court would not grant a divorce.
Read MoreA recent rise in activism in Iran has added a new chapter to the country’s long-standing history of murals and other public art. But as the sentiments being expressed in those works have changed, the government’s view of them has shifted, too.
Read MoreWhile assuming someone’s religion is an extremely personal question and often quite jarring in public settings, it’s also a common practice in Pakistan, a Muslim majority nation where religious questions are raised around vegetarian lifestyles. In recent years, the flip side to this debate has also arisen, with an increasing number of Muslims questioning the need to sacrifice animals on holidays such as Eid al-Adha.
Read MoreCatholics in Kenya commemorated the life of American missionary John Anthony Kaiser, a Catholic priest and human rights defender. He was particularly vocal in condemning politically motivated tribal clashes during the 1990s and whose assassination in the year 2000 shocked the country.
Read MoreSingle men are often overlooked for preaching roles in Churches of Christ — typically, but not always, for practical reasons — but they could be the perfect fit for many congregations.
Read MoreHarding School of Theology in Memphis, Tennessee, the only freestanding seminary among Churches of Christ, will move to the main campus of Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, beginning in fall 2024.
Read MoreEgypt’s holiest monastery is now also home to one of the largest statues of Mary in the world. Located at the Virgin Mary Monastery in the village of Durunka, some 250 miles from the capital, Cairo, the statue stands at 28 feet in height atop a 46-foot pedestal.
Read MoreMany U.S. churches are rebounding from the pandemic, but many challenges remain, a new report reveals. The study, funded by the Lilly Endowment and led by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, offered a snapshot of this evolving landscape.
Read MoreOn the morning of Aug. 7, 1998, two powerful explosions ripped apart the U.S. embassy in Nairobi, sending debris and glass shrapnel across the central business district and beyond. In the end, some 200 Kenyans lay dead and another 4,000 people injured as a result of the attack. At the same time, another attack at the U.S. embassy in Dar es Salaam in neighboring Tanzania killed 11.
Read MoreThe growth of Christianity in China has stagnated over the past decade, while one-third of the country’s adult population identifies as Buddhist. A new Pew Research Center report found that only 10% of Chinese adults identified with any religious group — but the number rose significantly when survey questions focused on spirituality, customs and superstitions.
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