A group of Yazidi journalists visited the Religion Unplugged offices in New York, hosted by the U.S. State Department, to talk about the current state of affairs in Iraq for the persecuted people group.
Read More(OPINION) To say that the Catholic church is at a crossroads isn’t an exaggeration. But fierce arguments between the doctrinal left and right on a host of issues — from Pope Francis’ recent choice of cardinals to how clergy address social issues — are as intense as ever.
Read More(OPINION) When Communists in the North banned Christianity, the faith surged in popularity in the South. Many South Koreans see parallels with Confucianism’s strong gender roles, support for traditional families and respect for authority and want what America has: wealth, freedom and “divine blessings.”
Read MoreThousands of Kashmiri youth have been arrested on vague charges under a law that allows detentions up to two years before a trial. We spoke to their families.
Read More(OPINION) It’s back to school time, but media coverage of Catholic schools — unless there’s a scandal — is lacking. Given that some Catholic schools in low-income neighborhoods outperforming public schools, private religious schools deserve more coverage.
Read More(OPINION) For a Christian satire publication, fact and fiction are getting harder to distinguish from one another and politics is harder to separate from religion.
Read More(OPINION) The international community should brace for serious trouble if India continues to revoke citizenship of people who settled there after fleeing Bangladesh.
Read MoreNetanyahu has planned to visit the site of the bloody 1929 riots that killed nearly 70 Jews and has fueled tension with Palestine ever since.
Read MoreAfter prayers at their mosque, hundreds of Kashmiris shouted slogans for India to leave Kashmir and prevented security forces from entering the area. Security forces responded with tear gas, pellet fire and chili grenades.
Read MoreThe 22-year-old Catholic Agnes Chow and her evangelical colleague Joshua Wong were arrested and released on bail Friday on charges of unlawful assembly. This weekend marks five years since China restricted free elections in Hong Kong and pro-democracy protests dubbed the Umbrella Revolution brought the young activists to fame.
Read MoreThe Dalit and indigenous Indians in eastern India who converted to Christianity were attacked by Hindu extremists in 2008. The survivors are still waiting for a government investigation and courts to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Read More(OPINION) Some of Israel’s most devout citizens are at the heart of a major political rift over the country’s compulsory military service. The issue could shape the elections next month.
Read More(OPINION) What role should our politics play in our relationship with God? Church leaders offer some guidance.
Read More(OPINION) Over the weekend, Israeli forces struck an Iranian base in Syria after intelligence of “killer drones” there. While Iran’s hostility increases, Middle East observers should remember that many of Iran’s leaders have particular minority Shia beliefs about preparing the world for the reappearance of a hidden imam.
Read MoreThis Indonesian province has a rich history of a matrilineal society that’s shifting from its indigenous culture toward a more austere form of Islam. Cultural and theological divides are widening with less openness to discussion.
Read More(OPINION) The United Nations has established for the first time ever on Aug. 22 a day to draw attention to people groups around the world violently persecuted for their religious beliefs: Yazidis in Syria and Iraq, Christians in Nigeria, faith minorities in Pakistan, Rohingya in Myanmar, Uighur Muslims in China and others.
Read More(OPINION) Italy’s government has been plunged into chaos after the nationalist-populist coalition that had struck fear across the European establishment collapsed. It means that Italians could potentially be going to the ballot box once again this fall. It’s also a reminder of how powerful the Catholic church remains in determining the country’s politics.
Read MoreAfter India’s unilateral decision to rid the Muslim-majority region Kashmir’s special autonomy from the constitution, some are angry and fear a rise in Hindu settlement, while others cheer the move as a way to help Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan and Kashmir.
Read MoreA group of village councils in North India decided to tackle caste discrimination by changing their names — stripping their postal addresses, name plates, social media accounts and vehicle windshields of caste markers.
Read MoreAs the Indian government’s communication ban reaches two weeks, it announced that 50,000 landline connections have been restored for calls after crowds surged last week to the few phones available from government offices. Internet and mobile networks remain shut.
Read More