Posts in Religion
Italian voters choose populism, break from social Catholic teaching

The March 4 vote in Italy swept to victory a wave of populist candidates – including Matteo Salvini of the Lega party – who campaigned heavily against immigration. As Italians, like many across Europe, become more agnostic, their politics morph. Political observers say a new generation of a more secular electorate have started to differentiate between religious obligations and political desires.

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Is Predominantly Catholic Philippines Ready for Divorce?

At a time when the Philippine culture is showing and allowing openness to more liberal concepts and lifestyles that are tagged as the “new normal,” there appears to be a persistent aversion to divorce from the majority of the population, primarily by members of the Catholic and Christian faith.

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Dr. Billy Graham will be remembered as both a man of faith, and a messenger of freedom

Not a formal scholar or theologian, Billy Graham was instead in many ways a purveyor of good tidings. Over and over again, he offered what he avowed to be the transformative power of personal faith in Jesus Christ. Graham made that clear and simple proclamation to an estimated 215 million people — through hundreds of crusades and evangelistic rallies over the course of his long life. He reached millions more through broadcast media.

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Connecting with God in the digital age

(COMMENTARY) As Christians enter the season of Lent, the church's mission is as paramount as ever – to spread the Gospel and inform parishioners, through news stories and commentary, about the politics and culture around us. The mainstream press is not the least interested in such a mission – so it has largely become the role of the religious-based press – and the communication tools of the 21st century – to fill the void.

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Anti-Catholic bias in the Guardian?

(COMMENTARY) An article in the Guardian about Catholic resistance to relaxing a Good Friday drinks ban has no Catholic voices. What this piece does have is assumptions. It assumes what the stance of the Catholic Church might be and that all right thinking people will agree with the author’s worldview. George Conger argues that readers are left an example of agitprop, which fails the basic tests of sound journalism.

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Absent Religious Liberty, No End in Sight for Iran's Protests

Angry uprisings flared up in 80 cities across Iran since late December, until being violently shut down by the Revolutionary Guards. The protests have deeply shaken the religious elite who rule Iran. They’ve also exposed the state’s systemic dysfunction, as well as widespread rage and resentment among Iran’s populace — most notably among the poor and disadvantaged.

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Kenyan atheists in tough battle for recognition

When he's not debating Christians and Muslims on social media, Atheists in Kenya President (AIK), Harrison Mumia can be found fighting his battles out in court. His fight is to prove that Kenya is a 'secular state' and that atheists should have the same rights as other religions to express their beliefs and viewpoints.

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Searching for some facts about St. Matthew and those mysterious Epiphany magi

(COMMENTARY) Several centuries after the birth of Jesus, Syrian scribes offered the names for the wise men who came to Bethlehem. Over the centuries, images of them have shaped countless Nativity scenes, church pageants and carols. Comparing the simple biblical account with many colorful "Three Kings" stories, is rather like comparing the humble, pious, 3rd century St. Nicholas of Myra with the Santa Claus found in Hollywood flicks.

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“Are We Not Humans?” Thousands of transgenders in Kashmir are fighting for their rights and against social stigma

While the transgender community in the West has scored political victories and turned public opinion in favor of more rights, 4.8 million members of the transgender community in India still struggle to fight for their rights and against social stigma. 

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Pope Francis and the media’s ongoing fallibility

(COMMENTARY) With the only exception being President Donald Trump, no world leader gets as much press coverage as Pope Francis. His every utterance is able to fill a reporters’ notepad but not all papal statements are created equal. What the pope writes in an encyclical has one degree of importance as does what he says to crowds in St. Peter’s Square. Both carry a lot more weight than the soundbite you saw on CNN, but none of them should be considered infallible.

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Religious freedom is a fundamental right, not legalized discrimination

(COMMENTARY) Some would have you believe that religious exemptions are nothing more than the government sanctioning irrational hatred, but free exercise claims have been respected in our country’s history since the founding of America. This is not a necessary evil that we should put up with, but something that gives the United States its very vitality. 

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Lottie Moon: The feisty patron saint of global Baptist missions

(OPINION) Lottie Moon was a pioneer missionary and educator in the late 19th Century who remained steadfast and true to her calling. She let God use her in a remarkable way during her lifetime and her work is still touching people around the world.

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