Going meatless for Jesus: In Brazil, an Adventist University’s beans feed thousands

Seventh Day Adventists advocate vegetarian lifestyles for a healthy body and spiritual life, countering the mainstream food culture of meat that Brazil is known for.

5 reasons the world needs a wake-up call on religious persecution

(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.

Survivors of terror are key to the fight against it

(OPINION) To strategize effectively against terrorism, we must listen to people directly hurt by it.

Don’t underestimate the Vatican’s power in Italian politics

(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.

Anger in Kashmir, thanks in Jammu: South Asia's Hindu-Muslim conflict heats up

After 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.

Evangelicals are parsing through 'purity culture'

(OPINION) Critiques of purity culture have come back into Christian media after “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” author Joshua Harris announced his separation from his wife and “deconstruction” of his Christian faith.

These 24 Indian villages are eliminating caste names to fight discrimination

A 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.

Is the body of Christ 'too magical' for the secular press to cover?

(OPINION) What we learned this month is that polls, survey and studies involving politics and health — despite their polarizing natures — are fair game. The ones around faith — and those around a specific belief — are not. The latest example? The Catholic belief in transubstantiation.

Analysis, North America, Religion, OpinionClemente LisiAugust 20, 2019Clemente Lisi, Roman Catholic, Christianity, communion, Jesus, Jesus Christ, OpinionComment

Kashmiris worry about their future as Indian government relaxes lockdown

As 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.

Being shunned from the Jehovah’s Witnesses led me to reporting

(REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK) When Joy Notoma attended a workshop for spiritual abuse recovery, she stumbled upon a story bigger than she imagined and left acting for journalism school.

Old Testament scholars are defending Bathsheba amid #MeToo and #ChurchToo

(COMMENTARY) Many Bible reference works favored by conservative Protestants question whether Israelite King David’s love interest Bathsheba participated in the sexual affair while other scholars conclude she was a victim of rape.

Comrades vs. Catholics: The difference in media coverage

(OPINION) The Democratic Socialists of America held their convention last week in Atlanta. By coincidence, the Knights of Columbus held their annual convention in Minneapolis. It’s no coincidence whatsoever that the Democratic socialists received plenty — and perhaps more favorable — coverage compared to the Catholic group.

ISIS is getting away with genocide in Syria and Iraq

(OPINION) The lack of swift justice for Yazidis sends the outrageous message that it is possible to get away with genocide.

Sri Lanka plans to use the death penalty and Catholics are campaigning against it

Skeptics believe that the Sri Lankan president’s move is aimed at increasing his support in the approaching elections. After the Easter bombings that killed more than 250 people, President Maithripala Sirisena’s leadership has come under sharp attack.

What is Christian nationalism? Shootings spark renewed debate

A statement by the grassroots coalition Christians Against Christian Nationalism and then recent mass shootings have renewed debate over the term “Christian nationalism” and what that means for American politics.

More than thoughts and prayers: The Catholic church and gun control

(OPINION) There is a new terror threat that faces our nation. The rise of domestic terrorists with easy access to guns have made even a routine weekend trip to the mall something to fear. Those memories of covering vigils and funerals — many involving children and teens shot and killed in senseless gang violence — came flooding back to my mind this past weekend.

Kashmir cut off from the world as India strips its autonomy

The Hindu nationalist-led Indian government has stripped Muslim-majority Kashmir of its agreed-upon terms of accession, a special status granting autonomy under the Indian constitution, and sent in more than 40,000 troops to the already heavily militarized region. Kashmiris there are living under curfews without access to phones, Internet or cable TV channels while elected representatives are under house arrest.

She didn't see any books by immigrants, so Karen Gonzalez wrote one herself

Gonzalez immigrated with her family to Los Angeles from her native Guatemala and tells her story of being an immigrant and a Christian in a new book called The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong.

The Yazidi community five years after Islamic State massacre

We talked to human rights activist Dr. Widad Akreyi about the Yazidi community’s wait for justice on the international stage after the start of a genocide on Aug. 3, 2014. Thousands captured by Islamic State fighters remain missing.