Moody Bible Institute will be allowed to participate in Chicago Public Schools’ student teaching program after the college alleged religious freedom violations in being excluded. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) first said Moody couldn’t participate in the student-teacher internship unless the institute abandoned its religious-based hiring practices, but agreed to drop the requirement after Moody filed a federal lawsuit.
Read More(ANALYSIS) As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, debates about religious freedom continue to occupy the center of American public life.
Read MoreInevitably, international reporting trips produce a memorable moment, be it frightening, frantic or funny. Sometimes, the notable occurrence relates to the actual story. Other times, an indelible personal experience stands out.
Read More(ANALYSIS) “KPop Demon Hunters,” a global hit, has sparked debate among Christians over whether its themes are spiritually dangerous. The controversy reflects deeper cultural shifts in Korea and the U.S., where declining organized religion and rising spirituality are widening divides between traditional beliefs and a newer ethos.
Read MoreEvery morning begins the same for Paul Ridlon, who also goes by Magnus de Rhuddlan. No matter the weather, he steps out of the round yurt where he lives in Portland, Maine, and lights incense at his southern altar, a tree stump topped with two crane statues and a figurine of the Egyptian god Horus.
Read MoreStained glass is a highlight of English cathedrals, with many windows dating to medieval times. Tourists admire famous examples like York Cathedral’s Rose Window, St. George’s Chapel’s West Window in Windsor and Basil Spence’s Baptistry window at Coventry. In a recent public campaign, Carlisle Cathedral’s magnificent East Window was voted the nation’s favorite.
Read MoreAs you approach Iranian houses of worship, you’ll hear it: Locals striking their chests and rhythmically chanting laments to grieve the recent death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death. Each movement carries a dual meaning — expressing both personal grief while signaling loyalty to both a religious leader and a totalitarian state.
Read MoreIt’s a rupture that may not be reversible. Conservative Anglicans from around the world voted to part ways with the church’s leadership in England. When Sarah Mullally — the first woman chosen as the Archbishop of Canterbury — is formally installed later this month, she will be inheriting a church already reorganizing itself without her.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Alasdair MacIntyre’s journey from Marxism to Catholicism wasn’t a retreat from critique but its completion. He concluded that moral language collapsed without God, that virtue needs tradition and that societies survive only when they share a vision of what human life is ultimately for.
Read MoreWith the Oscars being awarded this Sunday, Religion Unplugged’s Culture Editor Jillian Cheney and chief film critic Joseph Holmes sat down with theologian Paul Anleitner, an author and the President and CEO of Goodmakers. Cheney, Holmes and Anleitner discussed the spiritual and religious themes of some of this year’s most-beloved nominees.
Read MoreIt’s a modern solution to an age-old issue. Many centuries-old monasteries are turning to Etsy-style e-commerce and renovating their convents to appeal to the growing Airbnb crowd. Like other religious establishments in Spain, Catholic nuns have had to think of new ways to generate income in the face of skyrocketing maintenance costs.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Our polarized era features unique and quasi-religious devotion toward President Donald Trump from his MAGA base, set against profound hostility from foes of his words and deeds. Church leaders in that second camp, mostly mainline and liberal Protestants, have issued a new plea worth noting for the extent of its supporters and a markedly fierce denunciation of America’s “cruel and oppressive government.”
Read MoreUntil recently, DNA technology was not widely available in most African countries. However, in the past few years, it has not only become widely available but also increasingly affordable for many. At the same time, various social media platforms are abuzz with cases of ‘paternity fraud’, creating increased demand for these tests.
Read MoreThe report critiqued other branches of the U.S. government that have undercut protections for religious freedom. It criticized, for example, cuts to USAID programs, since many of those programs were specifically aimed at protecting religious freedom.
Read MoreThis five-year housing target — one of the boldest by a British government in a generation — was enshrined in the Labour Party’s promises and embedded in policy through planning reforms and legislative frameworks looking at speeding up development and cutting through bureaucratic inertia. However, will there be room for houses of worship to be built?
Read MoreIt’s a tough time for Christian farmer Jorge Sanchez. A U.S. blockade on oil shipments to this Caribbean island nation has spurred Cuba’s deepening humanitarian crisis.
Read MoreCoverage of a Supreme Court decision blocking a California policy on student gender identity reveals starkly different media frames. Some outlets emphasize protecting transgender students from being “outed,” while others stress parental rights and religious liberty. The contrasting headlines highlight how newsrooms shape public understanding of contentious legal and cultural debates.
Read MoreThe Pew Research Center surveyed thousands of adults in 25 countries and found that 53 percent of Americans said their fellow countrymen had “somewhat bad” or “very bad” morals. Those findings broke with the international trend: In every other country surveyed, the majority said that others in their country have “somewhat good” or “very good” morals.
Read More(ANALYSIS) This year’s nominees’ bias toward personal faith over organized religion reflects the move our own society is making in that direction. It remains, however, to be seen whether that spirituality will evolve to meet the challenges of hyper-individualism, or if organized religion will simply outlast it. The Academy Awards will be handed out March 15 in Los Angeles.
Read MoreThe residents of Jeju Island remember what it is like to resist imperialism and outside interests. Groups that were formed to protest the U.S. naval base construction have now shifted their focus to seek peace in Palestine following the year-long Israel-Gaza war.
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