Open Doors report: The 4 biggest trends in Christian persecution globally

Government surveillance programs, extremist Islamic ideology and wartime murder and displacement of Christian minorities are growing threats to Christian communities across three continents, according to the annual watch list.

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Nonprofit journalism on the rise: What about religion news?

(OPINION) News organizations are increasingly turning to non-profit models and partnerships in the quest for sustainability. Several recent developments have implications for religion coverage.

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New film explores how trauma of anti-semitism drives ongoing conflict

Afterward is a Jewish woman’s personal quest to understand Holocaust perpetrators and her own position in trauma’s legacy in her native Israel.

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Increased anxiety and sale of anti-depressants in Kashmir as lockdown continues

More Kashmiris are turning to anti-depressants to ease increasing signs of anxiety, according to health experts and hospitals, as arrests of thousands and the world’s longest-running ban on internet access in a democracy continues.

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What the clergy celibacy feud means for Catholicism

Retired Pope Benedict XVI issued a strongly-worded defense for priestly celibacy — countering his successor Pope Francis who’s been considering allowing married men to be ordained in the Amazon to deal with a shortage in that part of the world.

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The Naked Truth About Raelians And Their UFO Religion

The Raelians believe in intelligent design for atheists— that aliens created all life on earth and that there is no god but only those who come from the sky, the Elohim. We attended their recent North American conference to learn more about their beliefs and practices.

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7 tips for covering horrific events at houses of worship — and treating victims right

(OPINION) “Weekend Plug-In” is a column by veteran religion writer Bobby Ross Jr. Look every Friday for analysis, insights and top headlines from the world of faith. This week: In the wake of the deadly shooting at a Texas church, Bobby sought out top journalists’ advice for reporting responsibly on tragedies.

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Iceland's bestselling book on the woman who escaped pirates

The Travels of Guðríður Símonardóttir tells the little-known story of an Icelandic woman in the 17th century who was captured by North African pirates. She was enslaved at a harem in Algiers until ransomed, then married Iceland’s most famous poet. His hymns, inspired by the couple’s suffering, are still sung in churches and at funerals.

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Pope's apology following viral slap garners him media praise

(OPINION) The media’s reaction to the slap, from social media to major news organizations, again showed the divide that continues to exist among Catholics around the world. Those who like Francis saw a man being grabbed and reacting like anyone would. His detractors saw a man with little patience for parishioners.

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Politics may stop Catholics in South India from building Asia's tallest Jesus statue

Hindu nationalists are trying to stop a Catholic parish’s proposed 114-feet-high granite Jesus statue atop a hill in rural South India, sparked by a large Christmas land donation from a Hindu politician. The archbishop of Bangalore sought the state chief minister’s intervention this week to continue the $1.5 million project.

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In Photos: Romanian Orthodox Christians celebrate Jesus' baptism with holy water and a race

Crowds of Romanians gathered on the coast of the Black Sea to watch priests bless holy water and throw three crosses into the water, representing God in the trinity of father, son and holy spirit. Then the race in near-freezing water began to retrieve a cross, believed to bring its owner blessings in the new year.

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Religious traditions are a salve for the woes of modern youth

(OPINION) The mental health and lifestyle benefits of faith in adulthood are well-documented. A recent Harvard study suggests that kids are better off in many ways when raised in a religious tradition. As the media and grown-ups fret about the state of today’s youth, journalists should pay attention to what works.

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'Evangelicals for Trump' coalition kicks off at hispanic megachurch

The coalition backing President Donald Trump officially launched on Jan. 3 at El Rey Jesús, a Miami megachurch.  The coalition was announced in the aftermath of a Christianity Today editorial that called for Trump’s removal from office.

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Jews torn between ramped up security and tradition in wake of increased attacks

Amid rising attacks against American Jews, many Modern Orthodox synagogues in New York are grappling with how to ensure security within their houses of worship while remaining compliant with their religious laws.

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Church shooting victim remembered: Hero sacrificed his life to save many

Hundreds of mourners, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, paid tribute to volunteer security team member Richard White, who died Sunday in a shooting at West Freeway Church of Christ near Fort Worth, Texas.

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Why Texas minister talked to me (and only me) about deadly church shooting

(OPINION) Introducing “Weekend Plug-In,” a column by veteran religion writer Bobby Ross Jr. Look every Friday for analysis, insights and top headlines from the world of faith. This week: how Bobby was the only media allowed in to the Texas church that witnessed a shooting Sunday, top religion stories of the week, a new religion beat reporter hired at the New York Times and more.

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Protests ring in the new year in India as a 'Black Day'

Thousands gathered in the small Muslim neighborhood of Shaheen Bagh on the outskirts of India’s capital to protest against the new citizenship law that excludes Muslim migrants and a proposed citizenship register, calling Jan. 1 a “black day” rather than a holiday.

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The Best of Religion Journalism in 2019

The Media Project staff, board and members worldwide submitted nominations for the best efforts in religion journalism that we admired most in 2019.

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