(OPINION) As Biden prepares to step into office, he has his sights set on the Equality Act for LGBTQ+ individuals. How will this shift religious freedom rights for those opposed to same-sex marriage?
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Pope Francis is known for his aesthetic: simplicity and modesty with plain white robes, a few silver pieces of jewelry, and black orthopedic shoes. His wristwatch is no exception: a Casio MQ24-7B2, a departure from previous popes who sported expensive time pieces.
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(REVIEW) John Brown, the Christian abolitionist who staged a raid on an armory in Harpers Ferry before the Civil War, has become the stuff of legend. Miniseries “Good Lord Bird,” adapted from a fictionalized novel of the same name, showcases Brown’s faith and his devotion to freeing slaves.
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Pope Pius XII’s role during World War II is still in dispute, but evidence from the Vatican archives opened this year shows the German pope played a key role in saving thousands of Jewish lives in Palestine during World War I.
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Argentine football star Diego Maradona died at age 60 last week, but his legacy and devotion lives on. The footballer is a symbol of humility and hope, having risen to the top of global sports from a childhood in the slums, and attracted a religious following that formed a church in his name.
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(OPINION) With mixed commentary about both Georgia runoff candidates, who is a Jew to believe? Who will win the Jewish — and majority Georgia — vote?
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Ongoing court battles pit religious groups vs. governmental regulations designed to slow the spread of COVID-19. Weekend Plug-in highlights the latest developments and runs down the week’s top reads in the world of faith.
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(ANALYSIS) The recent return from Saudi Arabia of Islamist firebrand Muhammad Rizieq Shihab sparked massive welcoming crowds, threatens to reform old political alliances and may even create new ones.
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In an increasingly polarized world, Rachel Sumekh, a young Jewish woman of color, is fueling an evolving brand of youth-infused, woman-centered leadership that does not shy away from challenges during a pandemic.
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Today the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery presents from the U.N. the efforts to eradicate modern-day slavery—including labor trafficking and sex trafficking.
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Tens of thousands of African migrants who worked in regional countries, Europe, the Middle East and the United States have returned to their countries of origin during the pandemic. They often return without even basic necessities, and face hunger, COVID-19, joblessness and stigma.
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(OPINION) That Pope Francis would put his name on a book — written by a British author — criticizing the United States, its media and politics without understanding the First Amendment is a major shortfall of the project. There is also more to this book that the mainstream secular press did not highlight — like the pope’s staunch opposition to abortion.
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(OPINION) Based on reports by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Aid to the Church in Need, Open Doors and many more, Christians along with many other religious groups continue to be persecuted in the East. Red Wednesday, Nov. 25, attempts to raise awareness for this kind of persecution.
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Actor Rainn Wilson sat down with Religion Unplugged over Zoom to talk about his Baha’i faith and its impact on his life and work. He believes prayer and meditation, two important practices of the Bahai faith that often bring people together from many different religions, can help heal polarization and division in society.
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Pastor Sirajje Ssemanda, known in Uganda for his luxurious lifestyle, worked with government officials to solicit fees from thousands of Ugandans who were told their money would grant them membership to government programs including scholarships and training trips abroad. But those promises never materialized.
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(OPINION) How do preparation and penitence represent not only the wedding industry but also the values of Advent? The presentation of these values helps show us the importance of Advent and its placement before the celebration of Christmas—despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Analysts say if the election is fair, it could be a referendum on the constitutional changes made on Aug. 5 last year. But there is evidence that the Indian government is preventing local political parties from campaigning in India’s only Muslim-majority region.
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(OPINION) The Religion Guy discusses the gross injustices within the Chinese system of religious freedom—or a lack thereof. Whether that be towards Muslims or Christians, religion has been essentially outlawed in the Chinese system.
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The highest court in the U.S. overturned an attendance limit on New York houses of worship, Europeans deal with miscommunication over anti-radicalization policy, Greece joins the Serbian Orthodox Church in a battle over safety in worship as the pandemic tears through their highest-ranking clergy, and China eyes a new law to control religious appointments.
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As a young woman, a stranger helped Ida Puliwa pay for her college education. Her Pentecostal faith and optimism have fueled her to transform her village in Malawi in return. She has developed new agricultural approaches that have more than quadrupled maize production and leads a team of more than 4,000 volunteers that help elderly people in the community, promote education for orphans and plant trees to counter deforestation caused by inefficient cooking practices.
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