The Indian government has evicted hundreds of nomadic Muslims living in the forests of Kashmir and cut down their sources of income— their apple orchards. The move comes a year after a court order declaring their occupation of the land illegal, but activists say the Hindu nationalist government is ignoring a law allowing tribal people to live on government land and accusing the government of wanting to change the Muslim character of the region.
Read More(OPINION) Support for Israel is at the heart of lobbying for Jewish votes by the Democratic and Republican candidates as the Senate runoffs near. Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock has proved to be “disappointing” for some Jewish voters in Georgia on the account that he may believe that Israel is an “apartheid state” according to past actions.
Read More(REVIEW) David Geisser’s new cookbook in time for the holidays, The Vatican Christmas Cookbook, offers up over 100 recipes from around the world.
Read More(OPINION) The Supreme Court recently upheld the religious freedom of Muslim Americans in a case of three Muslim men who accused the FBI of forcing them to violate their religious beliefs to spy on fellow Muslims. Here’s why we should all cheer.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh ended on Nov. 9 after Russia brokered a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Now Armenian heritage organizations worry historical churches and other religious sites will be destroyed.
Read MoreA collection by the Sassoon family, called the Rothschilds of the East, is going on the auction block at Sotheby’s on Dec. 17. The Sassoon family left Ottoman-controlled Baghdad and built their wealth trading opium and textiles from Bombay, Rangoon, Hong Kong, Singapore and London.
Read More(OPINION) Though the Episcopal Church prides itself on its progressive politics that align with President-elect Joe Biden’s, the numbers of weddings and baptisms are quickly decreasing along with a 2 percent decrease in population size, according to Office of the General Convention
Read MoreNew survey data shows white evangelicals hold very different political views (like believing Donald Trump won the 2020 election) than the so-called evangelical elite that includes evangelical leaders like best-selling Bible study author Beth Moore. The result is the loudest evangelical voices are like generals without an army.
Read More(ANALYSIS) A narrative pushed by Hindu nationalists suggests Muslim men are forcing Hindu women and girls to marry them and convert to Islam. An anti-conversion law that prohibits “love jihad” was passed at the end of November and criminalizes Hindu-Muslim couples.
Read More(ANALYSIS) On Dec. 21, our solar system’s two largest planets Jupiter and Saturn will appear together in a rare astronomical event called a conjunction, not seen since 1226. The extra bright light calls to mind the Bible story of when King Herod’s magi followed a star to find Jesus Christ as a child and worship him as God’s son.
Read MoreAfter a peaceful pro-Trump prayer rally this weekend, protesters — some identified as Proud Boys— burned Black Lives Matter signs taken from four historic churches in the nation’s capital, including the oldest African American church.
Read MoreThis weekend, thousands of Trump supporters gathered in Washington D.C. for the Jericho March, part of a campaign to expose voter fraud and ensure a second Trump term. The event included several conservative Christian speakers and ended in protests throughout the city.
Read MorePresident Donald Trump calls the first COVID-19 vaccine approved by the federal government a “medical miracle.” So why are many religious people so skeptical? That’s a key question in this week’s Weekend Plug-in.
Read More(ANALYSIS) As Joe Biden prepares to enter office, religious freedom advocates are searching for signs that his administration will maintain the delicate institutional framework built during the Trump administration. Without a commitment from the president-elect, they fear it could all evaporate.
Read More(EXCERPT) “Jesus. A World History,” by Markus Spieker, is both a biography of Jesus and a historical narrative of his influence across the world.
Read MoreIn remote Nigeria, a pastor and his wife are working against the traditional practice of “money marriage,” in which girls as young as 7 are married to old men and denied a basic education.
Read MoreChristians mourn the death of Dallas Cowboys coach Markus Paul, who was part of five Super Bowl championships.
Read MoreThe coronavirus pandemic has hit churches and prisons exceptionally hard. Still, the program - founded by a former convict after she became a Christian - has found ways to carry on. Past recipients like Kevin Almestica say the Angel Tree program helped him maintain an emotional bond with his mom while she was in prison, and that’s why he volunteers today.
Read More(OPINION) Something truly magical happens by the end when Charlie Brown asks what the true meaning of Christmas is. Instead of more commercialism, Linus sets his friend — and everyone else — straight and delivers a truly important message.
Read MoreJews are fed up with being told where they can worship and what they can build, and the Department of Justice has swept in to have their back. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is having a rare moment of bipartisan unity begging other countries to stop persecuting religious minorities. In India, fears of “love jihad” have fueled a new anti-conversion law in the country’s most populous state, appeasing Hindu nationalists. Finally, California churches have won a step forward in a lawsuit against the governor.
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