In Kazakhstan, Christians And Muslims Punished For Practicing Religion

Courts and police across Kazakhstan have fined at least 15 people and three organizations so far in 2021 for holding meetings for worship or other religious rituals without state permission. “It is not allowed to pray at any location unless it's approved,” an Aktobe police officer said.

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Netflix Horror Series ‘Midnight Mass’ Warns Christians To Be Careful Who They Worship

(REVIEW) “Midnight Mass,” a Netflix horror miniseries from creator Mike Flanagan, brings viewers to a small island town visited by a mysterious and charismatic priest and his accompanying “angel.” The show explores the enchanting power of miracles and asks Christians to be careful where they direct their worship.

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Will American Jews Abandon The Democratic Party?

(OPINION) Why is it that, generally speaking, Jews in different parts of the world tend to lean centrist or right — quite the opposite of things here in the U.S? There is an anomaly when it comes to Jewish voting, but Orthodox Jewish voters are looking more like White evangelicals.

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Prayer Monument To Break Ground In 2022, Hopeful About Brits' Interest In Spirituality

An art piece planned to preserve the Christian heritage of the United Kingdom and profile a million answered prayers is coming to life amid data showing increased interest in spirituality and prayer, especially among young people.

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For Christians Trapped In Afghanistan, British Bureaucracy Could Be A Killer

(OPINION) Religious minorities in Afghanistan — Sikhs, Hindus, Ahmadis and Christians — still need help to flee the Taliban. Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have intimated that they will allow these Afghans across their borders but only if their transit to other countries is confirmed, a step that the U.S. and U.K. must take quickly.

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Pope Francis Lashes Out At Criticism From The Catholic Press, Calls It 'Work Of The Devil'

Pope Francis is no fan of press criticism — especially when it comes from Catholic news outlets on the doctrinal right. In a candid moment during his recent trip to Slovakia, the pontiff’s comments sparked a Catholic media war that again highlights just how polarized Roman Catholics are in the Francis era.

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Christian Organization Predisan Provides Preaching, Healing In Honduras

Christian organization Predisan offers health care and pastoral services through its ministry in Honduras, a Central American nation of 9.7 million people that has reported nearly 345,000 infections and 9,050 deaths since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

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‘Muhammad Ali’ On PBS Shows Impacts Of Boxer’s Muslim Faith

(REVIEW) A new Ken Burns documentary on PBS tells the story of the world’s greatest heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali, including his friendship with Malcolm X and faith journey to Nation of Islam and then Sunni Islam.

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Violence In Montenegro Shows Persisting Division In Balkans And Orthodoxy

(ANALYSIS) In Montenegro, both the Serbian and Montenegrin Orthodox churches claim the rights to use Orthodox religious sites. But the Montenegrin Orthodox Church is not recognized by any other Orthodox church, and the conflict hits at questions over national identity, church-state relations and even U.S.-Russia relations.

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American Christian Ministry Delivers Desperately Needed Surgeries In Honduras

A team of surgeons from Atlanta has returned to Honduras — brought in by the Christian organization Predisan Health Ministries — to provide treatment to people who can’t afford to go to the Central American country’s private clinics. Some of those people have been waiting decades for an operation.

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As COVID-19 Vaccine War Rages, Focus On Religious Exemptions Grows

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the growing focus on religious exemptions amid pressure to vaccinate more Americans to slow the spread of COVID-19. Plus, check out the week’s best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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How Social Media — Aided By Bots — Amplifies Islamophobia Online

(ANALYSIS) Twenty years after the 9/11 attacks, stereotypes that associate Muslims with terrorism go far beyond depictions in newspapers and television. Recent research raises the alarm about rampant Islamophobia in digital spaces, particularly far-right groups’ use of disinformation and other manipulation tactics to vilify Muslims and their faith.

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Pope Francis: 'Lord Wanted To reward' Jewish Woman Who Took Eucharist

Pope Francis told the media aboard his papal plane that he has never denied Holy Communion to anyone and that he once gave the Eucharist to a Jewish woman in a nursing home. In Catholic Church law, only confirmed Catholics in good standing may receive Communion. But the pope found the encounter to be a positive mishap.

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Who Are The Hazara of Afghanistan? An Expert On Islam Explains

(ANALYSIS) The land we now call Afghanistan has been a place of constant migration through its mountainous passes. Its linguistic, cultural and religious diversity is a result of millennia of trade along the Silk Road. Afghanistan’s fall to the Taliban means that some minorities are again at heightened risk of persecution.

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‘The Eyes Of Tammy Faye’ Is Loving But Uninsightful Portrait Of Evangelical Celebrity

(REVIEW) “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” is an empathetic take on the rise and fall of the powerhouse televangelist couple Tammy Faye (Jessica Chastain) and Jim Bakker (Andrew Garfield). Unfortunately, those seeking answers to why powerful evangelicals fall will find none here.

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‘Running For A Higher Purpose’ Highlights The Need For Physical And Spiritual Health

(REVIEW) A quick read at 148 pages, ‘Running For A Higher Purpose’ is the type of book perfect for a world that has been plunged into a pandemic since February 2020 and for those in need of both physical and spiritual assistance.

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