Tenzin Peljor runs a popular Buddhist blog that addresses controversies in Tibetan Buddhism, especially regarding abusive spiritual teachers. After choosing a guru, students take vows to see their teacher as an enlightened being — questioning or criticizing them can send one to a Tantric hell. Peljor, a monk himself, says he is exposing harmful practices while remaining faithful to the Buddhist tradition.
Read MoreUntil recently, Pre-Born! has flown under the radar and operated in the background of the pro-life movement by supporting pregnancy help centers as a grant writer and support system. But in the last couple years, it has seen exponential growth by engaging in partnerships with Christian and conservative radio programs.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights five finalists for the Religion News Association’s Story of the Year honor. Plus as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read MorePinkie Makua founded her faith-based nonprofit, Agape Flows, out of her Southern Africa Bible College dorm room to provide impoverished girls with menstrual products so they won’t miss school due to limited access to necessary hygienic items — an unconventional ministry, but a “fulfillment of pure religion.”
Read More(ANALYSIS) Since mid-September 2022, when a young woman named Mahsa Amini died in detention after being detained for not wearing her headscarf “properly,” protests against the morality police and the broader regime have erupted across the country and from sympathizers around the world.
Read More(OPINION) Lynn vowed to tell the truth about both sides of her life. She loved to sing hymns and gospel music, while critics hailed the rhinestone feminism of her hits such as “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” “The Pill,” “Rated ‘X’” and “You’re Lookin’ at Country.”
Read MoreEboo Patel founded Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on building religious understanding between students, in 2002. It now has 52 employees, an entire floor of lake-view offices at the Chicago Board of Trade, and an annual budget of $13 million. Now IFYC has rebranded as Interfaith America. The dropping of the word “youth” is another signal — that both the organization and its founder have wider goals than changing the world one kid at a time.
Read MoreA Forsyth County historical marker erected just last year recounts the 1912 lynching of Rob Edwards, a 24-year-old Black man accused of raping and murdering a young White woman. More than a century later, about 600 Christians — Black, White and Hispanic — filled the pews of the Grace Chapel Church of Christ for a special unity service.
Read More(OPINION) When evangelicals of all people fail to live up to the the New Testament’s commandments, our failure is far more glaring. It smacks of hypocrisy. Here, then, I offer six virtues the New Testament requires of all pilgrims who would be disciples of Jesus Christ:
Read MoreChurch members and relatives in Ukraine have been unable to find out who is holding Council of Churches Baptist Pastor Leonid Ponomaryov and his wife Tatyana, where and why. Armed and masked men in military uniform seized them on Sept. 21 from their home in Russian-occupied Mariupol. Neighbors “distinctly heard groans and cries” as the masked men took them away “in an unknown direction,” local Baptists said.
Read MoreChris Broussard is dressed in an elegant suit. He sports a friendly smile and looks and acts exactly like the man many love to watch on television. Broussard, a basketball analyst for Fox Sports, is passionate about basketball. He’s also passionate about being a Christian, helping Black youth, combating racism and making the world a better place.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Mauna Kea, a 13,802-foot dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii, is one example. The mountain is managed as public land by the state of Hawaii. Native Hawaiians have protested the state’s management of Mauna Kea for decades, saying Hawaii has allowed too many research buildings on their sacred mountain, which disrupts their ability to practice their religion.
Read MoreBloomberg’s bottom line: “A small but growing number of wealthy Americans (have) discovered how to bypass rules designed more than a half-century ago to ensure philanthropists stay accountable for the billions of dollars in tax breaks they receive each year.”
Read MoreFollowing a historic election, William Ruto took the oath of office as Kenya’s fifth president. Ruto is known for being a man who values prayer and brought Pentecostal zeal to his political campaign. But some citizens are concerned that he may turn Kenya into a theocracy.
Read MoreThe recent establishment of the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council and a call for Congress to appropriate additional funding to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program highlighted the federal government’s focus on security and anti-terrorism initiatives for churches, mosques, synagogues and other religious institutions.
Read MoreA documentary made by VICE News about the alleged sexual abuse cases at Kanakuk camps in southwest Missouri won a 2022 Emmy award for “Outstanding Hard News Feature Story: Long Form.” The 17-minute film, “A Christian Summer Camp’s History of Abuse,” features interviews with survivors and gives details about litigation and settlements that have occurred.
Read MoreIn a busy week for religion news, this week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights nine names to know. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read MoreBoasting a flawless 29-0 record, Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov notched eight wins by knockout and 11 others via submission during a 12-year pro career. But his story goes far beyond his dominance in the octagon. Throughout his career, Nurmagomedov has shown how important discipline, faith and family can be for a pro fighter.
Read More(OPINION) Young people in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are often told to get married because marriage is wonderful and family life is at the heart of the faith. The problem is that church leaders haven’t grasped the power of cultural trends in technology, education and economics that are fueling sharp declines in statistics linked to dating, marriage and fertility,
Read MoreThe Indian government banned one of the country’s top Muslim organizations for at least five years, claiming the Popular Front of India has links to terrorists. Critics of the government have two main concerns: The proof that the PFI has participated in terrorist activities is unclear, and the government does not appear to be similarly motivated to investigate Hindu extremist organizations that have participated in or instigated violence.
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