Politics
Northeast Syria is a hub for religious freedom and pluralistic values, but this may no longer be the case. Among the first victims of Turkey’s war against northeast Syria were Christians, with reports of deaths, demolished homes, and broken crosses flooding social media.
The series about the secretive Christian organization The Family has taken on a new meaning in light of recent allegations that could bring impeachment against President Donald Trump.
Today 65% of American adults describe themselves as Christians, a steady decrease from 77% a decade ago. Those who identify as atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular are on the rise.
More than 1,000 mosques in Yemen have been damaged or destroyed by airstrikes since the conflict began in 2015. The latest hit in September killed a family of seven, including four young children and their pregnant mother, who tried to take shelter in their village mosque.
Most of the American Democratic candidates for president identify with a religion. Our guide highlights the faiths of the 2020 candidates and explains the impact on their policy views.
A U.S. federal court ruled on Tuesday that doctors will not be required to perform gender transition surgeries if it runs contrary to their religious beliefs. The decision reversed a requirement put forth by the Obama administration three years ago.
Abiy Ahmed is an inspirational leader and an evangelical Christian hailed as a Moses figure for Ethiopia. He ended nearly two decades of a stalemate from a war with Eritrea that had killed 70,000 people. But the country is far from peaceful yet, and his leadership challenges are just beginning.
Amid a measles outbreak, New York became the second state this year to end religious exemptions from vaccines. Forty-five states still allow religious exemptions, and 15 states allow exemptions for personal beliefs, which can encompass religion or can be philosophical or moral.
(OPINION) After several clicks and searches, we did find full-length versions of the video provided by Fox News and the Dallas Morning News. It makes us wonder why some media felt the need to excise Brandt’s words, which were so incredible.
Who is made a cardinal can be loaded with intrigue. It’s why the Catholic church is covered like a political institution and less like a religion. It is this dangerous tendency, largely on the part of the secular press, to reduce theological positions to political ones that has fueled divisions during the Pope Francis era.
Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old from Sweden, received widespread support for her recent actions to combat climate change — except from those who believe it’s a hoax. Among them: evangelical Christians. Here’s why so many of them oppose the politics of climate change.
(OPINION) President Trump announced Sept. 23 that the U.S. would devote $25 million to religious freedom issues and continue pressuring countries to end religious persecution, but in Iran, the U.S. is neglecting ethnic and religious minorities. Baha’is, numbering 300,000 in Iran, are particularly persecuted.
Pilgrimages to Rabbi Nachman’s grave site resumed at a trickle under communism. Now, more than 70 years after the devastation of World War II and communism, Jews of all kinds are visiting Uman and moving back.
(NEWS ANALYSIS) The U.N.’s appointed expert on freedom of religion or belief gave recommendations for how Sri Lanka should address underlying tensions that predate the April 2019 Easter bombings that killed more than 200 people.
Despite Europe’s increased secularization, traditionalists argue Notre Dame’s renovation should include no contemporary flair as part of a larger effort by Christians to protect their religious heritage wherever it may be located around the world,
The Indian government is building detention camps for those left off the citizenship list, many of whom have lived in India for generations, fueled by suspicions of Bengali Muslims migrating illegally.
A group of Yazidi journalists visited the Religion Unplugged offices in New York, hosted by the U.S. State Department, to talk about the current state of affairs in Iraq for the persecuted people group.
(OPINION) To say that the Catholic church is at a crossroads isn’t an exaggeration. But fierce arguments between the doctrinal left and right on a host of issues — from Pope Francis’ recent choice of cardinals to how clergy address social issues — are as intense as ever.
(OPINION) When Communists in the North banned Christianity, the faith surged in popularity in the South. Many South Koreans see parallels with Confucianism’s strong gender roles, support for traditional families and respect for authority and want what America has: wealth, freedom and “divine blessings.”
Thousands of Kashmiri youth have been arrested on vague charges under a law that allows detentions up to two years before a trial. We spoke to their families.
(OPINION) It’s back to school time, but media coverage of Catholic schools — unless there’s a scandal — is lacking. Given that some Catholic schools in low-income neighborhoods outperforming public schools, private religious schools deserve more coverage.
(OPINION) The international community should brace for serious trouble if India continues to revoke citizenship of people who settled there after fleeing Bangladesh.
Netanyahu has planned to visit the site of the bloody 1929 riots that killed nearly 70 Jews and has fueled tension with Palestine ever since.
After prayers at their mosque, hundreds of Kashmiris shouted slogans for India to leave Kashmir and prevented security forces from entering the area. Security forces responded with tear gas, pellet fire and chili grenades.
The 22-year-old Catholic Agnes Chow and her evangelical colleague Joshua Wong were arrested and released on bail Friday on charges of unlawful assembly. This weekend marks five years since China restricted free elections in Hong Kong and pro-democracy protests dubbed the Umbrella Revolution brought the young activists to fame.
The Dalit and indigenous Indians in eastern India who converted to Christianity were attacked by Hindu extremists in 2008. The survivors are still waiting for a government investigation and courts to hold the perpetrators accountable.
(OPINION) What role should our politics play in our relationship with God? Church leaders offer some guidance.
(OPINION) Over the weekend, Israeli forces struck an Iranian base in Syria after intelligence of “killer drones” there. While Iran’s hostility increases, Middle East observers should remember that many of Iran’s leaders have particular minority Shia beliefs about preparing the world for the reappearance of a hidden imam.
This Indonesian province has a rich history of a matrilineal society that’s shifting from its indigenous culture toward a more austere form of Islam. Cultural and theological divides are widening with less openness to discussion.
(OPINION) Efforts to disconnect Jerusalem from Jewish (and thus Christian) history are a fairly recent endeavor. Thankfully, in the meantime, sources documenting Judaism and Christianity’s historical roots are increasing exponentially.