Religion
Islamists in Africa Destroying Religious Mausoleums
Sunni Muslim extremists recently seized control of Timbuktu and the rest of northern Mali earlier this year. Now they’re destroying the religious relics, calling them idolatrous.
Russia’s New Required Religion Class for 4th Graders
This year Russia required fourth graders across the country to take a religion class. There are six choices: Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, secular ethics or world religions.
Popularity of Western-Style Weddings in Japan Creates Demand for White Officiants
Western-style weddings are so popular in Japan that wedding companies can’t find enough ministers to fill the demand. So they hire anyone who fits the profile.
Christmas in Kolkata: Badaa Din
Christians may be a minority in India, but Christmas is a national holiday. And citizens of all religions celebrate the festival, which Indians call the Badaa Din, or the Big Day.
Catholics Praying in Hebrew in the Holy Land
Jesus was, of course, Jewish. And he spoke the language of the bible, Aramaic. Both Arabic and Hebrew stem from the same linguistic family. But until now, Hebrew has never really been used to worship the New Testament. The World’s Matthew Bell visits a community of Hebrew-speaking Catholics in the Holy Land.
Celebrating the Mysterious Ancient Cult of Mithras in Rome
Archaeologists in Rome have just re-opened a restored underground temple dating back to ancient Rome, dedicated to the cult of a deity named Mithras.
Rescuing the Lost Sacred Songs of Georgia
For most of the 20th century, the country of Georgia was under Soviet rule. A lot of Russian traditions flowed across the border–sometimes influencing–sometimes replacing native Georgian traditions. Now, 20 years after Georgia became independent, religious communities want to unearth one of those lost traditions: sacred song.
In the Studio with Al RTV, Russia’s First Islamic TV Channel
The first Russian-language Islamic channel seeks to foster dialogue among Russia’s many Islamic ethnic groups and encourage “moderate” Islam.
One Immigrant Muslim’s Battle with Alcoholism in the US
Some Muslim immigrants in the US struggle with alcohol problems and it is hard for them to find culturally sensitive programs to deal with it.
I Grew Up in India, Raised by an Agnostic Mother and an Atheist Father
Some of my earliest childhood memories are about awkward exchanges and uncomfortable silences between my parents and some of their friends and relatives regarding God and religion [...]
China’s Latest Efforts to Stop Self-Immolation Protesters
Since 2009 more than 90 Tibetans have set themselves ablaze to protest China’s rule of the Tibetan plateau. China has accused the exiled Dalai Lama of stirring up the unrest. And now China wants to prosecute people who attempt to self-immolate.
Why It’s Not Easy to be Atheist in India
India may be the world’s largest secular democracy but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to practice atheism there.Young atheists trying to gain more recognition say government policies and laws still exclude them and cultural acceptance is hard to come by.
New Inclusive Mosque Outside Paris Welcomes Gays and Lesbians
Mosques don’t usually welcome gay and lesbian worshipers but on Friday a Muslim group just outside Paris held what’s billed as the first “gay-friendly” Islamic worship in Europe. The group also allows men and women to pray together.
Glimpses into Life in Northern Mali Under Islamist Control
Few journalists are allowed into northern Mali, which is now under the control of fundamentalist Islamic groups. But reporter Paul Mben, a Malian himself, did manage to get in, and tells of what he saw there.
Former Oil Executive Justin Welby Named Archbishop of Canterbury
Justin Welby, a former oil executive, has been chosen to be the new Archbishop of Canterbury, and spiritual leader of the world’s 77 million Anglicans. The 56-year-old has had a meteoric rise within the Anglican Church and takes over a global flock riven by divisions. Anchor Aaron Schachter speaks with the BBC’s Jane Little about Justin Welby.
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