Isabel Kershner ("The New York Times," May 13, 2014) Migdal, Israel — For the Rev. Juan M. Solana, it was the spiritual equivalent of striking oil. When he set out to develop a resort for Christian pilgrims in Galilee, he unearthed a holy site: the presumed hometown of Mary Magdalene and an ancient synagogue where experts say Jesus may well have taught....
National school chaplaincy program given $245m in funding, despite cuts to future school spending Schools will lose the option of appointing secular social workers under the national school chaplaincy program, for which the Abbott government has found an extra $245m in budget funding. While flagging big cuts to future school spending growth , the Coalition's first budget earmarks the funding over...
The moral consequences of the triumph of Zionism: Ilan Pappé and Ari Shavit view Israel from different vantage points, but they agree the status quo between Israel and the Palestinians can't be sustained Zionism achieved its greatest triumph with the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. The Zionist idea and its principal political progeny are the subject of deeply divergent interpretations,...
Nesrine Malik, in a spirited defence of demonised Muslims ( The Muslims are here! , G2, 13 May), says there has not been a single incident where the niqab debate was instigated by Muslim women themselves. I am a Muslim woman and have instigated several such public debates. Or am I not considered Muslim because I refuse to wear coverings which define females as dangerous and even evil? Millions of...
The Russian Orthodox Church condemns Europe's favorite drag queen. Harvard's "black mass" moves off campus. And an ex-stripper points sex workers toward the light . . . with love and lip gloss. The post Drag Queen * Black Mass * Sex Workers: Tuesday’s Roundup appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
(RNS) One in four people globally are anti-Semitic, and nearly half the world has never heard of -- or denies or believes the Holocaust is exaggerated -- a new study finds. The post Survey: One-quarter of the world harbors anti-Semitic sentiment appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
(RNS) I do not doubt that Steve Green wants to produce a non-sectarian Bible textbook. I am skeptical, however, that the scholars that Green has assembled for this job are capable of producing a textbook beholden to facts rather than faith. The post COMMENTARY: Is the Hobby Lobby Bible elective objective? appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (RNS) Pope Francis travels to Jerusalem later this month to meet with Patriarch Bartholomew I, head of the Eastern Orthodox Church. But many hope his off-script message might revive moribund peace talks. The post Holy Land Christians hope Pope Francis’ visit might revive peace talks appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
(RNS) In a free market, compensation would be tied to results, not to accumulated wealth. Instead, we see no linkage to results; it's just insiders taking what they can. It's a polite form of thuggery. The post COMMENTARY: Free market compensation or a rigged system? appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
(RNS) The prom was free to attend, but under one stipulation: Teens were required to sign a pact agreeing to dress and behave modestly, to dance "appropriately" and to abstain from using alcohol or drugs. The post NJ students attend Mormon Prom for a ‘modest’ celebration appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
They're devil worshippers. No, they're atheists. They're witches. Well, maybe, but not Wiccan. A quick look at Satanists, who currently worship controversial headlines. The post Satanism 101: The ‘faith’ behind the headlines appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
God may not take away your sadness and loneliness, God may not make your sadness and loneliness make sense. But the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will share in your hardship. Just as that big love did for me more than 20 years ago, God will walk with you through the wilderness. The post Father Knows Best: Will my faith help me through this sad, lonely time? appeared first on Religion...
“I read the words of Jesus Christ, and I realized that they were true. I used to think that I had found God, but I believe it is more accurate to say that He found me.” – Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a convert to Christianity from Hinduism, addressing the graduates of Liberty University in Lynchburg, […] The post Quote of the Day: Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal appeared first on Religion...
David Gibson ("The Huffington Post," May 13, 2014) The Vatican is investigating a Jesuit theologian from India for allegedly espousing unorthodox beliefs, raising new questions about whether Pope Francis — the first Jesuit pope — is in fact moving the Catholic Church in a new direction. News of the threatened censure of the Rev....
Antonia Blumberg ("The Huffington Post," May 12, 2014) Hundreds of Orthodox Jews gathered on Monday at a Jerusalem holy site Pope Francis is due to visit during his Holy Land trip May 24-26. The Cenacle is the reputed site of Jesus' last supper, but it also resonates with Jews as the tomb of King David and with Muslims as the place of a 16th century mosque....
Representatives of Britain First hand out leaflets and bibles to Muslim worshippers as part of 'Christian crusade' campaign Police in Bradford and Glasgow have launched an investigation after a group of far-right activists "invaded" mosques in the cities over the weekend. Representatives of Britain First, an offshoot of the British National party which is contesting this month's local and...
Halal meat is on every menu; sharia law is taking over; the niqab is undermining the nation. Ever noticed how often the same old stories keep appearing about Muslims in Britain? Here's the truth about these and other media myths In Britain, there is now a cycle of Islamic scare stories so regular that it is almost comforting, like the changing of the seasons. Sadly, this rotation is not as natural,...
Campaign set up by London-based Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad attracts more than 130,000 likes on social media site Thousands of Iranian women are taking off their veils and publishing pictures of themselves online, igniting a debate about the freedom to wear or not wear the hijab. A Facebook page set up by London-based Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad 10 days ago has attracted more than 130,000...
Sex. Power. Football. We've got it all. The military will review policies on transgender soldiers. Michael Sam gets drafted. Nigerian schoolgirls may not have been sold off -- yet. More in today's roundup. The post Nigerian schoolgirls * LGBT Army? * Atheists lose: Monday’s Roundup appeared first on Religion News Service . ...
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) Camelle Daley, who founded the label House of ilona, says it’s high time for a shake-up among Anglican clergy who, like Roman Catholic priests, still wear traditional black shirt and collar. The post English fashion designer launches updated clerical line for women appeared first on Religion News Service . ...