Religious pilgrimages have been one of the main factors driving the recent boom in tourism, which has been pointed to as one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. In Zimbabwe, since 2010, there has been a rise in religiously…
I study modern-day slavery − and here’s what I’ve learned about how enslavers try to justify their actions
Several high-profile celebrities were slapped with human-trafficking charges in late 2024, from music mogul Sean Combs, known as P. Diddy, to Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries. Neither has been tried yet, but in 2022 the R&B superstar R. Kelly was convicted of…
Non-Denominationalism Is the Strongest Force in American Religion
A lot of what I do is talk about decline. I am painfully aware of that fact. Religious attendance is down in the United States. The proportion of young people who identify as Christian has declined significantly over the last couple of decades.
California congregations vow to help neighbors even as their buildings are lost to fires
Like many of their neighbors, leaders of the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center watched in horror this week as wildfires destroyed homes, businesses and entire neighborhoods in Southern California, with the destruction playing out on social media and television news.
How Christian nationalism played a role in incorporating the phrase ‘so help me God’ in the presidential oath of office
On Jan. 20, 2025, Donald Trump will take the presidential oath of office: “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect…
Resolutions are not always in our control. Let’s try aspirations instead.
This year, the first of an American autocracy, is not one to make typical resolutions. The incoming president’s first term showed him to be a wannabe autocrat, but there were some guardrails in place — even from some of the…
Catholic Woman Wins $12.7 Million in Religious Discrimination Case Over Vaccine Mandate
A Michigan jury has awarded $12.7 million to a Catholic woman who sued her former employer for religious discrimination in a case centering on the company’s refusal to grant her a religious exemption from its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which ultimately led to…
American Jews skeptical of Trump’s ability to combat antisemitism
Most American Jews do not believe President-elect Donald Trump will effectively address rising antisemitism or manage the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to a new survey, but a larger portion have confidence in his nominee for secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio.
Republican state AGs oppose American Bar Association’s revised diversity rule
Attorneys general from 21 Republican-controlled states have warned the American Bar Association that its law school diversity rule is unlawful.