The Israel-Hamas war has fractured Muslim/Jewish community relations in the Middle East, Europe and the U.S. But in South Africa, ordinary people take pride in being an outlier, creating a country where for decades and even now, Jews and Muslims…
Jesus and Muslim students at prayer
Jesus took a whip and drove the money changers from the temple. This doesn’t suggest he would have interrupted Muslim students at prayer. A teacher at Franklin Academy Charter School in Pembroke Pines, Fla., however, interrupted Muslim students during prayer…
After days of unrest sparked by religious clashes, Ethiopians are beginning to get back to normal life
Peace is gradually returning to Ethiopia after days of violence, tension and rioting resulted in the destruction of religious centers in some parts of the East African country. In the northern region of Gondar, 21 people reportedly were killed during…
Facing increased attacks, Canada’s Muslim women take up self-defense classes
Canada’s Muslim community reels in the aftermath of a recent deadly scene. On June 6, a white male allegedly drove a truck up the curb in London City, Ontario, and mowed down four family members of a Muslim family that…
At this conference, religious minorities told each other’s stories of persecution
Imagine the conflicts that could be ended and prevented if the world’s faith leaders got to know one another and began to advocate for those experiencing religious persecution everywhere, said Sam Brownback, the former U.S. ambassador for international religious freedom…
Research group sees Catholics, Baptists and Mormons as Christians (because they say so)
It isn’t hard to find Baptists and other Protestants who believe Mormons are not Christians. But about half of all Americans and nearly every Mormon believe they are, the Pew Research Center has found. So who is right? Well, what…
Political correctness and biblical correctness: What if they’re sometimes the same?
There is a reason we use language carefully. Words matter. They have the power to exclude others and to create hurtful categories.
American pastor in Canada doesn’t miss culture wars, church growth pressures
When U.S. pastor Justin Joplin accepted a call to a Baptist church in Canada, he found a Baptist identity free from anxiety over a decline from majority cultural status. That is liberating, he says.
2017’s top religion stories are a doozy
The year 2017 may not have been the biggest ever for religion news in the U.S. or the world, but it has to be close.