Priyadarshini Sen, Author at Religion News Service https://religionnews.com Driving essential conversation about how religion and beliefs shape us and our world. Tue, 03 Sep 2024 21:13:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 https://religionnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Favicon-100x100.png Priyadarshini Sen, Author at Religion News Service https://religionnews.com 32 32 Neo-Buddhists push back against Hindu claims on ancient cave monasteries in India https://religionnews.com/2024/09/03/neo-buddhists-push-back-against-hindu-claims-on-ancient-cave-monasteries-in-india/ https://religionnews.com/2024/09/03/neo-buddhists-push-back-against-hindu-claims-on-ancient-cave-monasteries-in-india/#respond Tue, 03 Sep 2024 20:39:02 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4164597 GUJARAT, India (RNS) — In western India, where thousands of monks once worshipped in caves chiseled into the rocky hills, a fight is on to keep Hindu chauvinists from erasing a 2,000-year-old Buddhist site.

The post Neo-Buddhists push back against Hindu claims on ancient cave monasteries in India appeared first on Religion News Service.

]]> https://religionnews.com/2024/09/03/neo-buddhists-push-back-against-hindu-claims-on-ancient-cave-monasteries-in-india/feed/ 0 In India, a ‘Hindu’ mosque aims to heal divisions  https://religionnews.com/2024/08/13/in-india-a-hindu-mosque-aims-to-heal-divisions/ https://religionnews.com/2024/08/13/in-india-a-hindu-mosque-aims-to-heal-divisions/#respond Tue, 13 Aug 2024 18:00:09 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4161885 KOLKATA, India (RNS) — A Hindu family discovered a centuries-old mosque on their property and decided to restore it.

The post In India, a ‘Hindu’ mosque aims to heal divisions  appeared first on Religion News Service.

]]> https://religionnews.com/2024/08/13/in-india-a-hindu-mosque-aims-to-heal-divisions/feed/ 0 India’s Christian leaders work to convince Modi government to curb attacks https://religionnews.com/2024/07/25/indias-christian-leaders-work-convince-modi-government-to-curb-attacks/ https://religionnews.com/2024/07/25/indias-christian-leaders-work-convince-modi-government-to-curb-attacks/#respond Thu, 25 Jul 2024 19:30:54 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4159218 (RNS) — False charges of forced conversion, say the leaders, are used to target Christians, who cite attacks on church properties and institutions, the harassment of pastors and raids on private parties.

The post India’s Christian leaders work to convince Modi government to curb attacks appeared first on Religion News Service.

]]> https://religionnews.com/2024/07/25/indias-christian-leaders-work-convince-modi-government-to-curb-attacks/feed/ 0 India slowly expands protections for ostracized interfaith, mixed-caste couples https://religionnews.com/2024/06/14/india-slowly-expands-protections-for-ostracized-interfaith-mixed-caste-couples/ https://religionnews.com/2024/06/14/india-slowly-expands-protections-for-ostracized-interfaith-mixed-caste-couples/#respond Fri, 14 Jun 2024 19:22:59 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4153342 MAHARASHTRA, India (RNS) — In 2018, India’s Supreme Court recognized honor killing as a serious problem and issued guidelines to prevent it, including setting up safe houses.

The post India slowly expands protections for ostracized interfaith, mixed-caste couples appeared first on Religion News Service.

]]> https://religionnews.com/2024/06/14/india-slowly-expands-protections-for-ostracized-interfaith-mixed-caste-couples/feed/ 0 Parsis in Mumbai fight existential decline in aspirants to priesthood https://religionnews.com/2023/11/14/parsis-in-historic-center-in-mumbai-see-grave-decline-in-aspirants-to-priesthood/ https://religionnews.com/2023/11/14/parsis-in-historic-center-in-mumbai-see-grave-decline-in-aspirants-to-priesthood/#respond Tue, 14 Nov 2023 15:18:57 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4118453 MUMBAI, India (RNS) — With steadily declining numbers, some of India’s Zoroastrians are looking to reduce the strain of becoming a priest in order to encourage more young men to devote themselves to the rituals that sustain the world’s first monotheistic religion.

The post Parsis in Mumbai fight existential decline in aspirants to priesthood appeared first on Religion News Service.

]]> https://religionnews.com/2023/11/14/parsis-in-historic-center-in-mumbai-see-grave-decline-in-aspirants-to-priesthood/feed/ 0 How a Hindu architect became the ‘mosque man’ of Kerala https://religionnews.com/2023/10/31/how-a-hindu-architect-became-the-mosque-man-of-kerala/ https://religionnews.com/2023/10/31/how-a-hindu-architect-became-the-mosque-man-of-kerala/#respond Tue, 31 Oct 2023 20:57:32 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4116917 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (RNS) — With no formal training, Govindan Gopalakrishnan built at least 114 mosques, four churches and a Hindu temple.

The post How a Hindu architect became the ‘mosque man’ of Kerala appeared first on Religion News Service.

]]> https://religionnews.com/2023/10/31/how-a-hindu-architect-became-the-mosque-man-of-kerala/feed/ 0 In remote Himalayan desert, Buddhists, Muslims, Christians unite to protect land, heritage https://religionnews.com/2023/03/02/in-remote-himalayan-desert-buddhists-muslims-christians-join-to-protest-indian-rule/ https://religionnews.com/2023/03/02/in-remote-himalayan-desert-buddhists-muslims-christians-join-to-protest-indian-rule/#respond Thu, 02 Mar 2023 15:33:36 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4083131 NEW DELHI (RNS) — The movement has been effective because ‘faith leaders are trusted more than political parties,’ said one activist in the region.

The post In remote Himalayan desert, Buddhists, Muslims, Christians unite to protect land, heritage appeared first on Religion News Service.

]]> https://religionnews.com/2023/03/02/in-remote-himalayan-desert-buddhists-muslims-christians-join-to-protest-indian-rule/feed/ 0 Hindus only: How religious nationalism has spread through India’s villages https://religionnews.com/2023/02/15/hindus-only-how-religious-nationalism-has-spread-through-indias-villages/ https://religionnews.com/2023/02/15/hindus-only-how-religious-nationalism-has-spread-through-indias-villages/#respond Wed, 15 Feb 2023 15:42:58 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=4081032 KADAPA, India (RNS) — A village of just 250 families put up a clear warning to non-Hindus wanting to enter.

The post Hindus only: How religious nationalism has spread through India’s villages appeared first on Religion News Service.

]]> https://religionnews.com/2023/02/15/hindus-only-how-religious-nationalism-has-spread-through-indias-villages/feed/ 0 Why they broke with Hindu nationalism: Four former zealots speak out https://religionnews.com/2022/11/11/30-years-after-hindu-nationalist-riots-former-zealots-take-stock/ https://religionnews.com/2022/11/11/30-years-after-hindu-nationalist-riots-former-zealots-take-stock/#respond Fri, 11 Nov 2022 19:34:42 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=3996757 (RNS) — Participants in the destruction of a historic mosque 30 years ago, a signal event that led to a surge in Hindu nationalism in India, talk about their transformed lives.

The post Why they broke with Hindu nationalism: Four former zealots speak out appeared first on Religion News Service.

]]> https://religionnews.com/2022/11/11/30-years-after-hindu-nationalist-riots-former-zealots-take-stock/feed/ 0 Calling on saints and spiritual guides, activist advocates for Armenia’s vulnerable women https://religionnews.com/2022/08/23/calling-on-saints-and-spiritual-guides-activist-advocates-for-armenias-vulnerable-women/ https://religionnews.com/2022/08/23/calling-on-saints-and-spiritual-guides-activist-advocates-for-armenias-vulnerable-women/#respond Tue, 23 Aug 2022 21:21:33 +0000 https://religionnews.com/?p=3989086 (RNS) — The director of the Women’s Resource Center looks to Armenia’s ancient spiritual traditions to stay strong against the rape and death threats she’s received over the years.

The post Calling on saints and spiritual guides, activist advocates for Armenia’s vulnerable women appeared first on Religion News Service.

]]> https://religionnews.com/2022/08/23/calling-on-saints-and-spiritual-guides-activist-advocates-for-armenias-vulnerable-women/feed/ 0