International
In new book, journalist Joshua Leifer offers a scathing take on American Judaism
By Yonat Shimron — August 30, 2024
(RNS) — 'Tablets Shattered' is a sweeping historical account of a fractured and contentious religious establishment — much of it hampered by its embrace of Zionism.
Israeli Cabinet minister draws rebuke for saying he would build a synagogue at holy site
By Michele Chabin — August 28, 2024
In the face of Palestinian suffering, interfaith groups offer a protective presence
By Yonat Shimron — August 27, 2024
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Pakistan flies home the injured and the bodies of 28 Shiite pilgrims killed in a bus crash in Iran
By Munir Ahmed — August 26, 2024
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan brought home Friday the bodies of 28 Shiite pilgrims killed in a bus crash in Iran this week while heading to Iraq for a pilgrimage. A Pakistani military aircraft also flew back 23 pilgrims injured in the accident, officials said. Earlier in the day in Iran, officials handed over the bodies […]
Italian teenager Carlo Acutis’ upcoming canonization reflects the Vatican’s desire to appeal to a new generation of Catholics
By Michael A. Di Giovine — August 23, 2024
(The Conversation) — Italian priest Padre Pio was one of the world’s most prayed-to saints in recent times. As Pio’s generation ages, the Catholic Church is turning to Carlo Acutis to appeal to a new demographic.
Palestinian allies make last-ditch push for speaker on the DNC stage
By Yonat Shimron — August 22, 2024
(RNS) — The DNC has so far denied a request to allow Americans to hear the stories of Palestinian people in Gaza whose lives have been upended by Israel’s massive military.
Ukraine’s parliament approves ban on Moscow-linked religious groups. One church is seen as a target
By Peter Smith — August 21, 2024
(AP) — Ukraine’s parliament has banned the activities of religious groups tied to the Russian Orthodox Church or any other faith group supporting Russia’s invasion.
Nearly half of world’s migrants are Christian, Pew Research shows
By Chloë-Arizona Fodor — August 19, 2024
(RNS) — US migrants are much more likely to have a religious identity than the American-born population.
Russian artist released in swap builds a new life in Germany, now free to marry her partner
By Dasha Litvinova — August 16, 2024
KOBLENZ, Germany (AP) — Sasha Skochilenko and Sofya Subbotina reunited earlier this month in Germany, shortly after Skochilenko and other Russian prisoners were exchanged in a historic East-West swap — a happy if unlikely ending to an over two-year ordeal.
A mass circumcision is marketed to tourists in a remote area of Uganda. Some are angrily objecting.
By Rodney Muhumuza — August 15, 2024
NEAR MOUNT ELGON, Uganda (AP) — Locals question their king over the very public presentation of Imbalu, the ritualized circumcision of thousands of boys every other year in this remote community near Uganda’s border with Kenya.
Kamala, a common name in India, is associated with several deities and is a symbol of wisdom
By Archana Venkatesan — August 15, 2024
(The Conversation) — Kamala, a Sanskrit word for lotus, symbolizes wisdom. Its rooted in the fact that even though the flower blooms in a swamp, it remains untouched by the dirt around it.
US advocacy groups raise awareness for plight of Bangladeshi Hindus
By Richa Karmarkar — August 12, 2024
(RNS) — Some see the escalation of anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh as a chance to unite the global Hindu diaspora.
Five powerful faith moments at the Paris Olympics
By Ellie Davis and Chloë-Arizona Fodor — August 12, 2024
(RNS) — Athletes have long attributed faith to their success on the field. Paris was no exception.
Why is an ultimate goal called a ‘Holy Grail?’
By Joanne M. Pierce — August 12, 2024
(The Conversation) — Several threads, including pre-Christian mythology, veneration of relics in Christian tradition, and medieval literature, have combined over the centuries into the Holy Grail metaphor of today.
Islamic State’s genocide was not limited to killing and enslaving Yazidis, Christians and other communities − it also erased their heritage
By Alda Benjamen — August 8, 2024
(The Conversation) — A scholar of Iraq describes the ongoing loss following the genocidal violence by IS − not just of human lives, but of a rich cultural heritage.
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