Tag: religion
Among Myanmar's large Buddhist population, monks, monasteries play important role
Most young Buddhist boys are expected to spend some time in monasteries as they grow up. It has a religious purpose, for them and their families, but also a practical one -- with monasteries making sure they are educated and fed while they're there. But choosing whether to remain a monk is a difficult choice....
'I am a Mormon' campaign launches in London, in response to play's debut
Americans got used to seeing the "I am a Mormon" ads during the last presidential campaign. But now, Brits are being introduced them as well, as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints responds to the British debut of the hit play, The Book of Mormon....
Yangon Muslims watch nervously as violence spreads in Myanmar
Myanmar is lurching through its transition from military dictatorship to almost-democracy. As it does, tensions between religious groups are increasing. After two Muslim boys died in a fire at their school, the country is on edge....
Major funder of atheist organization addresses discrimination against non-religious in the U.S.
A poll from the Pew Research Center found that the number of Americans who identify as not being religious has grown. Despite these numbers, Todd Stiefel, major funder of what he calls a "free thinkers movement," says atheists are one of the groups most discriminated against....
New Pope Francis gets less than warm greeting from Venezuela
Former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had a bristly relationship with the institutional Catholic Church in Rome, and in Caracas. So, while much of Latin America has been celebrating a South American being installed as Pope Francis, reaction in Venezuela has been muted....
New book seeks to guide Orthodox Jewish newly weds in sexual intimacy
The followers of the Orthodox branch of judaism take modesty to extreme levels. Girls and boys rarely make eye contact, even. So when a girl and a boy ultimately marry, there's often little knowledge about how sexual relationships are supposed to work. A new book seeks to delicately help them figure out that question....
Latino Catholics in the U.S. embrace Catholic Church's new Argentinian pope
The growing U.S. Hispanic population is largely Catholic, just like much of Latin America, so many of them were particularly excited by the choice of an Argentinian, a latino, as the next pope. But just as in South America, the Latino Catholic Church in the U.S. is not as strong as it once was....
Argentina's Dirty War revisited after new pope is elected
The selection of Jorge Bergoglio as the next leader of the Catholic Church has reopened old wounds from Argentina's past during the Dirty War. But some activists say Pope Francis shouldn't be lumped in with church figures who supported the dictatorship....
Catholic Church unveils Pope Francis as next leader
The 115 cardinals of the Catholic Church on Wednesday, after a full day of conclave, chose Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as its next spiritual leader, the 266th leader of the Catholic Church. Bergoglio, who took the name Pope Francis, is an Argentinian and was not among the favorites to ascend to the chair of St. Peter....
Provocative artist Charles Krafft goes public as Holocaust denier
Charles Krafft has generated a wide following for his provocative art. But until recently, he wasn't especially controversial. But a reporter recently uncovered, and confirmed, that Krafft doesn't believe in the Holocaust....
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