Tag: religion
As minorities flee, the Middle East loses its once rich religious diversity
The Middle East, once a region of great religious diversity, has seen a mass emigration of minorities in recent decades. It's now one of the most religiously monolithic regions in the world. One Middle East scholar says the trend is likely to continue as tensions there continue to grow....
Egypt's Christians take advantage of Ramadan quiet to visit local beaches
With the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in full swing, Egypt is particularly quiet during the day time. That's given Egypt's Christians time to have the country's beaches to themselves....
German Jews and Muslims outraged over ban on circumcisions
A recent German court ruling that calls circumcision a "bodily harm" has sparked weeks of outrage among Germany's Jewish and Muslim communities. A group of rabbis went so far as to declare the court's decision "the worst attack on Jewish life in Germany since the Holocaust."...
Recent violence in Myanmar displaces thousands of Muslim minorities
Dozens of people have been killed in a month of violent clashes between Rohingya Muslims and Burmese Buddhists. Thousands more have fled their homes, seeking refuge in nearby towns and neighboring countries....
Turkish mosques begin makeovers to accommodate, welcome women
In Islam, men and women are expected to pray separately. For a long time, in Turkey at least, that meant men prayed at the mosques and women, well, didn't. But as Turkey becomes more affluent and Islam plays an important role in the government, there's an effort underway to change that and welcome them at the mosques....
Minnesota pastor about to lose his church over support for gay marriage
In 2005, Rev. Oliver White of Grace Community United Church announced his support for gay marriage. Two-thirds of his congregation left the church. The congregants left with their money, and in 2007, White was forced to take out a loan to keep the church afloat. The church now owes $200,000, and is at risk of closing its doors....
California's Averroes school offers an Islamic and American education
At the Averroes Institute, a private high school for Muslim Americans in Fremont, Calif., academic rigor is supplemented by religious study. Averroes is the first school of its kind in the area and teachers say the school helps support the needs of young Muslim Americans. ...
Egyptians prepare for presidential elections; candidate make final pleas
Egypt's presidential elections are set for this week. The candidates all seem to be lining up to claim the mantle of preserver of the revolution and champion of Islam. But who will capture the populace and excite them enough to be elected remains to be seen....
American nuns reprimanded by Vatican for 'radical feminist views'
The Vatican reprimanded the largest group of Catholic nuns in the United States two weeks ago for promoting "radical feminist themes." The reprimand was issued after a two-year investigation. The church has appointed an archbishop to oversee reform of the group, but many Catholics have come out in support of the American nun group....
New Tennessee law: encouraging creationism or academic freedom?
A new law in Tennessee will allow public school teachers to discuss alternatives to such scientific topics as evolution and climate change. The bill, known as the "academic freedom" law by its supporters and the "monkey bill," by its detractors, went into effect Friday....
