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Religion

<p>Our ongoing coverage of faith and religion — and its influence on important issues around the globe.</p>

Muslims pray in a mosque during celebrations of Eid al-Fitr holiday, a feast celebrated by Muslims worldwide, in Grozny, Russia, on Thursday, May 13, 2021.

The world celebrates Eid — including some of The World’s listeners

Religion

We asked The World’s listeners to share what Eid al-Fitr means to them and their families. Here’s what they told us.

Sabha Aminikia immigrated to the US as a refugee and began studying at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. But even as he launched his career in America, his music was often focused on Iran.

Iranian American composer Sahba Aminikia: Music transforms like raindrops that ‘wash this part of humanity’

Movement
The US Constitution's first page

Americans are prone to reading Constitution as scripture, says legal scholar

US politics
A large group of people sit on a wooden boat with a man rowing at the head of the boat toward a golden colored city at night.

In ‘Twice Born,’ author Aatish Taseer explores the impact of caste in today’s India

Caste in America
A woman poses for a photo surrounded by red Christmas ornaments in Bangkok, Thailand.

Photos: The world celebrates Christmas

Religion

Novelist Mark Salzman on Devotion

Arts, Culture & Media

Kurt Andersen and novelist Mark Salzman look at the close intersections of artistic creation and religious devotion. Salzman is the author of Iron and Silk, The Soloist, and Lost in Place. His latest book, Lying Awake, about the spiritual journey of a Carmelite nun, has just been published in paperback by Vintage.

Novelist Mark Salzman on Religious Devotion

Arts, Culture & Media

Kurt Andersen and novelist Mark Salzman look at the close intersections of artistic creation and religious devotion.Salzman is the author ofIron and Silk,The Soloist, andLost in Place. His latest book,Lying Awake, about the spiritual journey of a Carmelite nun, has just been published in paperback by Vintage. (Originally aired: November 10, 2001)

Qawwali

Arts, Culture & Media

Qawwali is a bridge between the human and the divine. Ishrat Ansari, of the Pakistani cultural foundation Virsa, and Robert Browning of the World Music Institute talk about the transporting sound of the devotional folk music of the Sufi Muslims. (Originally aired: November 10, 2001)

Sonic Buddhism

Arts, Culture & Media

Producer Karen Michel explores what sound means in Zen and Tibetan traditions. (Originally aired: November 10, 2001)

Aha Moment: Matisyahu

Arts, Culture & Media

Reggae music often draws on Old Testament mythology about the exodus and the promised land, but in America its fans are usually pretty secular. A singer named Matisyahu is changing that. He’s a Hasidic Jew, and his shows are packed with young Orthodox men as well as dreadlocked hippies. Matisyahu explains how he got on […]

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