(AP) — Pope Francis took a stroll to greet crowds, Buddhists lit lanterns in South Korea, prayers and fireworks abounded as the world welcomed 2018.

(AP) Blasphemy laws are a life-or-death issue in Pakistan's conservative society, with harsh prison sentences or execution for lawbreakers.

(RNS) — After condemnation from conservatives, 'The Message' author says he regrets telling RNS columnist Jonathan Merritt that he would officiate a same-sex wedding.

(AP)When a Buddhist widow married a Rohingya Muslim, her parents disowned her. The couple lives in fear in the shadow of violence.

(RNS) — This week's picks for our weekly gallery of religion photos from around the world.

Last October, evangelicalism was rocked by the launch of ChurchClarity.org, an organization that reports churches’ LGBTQ+ policies and rates congregations based on their level of clarity. The website angered Christians on both sides of the issue. Some conservatives attacked the CC’s liberal leadership, while some progressives claimed that labeling churches undermined progress. Nevertheless, Church Clarity persisted. […]

The explanation for near-death experiences was buried in history. So religion and science ignored it. But psychotherapy serendipitously uncovered its reality about a quarter-century ago. Since then it has been a fact of life, is widely publicized, and has accumulated substantial documentation around the world. This fact of life is also the cause of near-death experiences. It is our souls, which God has given each of us for at least the past one hundred thousand years. He still creates each soul with special capabilities, as is reflected in their being called “sparks of God.”

(RNS) — President Trump’s born-again-like embrace of evangelical politics was the biggest religion story of the year, but a shooting at a Texas church, a wedding cake that a Christian baker refused to make and the status of Jerusalem also grabbed headlines.

(AP) Egypt's Christian minority has been targeted by Islamic militants in a series of attacks since December 2016 that left more than 100 dead and scores wounded.

Yes, but Jews would like to be an exception to the rule.

(AP) The New Jersey town council was pressured by the state to drop its ban on New Yorkers visiting its public park. The council had also tried — and failed — to ban boundary markers Jews use to observe Sabbath rules.

(RNS) Christian women online have found new platforms to teach, preach and connect. "God isn't trademarked," says Sarah Bessey.

(AP) The Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul and survivors of abuse by priests, seeking millions in claims, have been ordered negotiate.

(AP) Afghan president Ashraf Ghani called the attack a "crime against humanity."

(AP) A Han Chinese salesman is imprisoned for social media posts criticizing policies toward Uighurs. Now, his wife and son fled to the U.S. this month, seeking asylum.