Doctrine & Practice
Muslims spot Ramadan crescent moon in Saudi Arabia, meaning month of fasting starts Monday for many
By Jon Gambrell — March 11, 2024
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — During Ramadan, those observing typically break their fast with a date and water, following the tradition set by the Prophet Muhammad.
A new memoir examines how to reclaim faith after a bipolar diagnosis
By Yonat Shimron — March 8, 2024
(RNS) — In her new book, 'Devout: A Memoir of Doubt,' Gazmarian lays bare how inadequately the church and church-approved therapists treated her condition and how she struggled to find another way.
Scorsese’s gods of the streets: From ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ to ‘Silence,’ faith is rarely far off in his films
By Anthony Smith — March 7, 2024
(The Conversation) — Though only a few of Scorsese’s films focus on religious stories, deeper questions about faith, doubt and living in a violent world tend to haunt his movies.
Tattooing has held a long tradition in Christianity − dating back to Jesus’ crucifixion
By Gustavo Morello — March 7, 2024
(The Conversation) — Historically, many Christians got tattoos around Holy Week − usually a cross − to honor Christ’s martyrdom.
The Church of England aims to raise more than $1 billion to address its past links to slavery
By Jill Lawless — March 5, 2024
LONDON (AP) — The fund was established as part of efforts by the Anglican church to reckon with its historic complicity in the trans-Atlantic slave trade
Hindu American organizations adopt a new short film on anti-Hindu ignorance
By Richa Karmarkar — February 28, 2024
(RNS) — Director Ravi Chand’s “Namaste Yoga,” released worldwide in late January, was created to highlight the challenges Hindu children face in the Western world.
Anti-immigrant pastors may be drawing attention – but faith leaders, including some evangelicals, are central to the movement to protect migrant rights
By Brad Christerson, Robert Chao Romero, and Alexia Salvatierra — February 26, 2024
(The Conversation) — Religious beliefs can provide motivation, hope and endurance in the long and often discouraging task of mobilizing people for social change.
Hinduism has no rules against marrying outside the faith. But couples say it has its bumps.
By Richa Karmarkar — February 20, 2024
(RNS) — Among American Hindus, a survey by the organization Interfaith Shaadi found that 38% marry outside the umbrella of Dharmic faiths — Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism.
Greece just legalized same-sex marriage. Will other Orthodox countries join them any time soon?
By Dasha Litvinova and Peter Smith — February 16, 2024
Roughly 200 million Eastern Orthodox live primarily in Eastern Europe and neighboring Asian lands, with about half that total in Russia, while smaller numbers live across the world.
Greece becomes first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex civil marriage
By Nicholas Paphitis — February 15, 2024
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Supporters, waving rainbow banners, and opponents of the bill, holding religious icons and praying, held separate small, peaceful gatherings outside parliament Thursday.
New animated Bible series aims to reach post-reading generation
By Fiona André — February 15, 2024
(RNS) — Watching the iBible will appeal to digital natives more than reading Scripture, said Steve Cleary, the project’s creator.
In this centuries-old English pancake race, ‘you just have to go flat out’
By Brian Melley and Kwiyeon Ha — February 15, 2024
OLNEY, England (AP) — The race is held the day before the start of Lent, the Christian period of repentance and sacrifice before Easter.
Greek lawmakers are debating a landmark bill to legalize same-sex marriage. Here’s what it means
By Derek Gatopoulos — February 14, 2024
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The journey toward legalizing same-sex civil marriage in Greece has been long and contentious, with governments in the past shying away from a confrontation with the Orthodox Church.
Malaysia’s top court invalidates state’s Islam-based laws on incest, sodomy and other offenses
By Eileen Ng — February 9, 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The court said that the state could not make Islamic laws on those topics because they are covered by Malaysian federal law.
What is Lunar New Year and how is it celebrated?
By Deepa Bharath — February 8, 2024
Lunar New Year begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon
