Opinion

Pastoral as well as radical, Bishop Spong gave priests ‘room to exist’

By Cynthia Black — September 15, 2021

(RNS) — The space he created for stretching boundaries was not only theological, but personal.

What’s the law on vaccine exemptions? A religious liberty expert explains

By Douglas Laycock — September 15, 2021

(The Conversation) — Plenty of groups are offering religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, but their legal basis isn’t as rock-solid as that might suggest.

It’s time at last for an ethical conversation about Afghanistan

By Jim Wallis — September 15, 2021

(RNS) — What have 20 years of war done to our values?

Pope calls on world to welcome refugees and immigrants

By Thomas Reese — September 14, 2021

(RNS) — During his visit to Hungary and Slovakia, Pope Francis was at his prophetic best, standing up for refugees who have been bloodied by war, starved by famine and displaced by persecution.

Bishop Spong: Theology without limit or bound

By John C. Dorhauer — September 14, 2021

(RNS) — Here was a bishop putting into words answers to the questions I had asked all my life.

China is quietly using Afghanistan to strengthen its authoritarian agenda

By David Curry — September 14, 2021

(Open Doors) — We are being given a rare glimpse of the immeasurable human cost incurred when authoritarianism is allowed to spread unimpeded.

How threats of hellfire helped keep ‘immodest’ women in their place – from the ancient world to ‘My Unorthodox Life’

By Meghan Henning — September 13, 2021

(The Conversation) — Ancient Christian and Jewish texts threatened women with hellfire if they stepped out of line – and those terrifying visions still resonate in U.S. society today.

I preached the Dickens about antisemitism

By Jeffrey Salkin — September 12, 2021

(RNS) — The antidote to antisemitism? Pro-semitism.

Claiming the freedom to decide who is Hindu American

By Indu Viswanathan — September 10, 2021

(RNS) — A conference claiming to protect Hindu Americans dismisses the dangers we face.

Hinduphobia is a smokescreen for Hindu nationalists

By Feminist Critical Hindu Studies Collective — September 10, 2021

(RNS) — Hindus do experience racism, but co-opting the term to critique a conference on Hindu nationalism doesn't help.

Practicing Hinduphobia in the guise of academic freedom

By Deepali Kulkarni — September 10, 2021

(RNS) — Academic freedom doesn't justify demonizing Hindus who don’t share a predetermined viewpoint.

Blocklisting at Brigham Young University

By Jana Riess — September 10, 2021

(RNS) — The erasure of historian Benjamin Park's involvement from the Maxwell Institute's website reflects poorly on the institute and on BYU, particularly since he says he hasn't been told why it happened.

On the day they wounded New York

By Jeffrey Salkin — September 10, 2021

Twenty years later, and the smoke has not yet cleared.

9/11 and Muslims’ mental health

By Dalia Mogahed — September 10, 2021

(RNS) — A new study suggests that US Muslims are twice as likely as other faith groups to have attempted suicide.

America and US Muslims have come a long way since 9/11. We have a long way to go.

By Omid Safi — September 10, 2021

(RNS) — Whereas many immigrant U.S. Muslims once sought to assimilate into the larger mosaic of American life, with 9/11, the focus has now shifted into forming a ‘more perfect union’ based on justice for all.