Religion HubThe Religion Hub is a feature of the Global Religion Journalism Initiative – a collaborative effort of Religion News Service, the Associated Press and The Conversation US. Made possible by Lilly Endowment, Inc.
Australian leader criticizes X for failing to remove church violence content
By Rod Mcguirk — April 23, 2024
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Albanese said social media posts, misinformation and dissemination of violent images had exacerbated suffering from the Christ the Good Shepherd Church attack.
War, hostages, antisemitism: A somber backdrop to this year’s Passover observances
By David Crary — April 22, 2024
(AP) – This year, for many Jews, the holiday’s mood will be somber due to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the rise of antisemitic incidents elsewhere.
Lama Rod describes himself as a Black Buddhist Southern Queen. He wants to free you from suffering
By Luis Andres Henao — April 22, 2024
ROME, Ga (AP) —Today, he is an influential voice in a new generation of Buddhist teachers, respected for his work focused on social change, identity and spiritual wellness.
London police to meet with Jewish leaders as protests spark concerns about the safety of Jews
By Danica Kirka — April 22, 2024
LONDON (AP) — The meeting comes as London police struggle to manage tensions sparked by the Israel-Hamas war, with some Jewish residents saying they feel threatened by repeated pro-Palestinian marches through the streets of the U.K. capital.
Tunisian Jews scale back annual pilgrimage to ancient synagogue because of security concerns
By Massinissa Benlakehal — April 22, 2024
TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Thousands regularly make the journey to Djerba — the North African island where many of Tunisia’s remaining 1,500 Jews reside — to celebrate the Jewish holiday Lag B’Omer.
From sumptuous engravings to stick-figure sketches, Passover Haggadahs − and their art − have been evolving for centuries
By Rebecca J.W. Jefferson — April 22, 2024
(The Conversation) — A scholar highlights some of the most interesting versions of the Passover text and how they’ve met communities’ changing needs around the world.
Mandisa, Grammy-winning singer and ‘American Idol’ alum, dies at 47
By Associated Press — April 19, 2024
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A representative said the cause of Mandisa's death was not yet known.
3 things to learn about patience − and impatience − from al-Ghazali, a medieval Islamic scholar
By Liz Bucar — April 19, 2024
(The Conversation) — In religious traditions, patience is more than waiting, or even more than enduring a hardship. But what does patience look like? And when should we not exercise patience?
Maurizio Cattelan, Zoe Saldana join iconoclastic Vatican Biennale exhibition inside women’s prison
By Colleen Barry — April 19, 2024
VENICE, Italy (AP) — Pope Francis, who met with over 200 artists in the Sistine Chapel last year, will see the mural for himself when he visits the pavilion April 28.
Teenager is charged with terrorism offenses in stabbings of bishop and priest at Sydney church
By Mark Baker and Keiran Smith — April 19, 2024
SYDNEY (AP) — A crowd of up to 600 people converged on the church after the attack, some demanding that police hand over the boy.
John Adams’ Nativity oratorio ‘El Nino’ gets colorful staging at the Met
By Mike Silverman — April 19, 2024
NEW YORK (AP) —The production is a retelling of the birth and early life of Jesus through a mix of biblical verses and modern Latin American poetry, medieval texts and apocrypha.
New leader of Jesse Jackson’s civil rights organization steps down just months on the job
By Sophia Tareen — April 18, 2024
CHICAGO (AP) —Haynes, 63, said he felt it was “necessary” to move on in light of “challenges that continue to exist,” but declined to elaborate further.
Once a fringe Indian ideology, Hindu nationalism is now mainstream, thanks to Modi’s decade in power
By Krutika Pathi and Sheikh Saaliq — April 18, 2024
AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — Supporters and critics agree on one thing: Modi has achieved staying power by making Hindu nationalism acceptable — desirable, even — to a nation of 1.4 billion that for decades prided itself on pluralism and secularism
Israelis grapple with how to celebrate Passover, a holiday about freedom, while many remain captive
By Sam Mednick — April 18, 2024
JERUSALEM (AP) — This year, Alon Gat is struggling with how to reconcile a holiday commemorating freedom after his mother was slain and other family members abducted when Hamas attacked Israel.
Sydney teen accused of stabbing 2 clerics showed no signs of radicalization, Muslim leader says
By Rod Mcguirk and Mark Baker — April 18, 2024
SYDNEY (AP) — The teen spoke in Arabic about the Prophet Muhammad being insulted after he stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and the Rev. Isaac Royel during Monday night's Assyrian Orthodox service, which was being streamed online.
