Tunisian human rights defender Badr Baabou at a traditional market in the spiritual city of Sousse, Tunisia, deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Arab-Muslim and Mediterranean architecture. RNS photo by Priyadarshini Sen
Need to know: Thursday, January 9, 2020
Woman Sufi saint inspires Badr Baabou, an LGBTQ activist in Tunisia
Badr Baabou, a Muslim LGBT activist and head of the Tunisian Association for Justice and Equality, draws inspiration from the 13th century Sufi saint Aisha Al-Manoubya.
Pete Buttigieg attended private meeting with black theologians, thought leaders
'It was an opportunity for Mayor Pete to learn, to listen, and to hear,' said Kelly Brown Douglas.
Most states agree to admit refugees as judge hears lawsuit to stop resettlement order
A federal judge heard arguments Wednesday (Jan. 8) in the lawsuit by three faith-based organizations against the federal government over a recent executive order allowing state and local officials to block refugee resettlement.
Tech company CEO faces backlash over participation in Hindu nationalist event
Facing online backlash, the California-based CEO of enterprise software company Zoho has doubled down on plans to attend an event hosted by India's RSS paramilitary group.
‘Muslims in my house’: A tribute to a beloved centenarian
A small-town hero, she said yes to our fledgling Islamic school during a time of uncertainty for Muslims, delving deep into what it means to be American, writes Afeefa Syeed.
Pope Francis lists the world crises from the obscure to the existential, saying 2020 is off to a rough start
The pope spent 45 minutes talking about wars and could-be wars, exploitation, sexual abuse, Internet hate speech, international indifference to humanitarian crises, and the depressing state of the world’s fight against climate change.
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Ethical vegans in UK win court protection for their creed
LONDON (RNS) — A ruling in an alleged wrongful termination case said that ethical veganism qualified as a philosophical belief under the U.K.'s Equality Act 2010.
Dale Partridge, Christian ‘influencer’ and church planter, haunted by plagiarism claims
Partridge says that house churches — small, intimate communities of faith — can restore hope to those who have lost faith in organized religion. The social media guru and serial entrepreneur has reinvented himself as pastor for the digital age in recent years. But he has struggled to overcome a history of plagiarism.
Iranian cultural sites include landmarks important to Jews and Christians, too
Among Iran's important religious sites are the tombs of Esther and Mordecai, Daniel and King Cyrus.
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Courtiers and kings, evangelicals, prophets and Trump
(RNS) — If evangelical leaders don't oppose the president's worst behavior with prophetic witness, they are complicit in his sins.
Atheists prefer cats, Christians love dogs, study shows
New questions on the General Social Survey reveal some interesting connections between faith and pets, writes Ryan Burge.
We are all Jews here
(RNS) — When Jew haters knock a yarmulke off a Jew's head, that's my yarmulke, and my head, as well.
