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Need to know: Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Jakarta’s Christian governor found guilty of blasphemy against Islam
Many see the harsher than expected verdict and sentencing as a blow to religious tolerance in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.
Federal appeals court grills Trump team over ‘Muslim ban’
The 13 appellate judges, who include 10 nominated by Democratic presidents, seemed likely to rule against Trump.
Army secretary nominee retreats, blaming attacks on his religion
A Southern Baptist lawmaker picked by President Trump as Secretary of the Army has withdrawn his nomination, saying criticism of his past voting record and public comments had become a distraction.
Detention of American Christian in North Korea ‘concerning’ — White House
North Korea has detained a U.S. citizen — a self-described Christian missionary — raising the number of Americans held there to four.
Belgium’s largest province effectively outlaws kosher and halal meats
The requirement that slaughterers stun animals before they are killed runs contrary to both Jewish and Muslim dietary rules.
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Latest news from RNS
How the British developed a taste for religion in politics
The reasons are complex and include an aggressive secularism, the influx of migrants of other faiths and fears about Islam.
Indonesia to disband hard-line Islamist group
(Reuters) Islamist vigilante groups, though usually small and on the fringes of society, are widely seen as a threat to Indonesia's tradition of pluralism and moderate Islam.
Nigeria exchanges 82 Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram for prisoners
The kidnapping was one of the high-profile incidents of Boko Haram’s insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast, now in its eighth year and with little sign of ending.
More views from RNS
Do evangelicals lack ‘intellectual heft’ for the Supreme Court?
(RNS) While evangelical scholars continue to address the important issues of the mind, we also need to be working more generally on the spirit we bring to public engagement.
Is ‘Norman’ good for the Jews?
Richard Gere's "Norman" will make Jews cringe. That's because we know him.
How Trump might come to love the Johnson Amendment
If the USCCB follows the example of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
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Bonus tracks
- Stephen Fry faces blasphemy probe after God comments
- Café churches are on the rise in South Korea
- How a group of women is trying to end female genital mutilation within their Muslim sect
- Some American Jews are breaking the taboo against proselytizing
- To stem hatred, a Muslim cook started inviting strangers to dinner
