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The business case for religious freedom: Q&A with Brian J. Grim
By Brian Pellot — February 28, 2014
We often hear about religious freedom in the context of human rights and national security. Brian J. Grim, founding president of the new Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, argues that religious freedom is just as important for mom and pop shops and global economies.
Excerpts from the Ham on Nye showdown
By Kimberly Winston — February 5, 2014
(RNS) The two-and-a-half-hour debate Tuesday (Feb. 4) between Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis and Bill Nye the Science Guy was a much-hyped showdown between the creationism and evolution camps. Here are some morsels.
Is Salt Lake City the “most godless” city in America? Try again
By Jana Riess — January 31, 2014
Mormon-dominated Salt Lake City ranks lowest among US cities in Bible reading. Um, what?
Nazi ban * Blasphemy in Greece * Anti-gay Africa: Religious Freedom Recap: Jan. 20-27
By Brian Pellot — January 27, 2014
Israel considers a ban on Nazi symbols. Greece evokes its blasphemy laws to jail a man for poking fun of a monk on Facebook. And anti-gay laws are passed or challenged in Nigeria, Uganda and Malawi.
Books project helps atheists make the case for unbelief behind bars
By Kimberly Winston — January 22, 2014
(RNS) “Not all prisoners are religious, and I wanted them to know that to turn your life around and be a good and productive member of society does not require a belief in God,” says Leslie Zukor, founder of the Freethought Books Project.
It is Muhammad’s Birthday! Rumi’s take on Muhammad as the Prophet of Love
By Omid Safi — January 13, 2014
To celebrate the Prophet Muhammad's birthday, here is a short poem from Rumi, honoring the Prophet as the Mother of the Path of Love:
"Love is the path of my Prophet…. This love gave birth to me!"
2013: The top 14 Muslim news stories of the past year
By Omid Safi — December 30, 2013
2013 was a bloody, difficult, unraveling year for many Muslims around the world. May 2014 be a year that sees the discomforted comforted, the orphans cared for, the hungry fed, the naked clothed, the homeless provided with shelter. May there be a widening of the circle of compassion, may there be a real peace rooted in justice, and above all else, may all of us be participants in making it so.
A birthday prayer
By Omid Safi — December 12, 2013
I am reminded that all of us are born through some one else's pain, and raised through sacrifice. From the very beginning, love and suffering go hand in hand. And it remains that way. I give thanks for the love, and give thanks for all who sacrifice every day.
Iraqi refugee works to make life safer for secular humanists
By Ken Chitwood — December 3, 2013
(RNS) Most people assume that because Faisal Saeed Al-Mutar is an Iraqi refugee, he is Muslim. This is not the case. Al-Mutar is a secular humanist, and an outspoken one at that.
From Madonna to Lady Gaga: 10 of the most ‘blasphemous’ pop songs and music videos
By Brian Pellot — November 1, 2013
The dueling queens of pop join Kanye West and John Lennon as some of the biggest names in music whose work has been labeled “blasphemous.”
Israeli Racism and African immigrants: perverting Biblical teachings on immigrants
By Omid Safi — October 21, 2013
The treatment of Palestinians and African refugees is surely a serious challenge to the rosy depiction of Israel as a robust democracy. It also reflects a profound perversion of Jewish ethics and Biblical teachings.
How To Keep Malala from Being Appropriated: 5 points on Malala, Obama, and Jon Stewart
By Omid Safi — October 12, 2013
It is vital for Muslim reformers to have and maintain a holistic sense of justice in which one speaks simultaneously against both abuses of Muslim extremists and Western colonial powers. As for Malala, it means simultaneously to speak against the misogynist policies of the Taliban AND the violence inflicted on the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan by American drones.
Blasphemy! * Sexting statue * ‘Halal’ pork: Religious Freedom Recap: Sept. 30 – Oct. 7
By Brian Pellot — October 7, 2013
Blasphemy rights and wrongs. A religious group in Kansas tries to censor a sexting statue. And the British government is sued for feeding Muslim inmates pork-laced pies.
12 “blasphemous” artworks censored or vandalized by angry believers
By Brian Pellot — October 4, 2013
A New Yorker who recently penned an erotic version of the Bible woke up last week to find “BLASPHMY” spray painted across his front step. From Piss Christ to elephant dung Mary, here’s a look at 12 artworks that have been silenced or destroyed for exploring “blasphemous” themes.
From ‘Full House’ to ‘Modern Family’: Ten shows that forced us to reimagine the American family
By Jonathan Merritt — September 10, 2013
Ten shows from the 1960s until today that radically reshaped America's definition of family.
