Islam
How Franklin Graham transformed a debate about Duke Chapel into a culture war (COMMENTARY)
By Aaron Griffith — January 23, 2015
(RNS) The apple does not fall too far from the tree, because even though Franklin Graham seems to have departed from his father’s more gentle demeanor, there is commonality in their communication strategy. Like his father, the younger Graham is preaching to the choir.
Meet the tireless women working to free Raif Badawi and Waleed Abu al-Khair
By Chris Stedman — January 20, 2015
Samar Badawi, Ensaf Haidar, and Elham Manea talk with RNS about their efforts to free Raif Badawi and Waleed Abu al-Khair—and explain what others can do to help.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan denounces Paris attacks, says satirists not to blame
By David Gibson — January 13, 2015
NEW YORK (RNS) The archbishop of New York seemed to part ways with another prominent New York Catholic, Bill Donohue of the Catholic League, who essentially said Charlie Hebdo editors had brought on their own slaughter.
German Muslims rally for tolerance amid rising anti-Muslim protests
By Mihret Yohannes — January 13, 2015
BERLIN (RNS) The Central Council of Muslims in Germany and other Muslim groups organized the rally with the slogan “Let’s be there for each other. Terror: not in our name!”
#IndiaWithPakistan and #illridewithyou show social media solidarity amid tragedy
By Brian Pellot — December 17, 2014
Attacks in Sydney and Pakistan shocked the world this week. Amid these tragedies we witnessed unexpected solidarity and outpourings of support on social media, hatred being countered by hashtags and the hope of reconciliation.
Détente on Christmas * Beard passes * Christ Bless Mississippi: Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — December 4, 2014
This month's religious freedom news and views from around the world. Read with caution. Prozac optional.
Women: Just 1% of the Bible
By Jana Riess — November 25, 2014
Women's words account for just over 1% of the Bible, but author Lindsay Hardin Freeman is determined to tell their stories. "These woman are real, dynamic, challenging, and fallible," she says. "God’s love for them, and us, is as strong as the world’s foundations."
Myanmar journalists draft Religion Newswriters Resolution on Covering Religious Freedom and Conflict
By Brian Pellot — November 19, 2014
Religion Newswriters assembled 15 journalists, editors and media professionals from across Myanmar for an intensive training course on how best to cover religious freedom and conflict. Here’s the resolution they bring back to their newsrooms.
Atheists tweet more often than Muslims, Jews, Christians, study shows
By Kimberly Winston — October 3, 2014
(RNS) A new study of Twitter finds that atheists -- among the smallest populations in the U.S. -- are the most prolific tweeters.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali draws criticism from fellow atheists at Yale
By Kimberly Winston — September 15, 2014
(RNS) A campus appearance by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the outspoken Muslim-turned-atheist activist, is being challenged again, this time at Yale University. But this time her fellow ex-Muslims and atheists are among her critics.
Regensburg Redux: Was Pope Benedict XVI right about Islam? (ANALYSIS)
By David Gibson — September 10, 2014
Now, with the Islamic State on the march in the Middle East, leaving a trail of horrifying brutality and bloodshed that has shocked the world, some of Pope Benedict’s allies on the Catholic right are saying, in effect, “He told you so.”
Sayeeda Warsi, first Muslim in British Cabinet, resigns over ‘indefensible’ Gaza policy
By Brian Pellot — August 5, 2014
LONDON (RNS) Britain’s leading religious freedom advocate stepped down as Foreign Office minister Tuesday in protest over her government’s “morally indefensible” policy on the Gaza crisis.
World War I at 100: New books examine the battle of beliefs behind the ‘Great War’
By Kimberly Winston — July 18, 2014
(RNS) “If you do not understand the messianic and apocalyptic imagery used by all sides, and how wide-ranging those images were among all classes, all groups, all nations, you cannot hope to understand the war," scholar Philip Jenkins says.
Breaking the Ramadan fast in the company of Jews
By Lauren Markoe — July 10, 2014
(RNS) Muslim-Jewish iftars are popping up across the nation, bringing together dozens and sometimes hundreds of people for a celebratory Ramadan meal at which both faiths can forge a deeper interfaith understanding.
The ‘Splainer: Who is the new caliph on the block?
By Kimberly Winston — July 1, 2014
(RNS) The last caliph reigned from the seat of the Ottoman Empire -- that’s Turkey to you -- until he was deposed in1924. Since then many Islamic groups have called for the re-establishment of the caliphate. So how big is the new caliphate, and what does it all mean?
