Jainism
The many stories of Diwali share a common theme of triumph of justice
By Natasha Mikles — November 13, 2020
(The Conversation) — The Indian festival of lights is arguably the most important holiday of the year for South Asian families.
More than 1 billion people celebrate on Diwali. What does it mean to them?
By Simran Jeet Singh — October 18, 2019
(RNS) — In the various stories that make Diwali a holy day for so many, we have models of what true righteousness looks like. They are sharp rejoinders of what we should be doing and how we should be living.
Jains gather in California with the next generation on their minds
By Paul O'Donnell — July 10, 2019
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — The ancient Indian faith has seen tremendous growth in the U.S. over the past two decades, largely through immigration. Now the challenge is sustaining the faith's numbers among millennials and Gen Z.
Diet and free exercise: who gets to say whose belief is sincere?
By Brian Britt — June 20, 2019
(Sightings) — In the Masterpiece Cake case, Justice Kennedy wrote, “The reason and motive for the baker’s refusal were based on his sincere religious beliefs and convictions.” How did he know? How can we ever know?
A Jain library steps gingerly into the 21st century
By Ellen Ioanes — May 9, 2017
AHMEDABAD, India (RNS) The Gitarthganga Institute has over 125,000 books, manuscripts and ebooks. Five thousand books have been added to the digital database, along with thousands of ebooks, articles and photos.
Can the swastika ever be redeemed?
By Kimberly Winston — February 9, 2017
(RNS) How did the swastika travel from prehistorical India to a New York City subway last week? Can it its original meaning as a sign of fertility, good fortune and hope be restored?
Aid to dying: What Jainism – one of India’s oldest religions – teaches us
By The Conversation — June 12, 2016
On June 9, a law allowing patients with terminal illnesses to end their lives with help from a physician came into effect in California, opening conversations about whether human life should be prolonged against the desire to die peacefully and with dignity. RELATED STORY: California’s End of Life Option law: More peaceful deaths or moral quicksand? […]
RFRA’s END(A)? * Iraq’s Christians * Foreskin sorcery: July’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — August 4, 2014
Hobby Lobby ruling prompts calls for the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to be scrapped. Mosul’s Christians are ordered to convert to Islam or face death. And Zimbabwe might ban circumcision because foreskins could be used in witchcraft, obviously.
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.
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