How old would you want to be in heaven?
Most religions depict the afterlife as Club Med for young people.
December 19, 2019
878
Ethics
How St. Francis created the Nativity scene, with a miraculous event in 1223
Nativity scenes showing the birth of baby Jesus first originated in the small Italian town of Greccio.
December 18, 2019
389
Catholic activism, not repentance for sexual abuse, is what forces clergy to resign
Seven US bishops have been removed for covering up clergy sexual abuse since 2015 after decades of no accountability. An…
December 16, 2019
442
6 charts that illustrate the surprising financial strength of American houses of worship
Fewer people belong to a congregation or identify as Protestant or Catholic. And yet, most congregations say their membership…
December 16, 2019
373
'Organic' label doesn't guarantee that holiday ham was a happy pig
US federal regulations say little about how animals on organic farms should be treated. So if you're planning to serve…
December 13, 2019
519
Slave life's harsh realities are erased in Christmas tours of Southern plantations
Fictional accounts of white Southerners make it seem it was fun to be a slave on a plantation at holiday time. Many of today's…
December 12, 2019
387
Myanmar charged with genocide of Rohingya Muslims: 5 essential reads
Dozens of Muslim-majority countries are asking the UN's International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute a…
December 11, 2019
644
Mexican Mennonites combat fears of violence with a new Christmas tradition
Chronic violence was dampening the holiday spirit in Chihuahua, Mexico. So the Mennonite community planned a 'Parade…
December 11, 2019
381
How the 'extreme abstinence' of the purity movement created a sense of shame in evangelical women
Evangelicals who were taught as children that Christians abstain from sex until marriage are coming out and revealing the…
December 10, 2019
410
Why the US military usually punishes misconduct but police often close ranks
No 'blue wall of silence:' A military lawyer explains why the US armed forces take accountability and justice seriously.
December 6, 2019
650
What makes Christmas movies so popular
Holiday movies offer us a glimpse into how the world is could be, often in sharp contrast to our lives as they are. In that…
December 6, 2019
427
India's plan to identify 'illegal immigrants' could get some Muslims declared 'foreign'
Many women, Muslims and members of oppressed castes in India lack government-issued ID. Yet these documents may soon be…
December 5, 2019
675
An ethicist explains why philanthropy is no license to do bad stuff
Giving away big sums of money is supposed to make the world a better place. So, why are so many deep-pocketed donors getting…
December 5, 2019
574
Faith made Harriet Tubman fearless as she rescued slaves
Among Tubman's most daring feats was helping slaves escape. She believed she went into trances and had visions. These,…
December 3, 2019
473
The tricky ethics of Google's Project Nightingale
A project involving tens of millions of patient records poses ethical issues, even though patients could ultimately gain.…
December 3, 2019
820
Rick Perry's belief that Trump was chosen by God is shared by many in a fast-growing Christian movem
A Christian movement led by independent religious entrepreneurs, often referred to as 'apostles,' is changing the…
December 1, 2019
425
Five years after Islamic State massacre, an Iraqi minority is transformed by trauma
Interviews with the Yezidi survivors of IS attacks that killed 3,100 people in 2014 reveal the emotional, cultural and spiritual…
November 26, 2019
686
Israel’s West Bank settlements: 4 questions answered
The US delighted Israel and outraged Palestinians by announcing it sees nothing illegal with Jewish settlements in the West…
November 25, 2019
678
How American anti-Semitism reflects the centuries-long struggle over the meaning of religious libert
The US Constitution is supposed to protect freedom of religion. But in the 20th century, white Christian nationalists used…
November 25, 2019
392
Christians have lived in Turkey for two millennia – but their future is uncertain
The percentage of Christians in Turkey declined from nearly 25% in 1914 to less than 0.5% today. Their future looks even…
November 21, 2019
467