The first cherry blossom viewing was organized in Japan by Emperor Saga in 812 C.E. In the ensuing years, poetry on cherry…
Plenty of movies have explicitly religious themes, but some of the most interesting examples of faith or transcendence on…
Historically, many Christians got tattoos around Holy Week − usually a cross − to honor Christ’s martyrdom.
Though only a few of Scorsese’s films focus on religious stories, deeper questions about faith, doubt and living in a…
The iconic image of a witch on a broomstick has apocryphal origins. But whether they could actually fly didn’t stop Christian…
Non-English language cinema – previously seen by niche audiences – is increasingly finding acceptance and recognition,…
Secular Jewish groups have historically made up the majority of solidarity and peace groups. But Palestinian citizens and…
Religion and nationalism were once ideologies at odds. Now, they are increasingly bedfellows, with populism often the glue.
In medieval Japan, healing might mean taking medicine, undergoing an exorcism or sidestepping harm in the first place by…
How the media talks about suffering on one side compared with the other can often reveal bias in the Israeli-Palestinian…
European women’s rights expanded in early medieval cities, though they were still limited. Last wills and testaments were…
A scholar of South Asian religions explains how one lesson from the text, ‘nishkama karma’ – or acting without desire…
Religious beliefs can provide motivation, hope and endurance in the long and often discouraging task of mobilizing people…
Changing the ‘psychological distance’ someone feels toward an issue can shift their attitudes in ways that might help…
Faith and reason are often treated as opposites. But some philosophers believe they can only strengthen each other, including…
You can donate to environmental charities and even purchase carbon offsets, but not having an additional child typically…
The Turkish government started sending imams to Germany in the 1980s, but under a new agreement, imams will be trained in…
Brain-computer interface devices have the potential to boost users’ autonomy, especially for people who experience paralysis.…
Two scholars who study death rituals explain that the corpse is considered spiritually polluting in many religious traditions,…
Tech companies are offering AI companions as a convenient cure for the loneliness epidemic, but there have been other forms…