Iran’s ruling structure explained
Although the supreme leader assumes the majority of power, Iran’s regime consists of a network of governing bodies.
March 12, 2026
96
Ethics
‘The Tibetan Book of the Dead’ is actually not just about death
Rooted in the Buddhist teaching of the bardo − states of ‘in-between’ − the text offers a way to understand death,…
March 12, 2026
82
As Iran war expands, some conservative Christians interpret the conflict through biblical prophecies
For some Americans, biblical prophecies about the end-times serve as a guide to conflicts in the Middle East today.
March 12, 2026
77
Notions of ‘Christendom’ often miss the mark – medieval Europe’s ideas about faith and power were no
There has never been a singular Christian perspective on how religion, power and politics ought to relate to each other…
March 11, 2026
78
Women of the Rosenstrasse protest challenged the Nazi regime for their detained Jewish husbands’ fre
Couples in interfaith marriages came under intense pressure in Nazi Germany. But women’s protests in February 1943 may…
March 10, 2026
77
Making good choices when life gets messy – practical wisdom relies on human judgment, not rules
The ancient Greek word phronesis means practical wisdom. It’s about choosing the right action at the right time for the…
March 10, 2026
142
What James Madison can teach Americans about religious freedom today
For Madison, religious freedom was not a tool for political domination. Rather, he saw it as a constitutional safeguard…
March 9, 2026
74
Today’s obsession with authenticity isn’t new – being true to yourself has troubled philosophers for
Contemporary culture seems obsessed with authenticity – but the question of how to be ‘sincere’ in modern society…
March 6, 2026
88
How does Iran go about selecting a new supreme leader? And who is in the running?
Media reports have cast the son of slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a top candidate for supreme leader. A scholar of Iranian…
March 5, 2026
94
Front lines of humor: Dark humor voices Ukrainians’ hopes for victory
Humor has served many functions since Russia’s full-scale invasion, from providing Ukrainians with a sense of escape and…
March 4, 2026
84
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing plays into Shiite Islam’s reverence for martyrs, but not for all Ir
Khamenei was a deeply polarizing figure in Iran – perceived by some as a martyr and others as an oppressor.
March 2, 2026
85
The apocrypha, Christianity’s ‘hidden’ texts, may not be in the Bible – but they have shaped traditi
‘Apocrypha’ means ‘hidden’ in Greek, but it is often used to describe texts that are outside the official biblical…
February 26, 2026
112
Minneapolis united when federal immigration operations surged – reflecting a long tradition of mutua
Minnesotans from all walks of life, including suburban moms, veterans and protest novices, have bucked their ‘nice’…
February 26, 2026
95
The cost of casting animals as heroes and villains in conservation science
New research shows how these storytelling choices can distort science – and how to move beyond them.
February 25, 2026
160
Baptists have helped shape debate about religious freedom for over 400 years – up to today’s 10 Comm
The phrase ‘separation of church and state’ dates back to a letter from Thomas Jefferson to a Baptist congregation.
February 24, 2026
157
Why standing in solidarity with immigrants is an act of accompaniment in Catholic philosophy
Accompaniment, rooted in modern Catholic social thought, calls for putting the needs of the most vulnerable first.
February 24, 2026
80
Meekness isn’t weakness – once considered positive, it’s one of the ‘undersung virtues’ that deserve
The word ‘meekness’ might seem old-fashioned – and not a positive trait. But understanding its original meaning can…
February 23, 2026
76
I’m a philosopher who tries to see the best in others – but I know there are limits
Seeing someone charitably requires a balancing act between taking them seriously and trying to see the good in them.
February 20, 2026
93
Why Michelangelo’s ‘Last Judgment’ endures
The artist used daring imagery that sparked controversy from the moment it was unveiled.
February 19, 2026
94
Revisiting the story of Clementine Barnabet, a Black woman blamed for serial murders in the Jim Crow
In 1912, a young Black woman’s supposed religious beliefs were quickly blamed to make sense of a terrifying crime spree.
February 17, 2026
87