(OPINION) Prayer apps are not new. Silicon Valley startups popularized mindfulness and meditation apps as early as 2010, although many have criticized those apps for being spiritually shallow. The young founders of Hallow are among those who felt that mindfulness apps did not meet their religious needs and set out to create their own.
Read More(OPINION) By count of the Death with Dignity organization — which devised Oregon’s pioneering 1997 law under which 1,905 lives have been ended as of Jan. 22 — 10 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized euthanasia. And assignment editor’s note: 14 more states are currently debating such proposals.
Read More(OPINION) Race, religion and politics are intimately connected in the United States. Beliefs that America is exceptional have inspired views across the political spectrum, and many congregations that emphasize social justice say Americans must create opportunity and inclusion for all — because all people are equally valued by God.
Read More(OPINION) This month, voters in Hamtramck, Michigan, elected a Muslim mayor and city council — a first for the state and possibly the country. It is worth reflecting on what this event signifies for the health of the polity, and indeed, the very nature of the American constitutional order.
Read More(REVIEW) On the very first page of Karl Ove Knausgård’s new novel, “The Morning Star,” you will find a quotation from Revelation 9:6, giving the reader a key to understanding the separate life stories that make up the book: “During that time these men will seek death, but they will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.
Read More(OPINION) In “The Most Reluctant Convert,” the famous Christian writer C.S. Lewis first explains how he became an atheist after the shallow Christianity of his childhood. But later in life, the move back to Christianity was aided by a circle of Oxford friends, including the famous scholar and novelist J.R.R. Tolkien.
Read More(OPINION) On Nov. 10, the Iran Atrocities Tribunal opened its doors to a series of public hearings to investigate allegations of mass killings of protesters by the Iranian government in 2019. Amnesty International published a report detailing the deaths of 304 people killed by Iran’s security forces during the November crackdown.
Read More(OPINION) There are some who say that whatever happens is ordained by God. Therefore, we should thank him for everything, including murder and rape and cancer. But Michael Brown says he does not see this as the theology of Scripture, nor does he see this as an essential part of God’s sovereignty.
Read More(OPINION) Between 2006 and 2019, close to 1,200 journalists were killed for reporting the news — approximately 100 journalists per year. In nine out of ten cases, the killers do not face justice. This impunity begets further crimes, enabling not only crimes against journalists but also the continuation of crimes they were attempting to uncover.
Read More(OPINION) Families and friends traditionally gather to express gratitude during this time of year. Many also participate in acts of service and charity as a way of giving back to their local communities.
Read More(OPINION) Afghanistan is probably the most heavily Muslim of nations, and the Taliban who regained power in August proudly proclaim totalist governance based upon strictly interpreted and enforced Shariah — Islamic law. This example of Islam in action presents a huge challenge to the world religion.
Read More(REVIEW) Jonathan Franzen’s latest novel, “Crossroads,” testifies to humanity’s desperate, unremitting search for grace and ability to find it in unlikely places as it follows five members of a dysfunctional Midwestern U.S. family in the early 1970s who grapple with a paralyzing sense of unworthiness.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights four key religion trends to watch as the pandemic rages on. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read More(OPINION) Whether Catholics who go against church doctrine should receive Holy Communion remained a hot topic as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops braced for its fall 2021 meetings this week (Nov. 15-18) in Baltimore. But the bishops know they have other problems that are affecting bottom-line issues in American parishes.
Read More(OPINION) How do Latter-day Saints view the polygamy in their faith's past? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon church, was founded in 1830 by the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr., who later began practicing and advocating polygamy, a controversial teaching.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the Supreme Court arguments over a Texas death row inmate who wants his pastor with him at his execution. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read More(OPINION) This year the peaceful celebration of Durga Puja that is so cherished by Hindus in Bangladesh was fraught with violence against Hindus and their places of worship.
Read More(OPINION) People often view scientists as “Godless.” But while its true that some — particularly members of the “new atheism movement” — couple their irreligion with an aggressive critique of religious belief as a threat to societal well-being, most atheist scientists in the U.S. and U.K. are not anti-religious.
Read More(OPINION) Media eyes are trained on the U.S. Supreme Court's Dec. 1 argument on Mississippi's abortion restrictions, preceded by a fast-tracked Nov. 1 hearing about the stricter law in Texas. But don't neglect the Court's Dec. 8 hearing and subsequent decision on tax funding of religious schools in the potentially weighty Carson v. Makin case.
Read More(OPINION) Mark Zuckerberg says “meta” — from the Greek word meaning beyond — “symbolizes that there is always more to build.” Uh, not quite. “Meta” does mean beyond, but it doesn’t signify there’s always more to build. In fact, it signifies boundaries. And if you’re in an ancient faith tradition, you’ll recognize it is God who is the true Meta.
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