NEWS: Jazz as Religion

Historian David W. Stowe’s most recent article, “Both American and Global: Jazz and World Religions in the United States,” offers a quick overview of one of America’s most enduring styles of music, then neatly connects this uniquely American music to religious belief and experience. By the end of the piece, one is left viewing jazz … Continue reading →

NEWS: Recognizing Difference is Good

In American society we have (understandably) a multitude of opinions about God. This goes without saying. But how we deal with difference has consequences. The result of multiculturalism and pluralism has, according to professor of religion Stephen Prothero, collapsed all of these ideas about God and religious belief into one manageable whole. In an attempt … Continue reading →

NEWS: Religious and Racial Hatred on the Web

Two defendants are currently standing trial at Liverpool Crown Court charged with ‘urging people to kill Jewish people’ via posting on a website. Both Michael Heaton and Trevor Hannington are alleged to be members of the Aryan Strike Force [ASF], and furthermore, having posted racist and anti-Semitic comments designed to incite others to murder. The … Continue reading →

NEWS: Hollywood Kabbalistics, Celebrity Watch, and a little red bracelet

Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Brittney Spears, Paris Hilton, Ashton Kutcher, Nicole Richie, Naomi Campbell, Mick Jagger: Kabbalists all! Or at least, they are suspected of, to some degree or another, flirting with the dark arts of mystic light. Kabbalah: a Jewish mystic tradition with roots concentrated around 13th century France and Spain and with many offshoots sprouting in various directions … Continue reading →

NEWS: One man’s mission against Christian soldiers

Stephen Glain of Foreign Policy magazine recently brought attention to the work of Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein, an activist who seeks to remove evangelical Christians’ influence from the military. As a former Air Force judge advocate general and target of anti-Semitic violence as a cadet, Weinstein views the overwhelming presence of evangelical Christianity in the … Continue reading →

NEWS: The Texas Education Massacre?

Chris McGreat of The Guardian has recently reported some worrying news that the Texas school board is believed to changing their state education curriculum to one based on religious indoctrination and revisionist versions of American history. At the centre of this story is Cynthia Dunbar, a ‘conservative Texas lawyer’ who has’ likened sending children to … Continue reading →

NEWS: A Brief History of Heaven

A recent article by Johann Hari for Slade, looks at the evolution of understanding and thinking about heaven. Despite what may appear to be an increasing onslaught of secularism within Britain, Hari points out that this is not reflected in the United States of America. Instead, he states that:‘ 81 percent [of Americans] say they believe … Continue reading →

NEWS: First Family Seder and Digital Seders for All!

Families can now read their own personalized Haggadah during their Passover Seder meal by simply going online and ordering one custom-made from Behrman House. To promote the project, Berhman House made a personalized Haggadah for the Obama family that tells, as the LA Times reported, “the story of freedom from slavery to the American civil rights … Continue reading →

NEWS: (Un) Holy Matrimony?

The House of Lords has recently voted in favour of allowing same-sex couples to be married. Although British Law has recognised civil partnerships since 2004, the proposed amendment to the Equality bill would go further and enable same-sex couples to be married in religious premises. Despite any discomfort some religious groups may feel, it should … Continue reading →

NEWS: Father Charged with Criminal Contempt for Having Daughter Baptized

Joseph Reyes, Catholic, converted to Judaism in 2004, joining the faith of his wife Rebecca, apparently, he claims, in order to appease his in-laws. Now in the midst of a bitter divorce, Reyes has returned to Catholicism, which has raised the question of which religion their daughter should be raised in. Reyes took the decision … Continue reading →

NEWS: Religion and Coexistence/Existence in the 21st Century

Is the world becoming more religious or more secular? The secularization thesis (religion disappears with the rise of Modernity) has been challenged as the Christian “megachurch” phenomenon continues, radical Islam remains at the fore of public dialogue, and politicians continue to blur the lines between church and state as they invoke various religious aphorisms. Louis … Continue reading →

NEWS: Religion in Review

As 2009 comes to an end media outlets review the highlights of the past year and decade. USA Today concluded that “God, politics, and pop culture intertwined in ’09.” Contributor Cathy Lynn Grossman included the renewed vigor of Catholic lobbyists, the death of Oral Roberts, the increasing popularity of Rick Warren and President Barack Obama’s … Continue reading →

COMMENT: What is Islamism? A Muslim Replies

By Ishtiaq Hussain The Quilliam Foundation Download full PDF version Background Like Christianity and Judaism, Islam is an Abrahamic faith and a Monotheistic religion. Its followers are called Muslims. Islam was founded in Arabia in the 7th century by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) fought against oppression, injustice and corruption. During his … Continue reading →

NEWS: A New Row over Ahmadinejad’s Jewish Origins

The ever-controversial Iranian president has once again made the news. Just a few days after his renewed attack on Israel, The Daily Telegraph has published a piece which allegedly uncovers Ahmadinejad’s Jewish background. According to the British newspaper, a close analysis of a photograph of Ahmadinejad’s identity card ”reveals he was previously known as Sabourjian … Continue reading →

NEWS: Praying in America

According the to the Pew Forum, at least 75% of Americans pray at least once a week. Despite the large numbers of individuals praying, only 39% of Americans attend worship services at least once a week. This disparity, led New York Times contributor Zev Chafets to examine the growth of organizations offering lessons in praying. … Continue reading →