A nationwide controversy over an unauthorized exorcism in Romania has unleashed concerns about the growing competition and lack of training of clergy in this predominantly Eastern Orthodox nation. The New York Times (July 3) reports on the publicized case of an Romanian Orthodox monk with a growing following who conducted an unauthorized exorcism of a young women […]
Anti-semitism seeping into British mainstream?
Anti-Semitism in England is among the worst in Europe due to changing attitudes in the Muslim community and mainstream acceptance of these views, reports the Israeli journal Azure (Summer). According to a report from the Community Security Trust, which tracks anti-Semitic incidents, 2004 was the worst year of such hate crimes since the group began keeping statistics […]
European Catholics ‘Taking it to the streets’ to protest secularism
A strategy of resistance to secularism is unfolding in Europe among Catholics that bears some resemblance to the Christian right in the U.S., according to the National Catholic Reporter (July 1). In June, the Catholic Church in Italy, under the leadership of Cardinal Camillo Ruini and with the support of Pope Benedict XVI, mobilized at all levels […]
Current Research: August 2005
01: Although many pundits and analysts have questioned the view that the “moral values” vote gave George W. Bush the 2004 election, there may be some truth to this position, particularly when regional and religious differences are taken into account,, according to a new analysis. In Religion in the News (Spring), John C. Green and Mark Silk write that […]
New charismatic leadership looks to the margins
Technology, ethnic diversity and outreach to the disenfranchised are key concerns of a new generation of leaders in the charismatic movement, according to the 30th anniversary issue of Charisma magazine (August), the leading publication of the American charismatic and Pentecostal movements. In profiling 30 up-and-coming charismatic leaders, the magazine finds that they tend to be “burned out […]
Tensions growing between religion and human rights
“Is there a schism between the human rights movement and religious communities?” That is the question posed by Jean-Paul Marthoz and Joseph Saunders, two staff members of Human Rights Watch (http://www.hrw.org), in a recently released report entitled, Religion and the Human Rights Movement. They list many contentious issues, including reproductive rights, gay marriage, and blasphemy […]
Findings & Footnotes: July 2005
01: Circles of Support And Accountability is a fledgling Canadian Mennonite ministry that has already gained an international reputation for its work with sex offenders. Circles is part support network and part neighborhood watch, volunteers work both with released offenders, finding them housing and health care while meeting with police, media and angry community members. The […]
Findings & Footnotes: July 2005
01: The new book Church, Identity and Change (Eerdmans, $36), edited by David Roozen and James R. Nieman, focuses on the changing nature of American denominations, suggesting that most church bodies, whether mainline or evangelical, are facing serious challenges in ministering to their memberships. The book is unique in examining denominations both from a structural-sociological and a theological […]
China and Vatican on the road to diplomatic relations?
While few people expect prompt changes, the beginning of Benedict XVI’s pontificate seems to be marked by renewed attempts to solve the problems between China and the Vatican and to establish diplomatic relations. While there were diplomatic relations between 92 states and the Holy See in 1978, there has been a dramatic growth during John […]
Greek Orthodox crisis straining Middle Eastern peace?
Intensifying conflict in the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem could jeopardize a Middle East peace accord, as well as strengthen Arab nationalism in Orthodox churches in the region, reports The Tablet magazine (June 25). Much of the recent turmoil stems from the allegations that Patriarch Irineos had been selling off valuable parcels of land and property belonging […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 91
- 92
- 93
- 94
- 95
- …
- 193
- Next Page »