The battle between conservatives and liberals in the Episcopal Church doesn’t only hinge on gay rights. Rather, issues involving increasing acceptance and borrowing of non-Christian theology and spirituality are playing a role in the conflict, reports the current issue of Christian Challenge, a traditionalist Anglican magazine (December-January). The magazine reports on a controversy in the Diocese […]

Proselytization has become more controversial in the last decade; not only the faithful of traditional religions, but secular circles as well have become increasingly suspicious toward at least some types of missionary activities. “Proselytization revisited” was the topic of a day-long symposium, organized by Rosalind Hackett (University of Tennessee), which took place on March 26 […]

After 300 people died in a stampede at a temple in Maharashtra on January 25, concerns regarding security were voiced at a number of pilgrimage spots around India. A number of simple preventive measures, such as limiting the inflow of pilgrims allowed at the same time into the central compound and the availability of a […]

While the general perception is that “fundamentalist” Wahhabi Islam continues to dominate Saudi Arabia, a closer look at contemporary Saudi society shows that there are forces at work in the Kingdom, which attempt to marginalize Wahhabism, writes French scholar Stéphane Lacroix in an article published in  the Spring issue of ISIM Review. Lacroix refers especially to […]

Jews in Europe are gradually dropping their attachment to the political left and moving to more conservative parties, reports the New York Times (Feb. 20). Rising concern over anti-Semitism and the left’s embrace of the Palestinian cause has brought increasing numbers of European Jews to parties ranging from the center to the right, and even to the […]

The recent decision of the Greek Orthodox to ordain women as deacons has been largely unreported, but the move may have an impact on the role of women in the Roman Catholic Church, writes Phyllis Zagano in America magazine (Feb. 7). Without much fanfare or press coverage, last fall, the Orthodox Church of Greece voted to restore […]

While anti-clericalism and secularist currents have a long history in Spain, recent events suggest a new stage of confrontation between the Catholic Church and other segments of Spanish society, reports The Tablet magazine (Feb. 5). In the last year, clashes in the cultural arena between artists and Catholic officials also reveal new church-state tensions. The Madrid playwright […]

The protests and demonstrations surrounding Ukraine’s election in December has activated the nation’s evangelical churches, reportsCharisma magazine (February). When the pro-Moscow candidate Viktor Yanukovych was declared the winner, crowds took to the streets protesting that the election was rigged, resulting in a new vote bringing in pro-Western candidate Viktor Yushchenko. Christians ranging from Ukrainian Orthodox to […]

Tensions and divisions are growing among  Jewish believers over the importance of Jewish rituals and evangelism to fellow Jews, reportsChristianity Today (February). In the last three decades, Jewish-Christians have formed Messianic synagogues which uphold Jewish rituals and teachings while affirming a belief in Jesus. But now some Messianic leaders and theologians are saying that traditional evangelism […]

Southern evangelical culture and a number of other demographic factors account for the fast  growth and potential national influence of Catholicism in this region, reports Time magazine (Feb. 14). While the once-Catholic strongholds of the Northeast and Midwest are showing lower Mass attendance, parochial school closings, and the aftershocks of the sexual abuse crisis, the church in […]