As Iraq undergoes reconstruction, it may be too early to ascertain the shape of Islam in that country. But there are growing divisions among the Shiite Muslims in post-war Iraq adding to a pluralism that may possibly prevent theocratic rule by any one group, reports the Washington Post (April 20). Shiite Muslims in Iraq are divided in […]

Do-it-yourself religions that were created as parodies of established faiths are taking on a life of their own, as members find a sense of spirituality and community through participating, reports Reason magazine (May). RW has reported on the growth of satirical religions, many of which start on the Internet, but  Jesse Walker writes that many of these so-called “free […]

A growing number of  Christian-theater companies have opened across the U.S. and are finding acceptance in secular regional theater circles. The magazine Books & Culture (March/April) reports that “Across North America in select urban markets, there are new Christian drama companies, often founded by theater artists in their 20s and 30s who feel duty-bound to supply an alternative […]

Religious groups may be particularly effective in stemming religion-based terrorism, according to America, a Jesuit magazine (April 14). One finding of a recent Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict concerned the pivotal role co-religionists play in countering the “hateful side of the religious sword with the other side of tolerance and love for humanity.”Statements condemning terrorism […]

On March 26, Gujarat’s state assembly passed a bill banning religious conversion through use of force or bribery. This expected move followed a similar law adopted in Tamil Nadu last October. While this will once again lead to criticism of India by advocates of religious freedom around the world and to protests from minority religions […]

In times of international crisis or debates on key issues, it has become common to hear the voice of the Pope among those of other heads of governments — a trend that is likely to grow in the future, according to the French monthly for future studies, Futuribles (March). The Holy See is an active participant on […]

The Church Universal and Triumphant (CUT), a syncretistic occult group, has experienced widespread defections and schisms since the withdrawal of its leader Elizabeth Clair Prophet, according to an article in the current issue of the Cultic Studies Review (Volume 2, Number 1). CUT was a controversial yet growing movement in the 1980s and early 1990s, known for […]

Muslim students have emerged as key leaders and participants in the anti-war movement, reports the Washington Times (March 5). Muslims have become particularly prominent in student anti-war protests since September 11, where they were active in protesting the war in Afghanistan. The Muslim Student Association (MSA) — active on 150 U.S. campuses — of the U.S. and […]

As war in Iraq was approaching, military chaplains noticed an increase in religious concerns among soldiers. For instance, between the time the 82nd Airborne arrived in Kuwait in mid-February and mid-March, 104 paratroopers were baptized — into the water of the Persian Gulf — reported military chaplains. Similarly, attendance at Catholic Mass has been “up […]

As was the case with the Gulf War, the war in Iraq is reviving end-time expectations and fervor. The Washington Post (March 15) “Anxious discussions have arisen on prophecy Websites, in Bible study groups and churches, and at such gatherings as last month’s 20th International Prophesy Conference in Tampa, Fla.” Iraq’s connection to ancient Babylon and the Euphrates […]