Especially since the banking crisis in 2008, Islamic-interest-free financial initiatives have enjoyed renewed interest. However, despite significant inroads over 40 years, there are still a number of difficulties on the way, explains Rebecca Schönenbach, a German expert in ethical and Islamic financing in the German journal Materialdienst der EZW (September). The oil boom and money […]
Ireland’s ‘extra-institutional’ religious turn
While there has been a sharp decline in Mass attendance and religious vocations in Ireland, there is also the emergence of “extra-institutional” religion, which tends to be ecumenical with a concern for spirituality, community, personal growth and social justice, according to sociologist Gladys Ganiel of Trinity University of Dublin. In a paper presented at the […]
Faith-inspired schools losing market share but still playing role in Africa
A majority of schools in Africa used to be faith-inspired, but their share has dropped with the expansion of public facilities. Today, such schools’ average market share is probably around 15 percent (slightly more than secular private schools), although there are variations in schools from one country to another, with some growing at a faster […]
Vatican’s diplomacy revives under Pope Francis
After a period of inactivity and withdrawal, Pope Francis has put the Vatican “back on the geopolitical map,” as well as rejuvenating the Catholic Church’s interreligious and ecumenical work, writes John Allen in the Boston Globe (June 8). Allen writes that the pope’s recent prayer summit for peace brings together Israeli President Shimon Peres and […]
Featured Story: Another Calvinist moment in American Christianity?
In the last two decades, scholars have spoken of both the “Baptistification” and the “Pentecostalization” of American Christianity, referring to the wide influence these traditions have on other churches and denominations. It might be stretching things to speak of a similar process of “Calvinization” occurring, but there is little doubt that Calvinist beliefs and practices […]
Featured Story: Schism or gridlock for United Methodists?
The increasing division in the United Methodist Church (UMC) over gay rights and marriage may be the harbinger of a major schism in the church body, writes Amy Frykholm in the Christian Century magazine (April 16). Observers, including RW, have viewed the United Methodists as an exception to the trend of mainline Protestant denominations liberalizing […]
Featured Story: African-Americans’ new interest in roots causes new divisions among Yoruba faithful
In a quest for roots as well as authenticity, African-American followers of Santeria (aka Lukumi) and related religious groups with roots in the Yoruba tradition are traveling in increasing numbers to Africa. But their attempt to adjust practices to what they have seen in Nigeria has created friction among such practitioners in the U.S., reports […]
Featured Story: Technoscience driving generational divide in American Buddhism
There is a generational shift taking place in much of American Buddhism, with members of Generation X and Y differing from their baby boomer Buddhists, particularly on the importance of technology and their eclectic approach to the religion. In the online Journal of Global Buddhism (Vol. 15, 2014), Ann Gleig writes that the formation and […]
New scholarly attention to Scientology and its struggle to define itself
While Scientology has consistently been a (frequently controversial) player in the field of “new religious movements” in the Western world since the 1960s, there has been comparatively little academic research conducted on the movement. That may be due in part to the Church of Scientology’s inclination to keep control on knowledge produced about it, but […]
Featured Story: Revision more common than stasis in many new religious movements
Many critics of new religious movements (NRMs) have usually viewed these upstart faiths (or “cults”) as having an authoritarian nature under charismatic leaders, who brook few challenges to a fixed body of teachings and practices. But the case studies in the new book Revisionism and Diversification in New Religious Movements (Ashgate, $35.96), edited by Eileen […]