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“Home from the Hajj,” is the last chapter in our story of one man’s journal of faith. In April, almost two million Muslims converged on Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage. One of this year’s pilgrims is Abdul Alim Mubarak from Maplewood, New Jersey. We first met him as he prepared for this, his first hajj. Now, our correspondent Anisa Mehdi visits the Mubaraks back home. More
As we cover the abuse of relationships between pastoral counselors and those who came to them seeking guidance and comfort, we hear personal tales of the sexual relationship that can develop between some clergymen and women in their congregations. This is a complex world in which the male pastor is often found guilty of abusing his power and the woman is usually, but not always, the victim. More
The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of six million Tibetan Buddhists, is touring the U.S. to rally support for freedom for his homeland, taken over by China 40 years ago. His visit comes at a time of growing frustration among his people. He preaches compassion, even for Tibet’s Chinese rulers, but some of his followers wonder if his methods can work. More
BOB ABERNETHY: Now, Perspectives today on one man’s view of the continuing struggle between religion and science. Sir John Polkinghorne is both a world-class physicist and an Anglican priest who says science can explain only part of what’s real. Chris … More
Previously, we told the story of Abdul Alim Mubarak, a Muslim, a CNN videotape editor, who lives in New Jersey, as he said good-bye to his family and took off for Saudi Arabia on his first religious pilgrimage, the hajj. Now, we have the story of Mubarak’s hajj, reported by our correspondent Anisa Mehdi, who just returned from Saudi Arabia herself. More
BOB ABERNETHY: Jews around the world are just concluding the eight days of Passover. At the Seder table on the first two nights, they read from a guide called the Haggadah, which tells the story of the Jews’ exodus … More
BOB ABERNETHY: Our story of Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and is told by three narrators: Monsignor John Meier of Catholic University in Washington; Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopal priest in Georgia; and Reverend Charles Adams of Hartford … More
BOB ABERNETHY: If mainline Protestants could have elected a pope anytime over the last generation or so, that person would almost certainly have been Martin Marty, who retired this spring from the University of Chicago Divinity School, just a … More
On April 5, Muslims around the world will begin observing events associated with the annual hajj, one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith. Millions are converging on Mecca, located near the west coast of Saudi Arabia. Anisa Mehdi accompanies one American pilgrim as he says good-bye to his family and heads off to Mecca for the first time.
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Women are a mainstay in black churches, except in the pulpit. Will the “stained-glass ceiling” limit the careers of the record numbers of women entering divinity schools? More