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A United Methodist church in Brooklyn offers an award for the best explanation of why the U.S. economy is doing so poorly; Britain’s former chief rabbi leads a global effort against religious extremism and violence; and Tibetan Buddhists make their spiritual preparations for the new year, the Year of the Sheep. More
“To me, the idea of a church offering an economic well-being award makes perfect sense,” says Bay Ridge United Methodist Church pastor Robert Emerick. The idea of offering a prize for the best explanation about why the economy is doing so poorly compared to a generation ago started when Rev. Emerick felt overwhelmed by the competing claims of politicians during the recent mid-term elections. “It seemed to me as a Christian minister that I needed to know whether the claims were true or false,” he says. More
Sharing a special meal and performing rituals of spiritual cleansing help Tibetan Buddhists get ready for the upcoming new year. More
A conversation about the US measles outbreak; parents who refuse to vaccinate their children based on personal beliefs; and an organization called Final Salute that meets the needs of homeless women veterans and their children. More
“There’s really no widespread religious objection to the [measles] vaccine…It’s that I have a belief that these vaccines are harmful, or that they don’t work, or I don’t believe that somebody else should be telling me how to raise my kids,” says Religion News Service editor-in-chief Kevin Eckstrom. More
In most states, parents can choose not to vaccinate their children based on a personal or religious objection. It’s a choice that has begun raising concerns about the ethics of refusal and the rising risk of outbreaks. More
People from many faiths gathered in Washington for the 63rd annual National Prayer Breakfast, including the Dalai Lama. One major theme this year was fighting religious extremism, which President Obama said “is not unique to one group or one religion.” More
A new program encourages seminaries and divinity schools to teach more science; a community organizer helps improve living conditions for the very poor in India’s sprawling slums and around the world; a famous Trappist monk, poet, activist, contemplative, and prolific writer would have been 100 years old this year. More
“If our earth is not the only inhabitable world, what does that imply?” asks Dr. Jennifer Wiseman, director of the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. “That’s an exciting question and the kind of thing I hope will be discussed with joy in these institutions.” More
Jockin Arputham started his campaign to build a network among the urban poor by organizing a critical mass of India’s slum-dwelling population, especially women’s collectives. Today they pressure local governments to be more responsive to their needs, especially toilet and sanitation facilities. More