American fundamentalism is facing a growing conflict within its own ranks over its traditional practice of  separation from liberal and evangelical churches. Fundamentalists, as represented by such denominations as the Baptist Bible Fellowship and Bob Jones University, have traditionally stressed that any association with “liberals” and more moderate evangelicals violates biblical teachings. Even such a strongly […]

Alternative rock music and identity politics are not often associated with atheist gatherings. But the Godless March on Washington, attended by RW on Nov. 2, was not the typical atheist event. The march, the first of its kind and drawing about 2,500 freethinkers, atheists and secular humanists, showed the growing unity between the various non- and anti-theistic […]

Acts of suicide for a cause, or “martyrdom,” among Muslims today are more numerous than in the past, and far more complex than generally thought, according to two recent books on the subject. Sociologist Farhad Kohosrokhavar of the Ecoles des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris, has published a new book in French on […]

Survivors of the genocide in Rwanda are moving toward Islam, reports the Washington Post  (Sept. 23). The state-sponsored massacres between the Hutu and Tutsi peoples in 1994 implicated many Catholic and Protestant clergy and churches, who failed to protect, and in some cases, informed on those seeking refuge from the violence. In contrast, many Muslim leaders and […]

Arab Christian emigration from Israel is continuing, leading to new ethnic composition of Christians in this nation, according to a recent paper at the recent 1st World Congress of Middle Eastern Studies. At the congress, which took place in Mainz (Germany) on Sept. 8-13 and was attended by RW, Israeli scholar Daphne Tsimhoni of Hebrew University, presented […]

Thirteen years ago, Hinduism Today  magazine tried to formulate ten Hindu megatrends that would shape that religion’s future. In its October-December, 2002, issue, the magazine updates its megatrends to include: an increase in Hindu pride, confirmation of which are the building of new “magnificent temples” and the unprecedented rise in awareness of Hindu identity in India. Newspapers […]

Abraham, the biblical figure, has taken on a renewed appeal among Jews, Christians and Muslims seeking reconciliation and peace. Time (Sept. 30) magazine reports that especially since 9/11 and its one year anniversary, there has been a flurry of new initiatives and groups claiming the importance of the biblical patriarch in their interfaith work. All three […]

More than a year after Sept. 11, many Muslims share the perception that they are bring marginalized in American society while at the same time receiving new scrutiny, according to two reports. The Los Angeles Times (Sept. 27) reports that until the attacks of last year, American Muslims had been making headway in becoming an accepted religious […]

A new kind of conservatism is emerging that blends environmental concern, a disdain for mass culture, and religious faith, writes Rod Dreher in National Review (Sept. 30). In a cover story on “granola conservatives,” Dreher reports that he and a growing number of other conservatives find themselves ill at ease with mainstream conservatives who praise suburban life, […]

Religious groups — from new Eastern groups to evangelicals — are going global, retooling their programs, even their language to reach the world community, but the move is also generating some conflict. Those are just some of the conclusions on the relation of  globalization and religion in the current issue of the quarterly Hedgehog Review (Summer). Globalization has become […]