The tomb of Abelard and Héloise.
Alexandre Lenoir, via Wikimedia Commons
An affair between a philosophy professor and his teenage student became the subject of ballads in the streets of Paris in the 12th century. A scholar asks: Why wasn’t it called sexual harassment?
British author Philip Pullman.
Dylan Martinez/Reuters
In his new book, Philip Pullman, once again tackles religion as an oppressive institution. On another level, he continues the quest for explaining human consciousness.
A memorial for the victims of the shooting at Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church, including 25 white chairs painted with a cross and and rose, is displayed in the Texas church. A man opened fire inside the church yet his attack has not been labelled terrorism.
(AP Photo/Eric Gay)
White men routinely gun down innocent victims in mass shootings in the United States. Yet they are not branded terrorists the way Muslims who commit violent acts are. Why not?
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Nuns offer a unique insight into how work is divided between the sexes and rewarded accordingly.
Swedish organist Anna von Hausswolff.
Anders Nydam
Other than church, the pipe organ is often perceived as belonging in horror movies. But there’s more to the instrument that spans most musical genres.
None of the studies on domestic violence rates among church-goers are Australian.
AAP/Tracey Nearmy
Comprehensive, independent Australian data regarding domestic violence within churches is long overdue.
Churches in the global South, especially Africa are growing.
Reuters/Akintunde Akinleye
The particular brand of masculinity promoted by Africa’s influential male church leaders tends to devalue women, re-inscribe male domination.
Younger Australians seem particularly inclined to say they have ‘no religion’.
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In recent years, Australians appear to have become both more willing to declare themselves religious, and more willing to say they have no religion.
Lyndon Johnson, who was friends with evangelist Billy Graham, wasn’t targeting religious groups when he pushed his eponymous amendment in 1954.
AP Photo
President Trump recently repeated his pledge to eliminate the 63-year-old law, which bans charities from engaging in political activities, at the National Prayer Breakfast.
Some Christians interpret Biblical teachings to say that women are essentially equal to men, but should be submissive to male leaders in the church and home.
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Complementarianism is the view – held by some Australian churches – that men and women have separate and divinely ordained roles: men are ‘spiritual leaders’ while women are ‘helpmeets’.
Pope Francis marks the end of the Jubilee of Mercy by closing the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.
Tiziana Fabi/pool photo via AP
The pope’s action is significant: It encourages priests to be more sensitive to the context of the lives of their laity.
PA/PA Archive
One of English poetry’s most recognisable voices has been memorialised in Westminster Abbey.
Faced with the moral conservatism of many Pentecostal-Charismatic congregations, LGBT Christians who stay may live closeted lives.
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New research has found that LGBT Christians and pastors alike must grapple with difficult spiritual questions.
Religious teachers can feel uncomfortable explaining the science of evolution to their pupils.
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Many South African teachers don’t accept the theory of evolution. They feel deeply conflicted when they have to teach it to their pupils as part of the life sciences curriculum.
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The number of people who identify with a religion is declining, but that doesn’t mean it’s on its way out.
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Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are helping change the top-down nature of organised Christianity.
Clergymen who conceal sex abuse offences are guilty of betraying the trust vested in them.
Dean Lewins/AAP
Church cover-ups are extremely serious. Child victims are especially vulnerable and often suffer long-term psychological harm.
Pope Francis exhorts the faithful to accompany each other on their life journey, and help each other be free in love.
Reuters/Alessandro Bianchi
In his new exhortation, Pope Francis issues the Catholic Church and its followers a bold challenge: to live God’s mercy more authentically.
A line snakes down the sidewalk at Western High School in Las Vegas during the Nevada Republican presidential caucus.
David Becker/Reuters
Simply by voting in a church, you’re more likely to support a conservative cause or candidate.
Anglican Dean of Brisbane Peter Catt is one of several Australian church leaders to promise sanctuary to asylum seekers.
AAP/Dan Peled
The church’s assertion of sanctuary will stimulate debate about the morality and justice of Australia’s current laws with regard to asylum seekers.