As the Synod of Bishops meets in Rome, a Catholic theologian explains the preparations that went into the consultative process and what it says about Pope Francis’ vision for the future church.
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Medieval monastics were often discouraged from owning companion animals, which were viewed as a distraction, a religion scholar explains.
The College of Cardinals is an important part of the church’s governance structure. Its members elect the next pope and help develop future policies for the church.
Catholicism, ‘Frenchness’ and secularism are often conflated in French culture, a scholar writes, while non-Christian traditions are viewed with suspicion.
In some conservative countries, the abaya is part of expected dress. But in countries where Muslims are in the minority, the abaya can be a way for women to connect with their religious identity.
Like many Jewish practices, the harvest festival of Sukkot largely takes place at home − meaning families can incorporate many meaningful traditions.
The ‘Shepherd of Hermas’ has been accused of being pedantic, even boring. In the first few centuries of Christianity, though, it was a hit.
An Indigenous sacred site, Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks has served as a military barracks, a fairground and, more recently, a golf course.
Two social scientists analyzed periodicals from US religious leaders in 1935 to determine what factors influenced groups’ sympathy, ambivalence or outrage about Hitler and Nazi Germany.
There is a long tradition in China of associating monkeys with the mind – symbolism that has helped the novel’s most memorable character, the Monkey King, find universal resonance.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke of ‘credible allegations’ of Indian involvement in a Sikh leader’s death.
Morocco is grappling not just with the loss of lives from the recent earthquake, but with the destruction of its cultural heritage – a 12th century mosque in the village of Tinmel is among them.
A scholar of digital religion explains why the use of AI isn’t necessarily displacing religious leadership: It is the clergy who are helping with the programming, critical for its deployment.
Stories in Greek mythology on the cycle of nature showing youth, death and rejuvenation can have lessons for us today on how grief changes over time and transforms who we are as people.
Community is vital in Jewish ritual and tradition, and the High Holidays are no exception, a Judaic studies scholar writes.
Many faiths face conflicts over dissent and institutional control. In Latter-day Saints history, the episode around the ‘September Six’ is particularly memorable.
The idea of a ‘calling’ has stretched far beyond its religious roots. But the way US society talks about meaningful work isn’t always helpful.
Writing about same-sex relationships and gender beyond a strict male-female binary was more common in ancient Greece and Rome than students assume, a scholar writes.
A scholar who has been working in Marrakech writes about the artisan communities, which have maintained the city’s architectural rich heritage for generations and have been hit hard by the earthquake.
As more Americans step away from organized religion, so do more chaplains – but they are prepared to offer spiritual care regardless of a patient’s beliefs.
Top contributors
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Professor Emerita of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross
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Joseph Panzer Chair in Education and Research Professor of Law, University of Dayton
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Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Jewish Studies, University of Colorado Boulder
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Professor of Classical Studies, Brandeis University
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Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross
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Associate Professor of Women and Gender Studies & Jewish Studies, University of Colorado Boulder
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Professor of Public Theology and Director of The Bernardin Center, Catholic Theological Union
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Professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Oregon State University
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Distinguished Professor of Political Science and the Tagore Chair in Indian Cultures and Civilizations, Indiana University
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Affliated Scholar at the Women's Studies Research Center, Brandeis University
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University Professor and Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History, Brandeis University
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Assistant Professor of Political Science, Eastern Illinois University
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Research Fellow, Center for Philosophy and History of Science, Boston University
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President, Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
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Professor of History, University of Dayton
