Day 2 of our Understanding Islam series. There are five pillars – or basic tenets – of Islamic faith. Each of these pillars is an important part of being Muslim.
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Day 3 of our Understanding Islam series. Many Muslims belong to one of two sects of Islam, which agree on most of the fundamentals of Islam but vary in others.
Day 5 our Understanding Islam series. For some Muslim women, wearing a hijab can be a religious act but Muslim women’s clothing isn’t entirely about faith. It has been used – and is still used – as an assertion of identity.
Interest in Wicca and witchcraft appears to be increasing, but what exactly is Wicca in the first place?
The 2,000-line poem by Scottish physician John Armstrong was written during a time of pandemic, war and increasing public disinformation. What can readers learn from it today?
Local power struggles and strong US interests have long shaped political leadership – and presidential assassinations – in Haiti, limiting nation-building projects on the Caribbean island.
Faith-based organizations have been central partners in resettling refugees in the United States. But there are signs that support may be waning.
A historian explains how the Taliban emerged out of the decades of chaos that followed the Saur Revolution in Afghanistan in 1978.
Another wave of COVID-19 in Russia is undermining public health and threatens economic recovery. But widespread mistrust of institutions will stymie the country’s efforts to move past the pandemic.
Deobandi Islam, the religious school that the Taliban draw their ideology from, was set up in 19th century India to educate Muslim youth.
Kashmir has been in conflict since 1947, despite repeated UN and US interventions. An expert in security studies explains why international law has failed to keep the peace.
Mary has acquired popularity among celebrities of late. A religion scholar writes about how for nearly 2,000 years, the mother of Jesus has been viewed as an exemplar by different Christian groups.
New studies highlight the difficulties cancer patients have when discussing their illness with family and medical teams.
A political philosopher argues why the current situation in Afghanistan should weigh heavily on the American conscience.
Lack of human touch can lead to greater stress, anxiety and loneliness – and that is what made the social distancing during the pandemic so hard for many.
The Taliban ‘expect a complete handover of power.’ Experts explain who the Taliban are, what life is like under their rule and how the US may bear responsibility for Afghanistan’s collapse.
The discovery of oil and gas made members of the Osage Nation among the richest people in the world. But it also made them targets for exploitation.
George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” was an instant success when it was first published. His writings on totalitarianism and socialism continue to be relevant today.
Megachurches and the men who lead them can be superrich. So why don’t the IRS and local authorities see a cent in taxes? A scholar explains.
The Islamic New Year marks the first day of Muharram, a sacred month of prayer and annual reflection.
A controversial pastor is aiming to convert a town of 25,000 people as part of grand expansion plans. A scholar says the congregation’s influence is growing.
America’s founders accepted the reality of human selfishness. But, they also said people were capable of thinking for the good of the whole, which is necessary for a free society.
President Xi Jinping’s nationalist agenda includes supporting traditional Chinese religious beliefs and practices – as long as their leaders support the Chinese Communist Party.
A religion scholar explains why the label of ‘cult’ gets in the way of understanding new religions and political movements.
A religion scholar explains how evangelicalism in the US is not a monolith. It includes a a variety of churches, theologies and practices.