Category - Religion

The law on a wing and prayer

Shawn F. Peters — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:52:55 +0100

Should parents who choose to treat their children's illnesses with prayer rather than medicine be charged with abuse, neglect, or even manslaughter when their children die? Shawn F. Peters explores the issues.

Outrage at free speech clamp on Pope's Australia visit

staff writers — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:33:53 +0100

Civil libertarians are infuriated at special regulations coming into force for the upcoming Catholic World Youth Day event in Sydney, Australia, where Pope Benedict XVI will be the guest of honour.

The other side of US religion and politics

Simon Barrow — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:45:08 +0100

We hear a lot about the 'religious right' in the USA. But what about religious opinion of the centre and left?

Close discrimination loopholes for faith groups in welfare, government urged

staff writers — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:03:58 +0100

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has said that the government should close the discrimination loopholes for religious organisations involved in public service provision, and should ensure that all services are fully inclusive.

Newspaper editors worried about UN religious censorship

Ecumenical News International — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:08:52 +0100

The World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum have condemned what they say is the UN Human Rights Council's repeated efforts to undermine freedom of expression in the name of protecting religious sensibilities.

Violence, ethnicity, religion and ancient symbols

Savi Hensman — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:23:50 +0100

A closer look at the Sri Lankan experience may throw some light on other situations where struggles supposedly based on ethnicity or religion turn out to be more complex – and where human rights are of critical importance, says Savi Hensman.

The struggle between good and bad religion

Giles Fraser — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:24:41 +0100

The struggle between good religion and bad religion is at a crucial juncture on te domestic and global stage, says Giles Fraser. He believes the Quilliam Foundation, a new Muslim think tank, can make a positive contribution.

Christian Research data defended, but church decline continues

staff writers — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:20:54 +0100

The Christian Research organisation, whose latest data survey on the decline of UK church attendance has annoyed the Church of England, has defended its work against accusations of being misleading.

Religion can help with healing, says European parliament head

Ecumenical News International — Wed, 07 May 2008 01:01:05 +0100

The president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, says that in parts of Europe, such as the western Balkans, where internecine "wounds still require healing", spiritual leaders need to be involved in the process.

Seeing both the positive and negative in religion

Simon Barrow — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:13:02 +0100

Much of the current public discourse on 'religion' assumes that 'it' (actually a complex and multi-faceted phenomenon) is either a good or a bad thing per se.