Stories about Religion from January, 2014
New Spanish Cardinal Believes that Homosexuality is a “Defect”
"With all respect I am saying that homosexuality is a defective way of expressing sexuality," said the Spanish cardinal Fernando Sebastián Aguilar.
Cries of Discrimination as Israel Detains Undocumented African Immigrants
Many have fled their home countries for Israel and are seeking refugee status. The detentions have unleashed a wave of demonstrations in Tel-Aviv.
Pig Photos Censored in Malaysia
Photos of pigs were blackened out by a printing company in the Malaysian edition of the New York Times. The 'pig censorship' shocked many people in the Muslim-majority nation
“Find and Support all the Mandelas in the Villages” for Reconciliation in the Central African Republic
Residents of Bangui were asked about the current escalation of violence in the Central African Republic. Here are some of their thoughts as collected by ATD Fourth World : It’s...
Traditional Puerto Rican Saint Sebastian Street Festival Fills Every Corner of Old San Juan
The festival has lost much of its religious character, and has transformed more into a city festivity that attracts more than 300,000 people annually.
Despite Controversial Past, Indian PM Candidate Narendra Modi's Star on the Rise
Chief Minister of India's western state Gujarat Narendra Modi is a polemic figure for his hotly debated role in the deadly 2002 riots in the state between Hindus and Muslims.
Saudi Arabia Jails Palestinian Poet for ‘Atheism and Long Hair’
Palestinian poet Ashraf Fayadh is in a Saudi prison, allegedly for spreading atheism - and having long hair. Mona Kareem reports
Blogger and Commando Argue Russian Terrorism
As the Sochi Olympics approach, some bloggers argue about who is behind terrorist attacks, most of which take place in the part of Russia closest to the games.
Hockey, Diving for Crosses and Other Christmas-in-January Traditions
While Christians in the Western hemisphere celebrate Christmas in December, most Orthodox and Coptic Christians mark the birth of Christ in early January, from Eastern Europe to North Africa.
French Restaurant In Pakistan Closed For Not Allowing Pakistanis
Blogger Farzana Versey from Mumbai weighs on the hypocrisy regarding alcohol consumption by Pakistanis while reporting on a recent incident: La Maison, run by Frenchman Philippe Lafforgue, in a part...
History of the Translation of the Bible into Malay Language
Robert Hunt's paper on the history of the translation of the bible into Malay could provide more background into the current controversy in Malaysia where hundreds of bibles were recently...
How Should Middle Eastern Women Dress in Public?
This question, posed by a University of Michigan study, is drawing laughs – and criticism online.
Hindus Attacked in Bangladesh for ‘Crime’ of Voting
"Wasn't the election for everybody? So why are Hindus being targeted? Or did only Hindus vote? So are they not free to exercise their rights?"
Prominent Russian Actor Asks Putin to Recriminalize Sodomy
A prominent Russian actor, Ivan Okhlobystin, is making headlines for his latest homophobic act: a public letter addressed to Vladimir Putin, asking the President to recriminalize sodomy in Russia.
A Call for African Leaders to Stand with the Central African Republic
As the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) drastically worsens [fr] (935 000 IDPs as of today), Thione Niang, the Senegalese head of the GIVE1Project and Mehdi Bensaid, a Moroccan MP, calls...
Bibles Seized in Malaysia for Using ‘Allah’ to Refer to God
A Malaysian law banning non-Muslims from using the word Allah in religious publications was invoked by an agency when it confiscated 300 bibles in a Christian missionary office
PHOTOS: First Visit to Shinto Shrine of 2014 in Japan
Hatsumōde (初詣 hatsumōde), the first Shinto shrine visit of the New Year, is a common practice among Japanese. Tokyo-based blogger Tokyobling posted a series of photos about the ritual of...
