Religion

Religion

Israel-Hamas war means quieter Christmas observances for Orthodox Christians

5:15am January 05, 2024

by Jason DeRose

Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas this weekend. About 250 people are sheltering in the Greek Orthodox church in Gaza, and say they're too afraid to do anything but pray for peace.

Religion

How to hold onto a sense of wonder

5:37pm December 31, 2023

by Rachel Martin

NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with the author Katherine May about facing life's uncertainties by tapping into a childlike sense of enchantment.

A Nebraska mosque, synagogue and church support one another through Gaza conflict

7:32pm December 27, 2023

by Jolie Peal

The Tri-Faith Initiative is a mosque, synagogue and church in Nebraska. The members are working to support each other and keep relationships strong as they deal with the pain of the Israel-Hamas war.

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Tri-faith initiative in Nebraska supports one another through the impact of war

5:12am December 27, 2023

by Savannah Hawley

In Omaha, Neb., worshippers from a mosque, a synagogue and church support each other as the Israel-Hamas war continues.

A Ukrainian serviceman holds his daughter as they take part in Christmas celebrations in the village of Pyrogove, near Kyiv on Monday.

Breaking with tradition, Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25 this year

3:06pm December 25, 2023

In a stark rebuke of Russia, Ukraine joins the West in celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25 instead of Jan. 6-7 as it traditionally has done.

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Pope Francis presides over Christmas eve Mass, at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday Dec. 24, 2023.

Pope Francis mourns the rejection of peace and "futile logic of war" this Christmas

6:40pm December 24, 2023

by Dustin Jones

In his Christmas Mass address Sunday, he said the word of God is being drowned out by the violence in Gaza. Pope Francis has called for a ceasefire multiple times since the war started on Oct. 7.

This is me with my parents at my grad school graduation in the Spring of 2004.

Religion

It's weird to be a grown-up orphan. It forced my siblings and me to reckon with faith

5:24pm December 24, 2023

by Rachel Martin

After my parents died, it felt like I had been robbed. I sat down with my brother and sister to talk about how losing our mom and dad made us think about religion and our own spirituality.

There will be only one decoration in Manger Square, Bethlehem — a nativity, destroyed

11:30am December 24, 2023

by Jason DeRose

Churches in Bethlehem are observing Christmas this year without the usual celebrations, eschewing giant trees, sparkling lights and festive carols.

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Religion

People are quitting the United Methodist Church over its views on gender and sexuality

8:19am December 23, 2023

by Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Matthew Wilson, Associate Professor of political science at Southern Methodist University about the divide in United Methodist Church over sexuality and gender identity.

Christmas will be quiet in Bethlehem as destruction continues in Gaza

4:47pm December 20, 2023

by Kat Lonsdorf

Bethlehem, a town nearly synonymous with Christmas, is located in what is now the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Many Palestinians are too distressed by the war in Gaza to hold Christmas celebrations.