Religion

White House Moves To Block Creation Of Muslim Registry

7:00pm December 22, 2016

by Tom Gjelten

The Obama administration is abolishing the regulations that were used as the foundation for a post Sept. 11, 2001, program to register Muslim immigrants. The move will make it harder but not impossible for the Trump administration to establish a new Muslim registry.

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Pope Francis speaks to Vatican employees on Thursday.

Pope Francis Outlines More Reforms, And Addresses Powerful Church Critics

4:37pm December 22, 2016

by Rebecca Hersher

In his Christmas address to Vatican employees, the leader of the Catholic Church called for more laypersons and women in positions of power and said resistance to change came from misguided minds.

Russell Moore (left), president of the Southern Baptists' Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, is under attack from some of the religious right figures he criticized during the U.S. presidential campaign.

Evangelical Leader Under Attack For Criticizing Trump Supporters

3:33pm December 20, 2016

by Tom Gjelten

Russell Moore, who presides over the political arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, called out religious right figures who supported Trump notwithstanding his "serious moral problems."

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A monk prepares fruitcakes at Assumption Abbey in Ava, Mo. The bakery makes about 6,000 pounds of fruitcake per year.

For Cash-Strapped Monks, Selling Fruitcakes Is A Saving Grace

11:52am December 20, 2016

by Jodi Helmer

While monks aren't trying to dominate the fruitcake market, they have made enough money to help support their solitary way of life. And there might be a little competition between monasteries.

One of the fleet of turboprop ATR planes from Pakistan International Airlines. After a Dec. 7 crash, the ATRs were grounded — and resumed flying (after a goat sacrifice) on Sunday.

Black Goat Is Sacrificed On Tarmac Of Pakistani Airport

4:33pm December 19, 2016

by Marc Silver

Employees of Pakistan International Airlines sacrificed the animal to mark the first flight of an ATR turboprop plane since the fleet was grounded following a Dec. 7 crash.

A plaque at the main entrance of Second Presbyterian Church in Charleston, S.C., memorializes Confederate soldiers from the congregation who died during the Civil War.

The Charleston Story: A Knotted Mix Of Race, Grace And Injustice

6:41pm December 16, 2016

by Gene Demby

The story "The Holy City" tells itself, which sometimes emphasizes faith and forgiveness and underplays racism, now includes the conviction of Dylann Roof.

Suzanne Barakat speaking at TEDWomen 2016.

After A Horrible Hate Crime, How Do You Not Hate Back?

8:45am December 16, 2016

by NPR/TED Staff

Suzanne Barakat speaks about the challenge of reconciling shock, anger and acceptance after her brother and sisters-in-law were murdered in an anti-Muslim hate crime.

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Bishop Javier Echevarría, the prelate of Opus Dei, is pictured in November 2012 in Rome. He died Monday at the age of 84.

Powerful Roman Catholic Group Opus Dei Faces Transition After Leader's Death

2:00pm December 15, 2016

by Tom Gjelten

Bishop Javier Echevarría, who served as a personal secretary to Opus Dei's founder for more than 20 years, was the last link to the first generation of Opus Dei's leadership. He died Monday at age 84.

Study Shows The U.S. Attracts An Elite Muslim And Hindu Population

6:23pm December 13, 2016

by Tom Gjleten

The Pew Research Center says Hindus and Muslims who have migrated recently to the U.S. are especially well-educated — in stark contrast to the schooling levels of those populations worldwide.

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Discoveries Give New Clues To Possible Neanderthal Religious Practices

6:08pm December 11, 2016

Barbara J. King, a professor emerita of anthropology at William and Mary, discusses whether Neanderthals had "religious capacity."