Religion

Bishop Blase Cupich will replace Cardinal Francis George as the new archbishop of Chicago. He's seen here in 2011, presenting a Church study on clergy sex abuse.

Pope Names A Moderate To Be Chicago's New Archbishop

2:11pm September 20, 2014

by Bill Chappell

Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, Wash., to succeed Cardinal Francis George, 77, a conservative who has spoken out on many social issues in his 17 years in the post.

"Happy We Are from Tehran," a video remake of Pharrell Williams' song "Happy" that went viral earlier this year.

Iran's 'Happy' Dancers Receive Suspended Sentences

1:06pm September 19, 2014

by Scott Neuman

Seven young Iranians were arrested in May for producing their own version of the Pharrell Williams song "Happy." Iranian authorities said the video, which went viral, offended public morals.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses a rally against anti-Semitism titled "Stand Up! Jew Hatred - Never Again!" in Berlin.

Thousands Gather In Germany To Rally Against Anti-Semitism

2:53pm September 15, 2014

by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

At an event in Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel said there is no place for anti-Semitism in Germany and called it a "monstrous scandal" that anyone in the country would be hassled for being Jewish.

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A contentious piece of clothing: Members of the Iranian women's soccer team celebrate their win over Syria back in 2007. That year, the international soccer league FIFA banned the wearing of hijabs during games. The ban was lifted in July.

Covering Up With The Hijab May Aid Women's Body Image

10:31am September 15, 2014

by Michaeleen Doucleff

A few studies have found that modest clothing is connected with a healthier body image. So a British psychologist looked at whether the hijab protected women against the pressure to be thin.

Men from Lev Tahor shop in San Juan, Guatemala. In a culture of brightly colored clothing and clean-shaven men, the black suits and long beards stood out.

Dogged By Controversy, A Jewish Sect Is On The Move Again

8:01am September 10, 2014

by Ted Robbins

Members of Lev Tahor left Canada with trail of allegations of child abuse. Then leaders of the Guatemalan village where they settled asked them to leave. The sect is again looking for a new home.

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Black Jesus is the latest from Aaron McGruder, who created the politically charged comic strip and animated series The Boondocks.

'Boondocks' Creator Asks, 'What Would Black Jesus Do?'

12:37pm September 05, 2014

by Neda Ulaby

Aaron McGruder's Black Jesus premieres Thursday night on Adult Swim, and it features a Christ who drops f-bombs and drinks 40s. So is it sacrilege or subversive? Some biblical scholars weigh in.

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Spires from the Mormon temple in downtown Salt Lake City reach to the sky.

Podcaster Risks Excommunication For Defending Gay Mormons

4:26pm September 03, 2014

by Terry Gildea

Earlier this week, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints excommunicated an advocate for female priesthood. This weekend, a Utah man who questioned church doctrine might face a similar fate.

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Christ In Context: 'Zealot' Explores The Life Of Jesus

2:48pm August 27, 2014

Reza Aslan converted to Christianity when he was a teenager, but became more interested in Jesus than as a Messiah. His book, Zealot, considers Jesus in the context of the time and place he lived in.

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Letter From Beyond The Grave: A Tale Of Love, Murder And Brazilian Law

6:23pm August 10, 2014

by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro

Lenira de Oliveira and her boyfriend were on trial for murder. Then an astonishing piece of evidence was submitted in their defense: a letter from the victim, as communicated to a medium.

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Visitors look at an exhibit at the National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Mass.

Effort To Preserve Yiddish Works Not 'Bupkes'

11:40am August 09, 2014

by Jon Kalish

The preservation of Yiddish as a spoken language gets more attention, but Yiddish once had a vibrant written tradition as well, filled with plays, poetry, novels and political tracts.

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