religion

Embroidery thread, a picture of the baby Jesus and gold coins are some of the objects people took with them as they fled their homes.

What They Took With Them As They Fled Conflicts

8:23am December 22, 2018

As people escape from turmoil around the world, they often can carry only a few items with them. In hindsight these objects are often precious reminders of the lives they left behind.

In the video game Darshan Diversion, avatars of women in red saris try to reach the top of a temple but are thwarted by Hindu priests if a red blinking light indicates that the women are menstruating.

Menstruating Women Are Blocked From Temple In Video Game — And In Real Life

7:12am December 22, 2018

by Sushmita Pathak

In Darshan Diversion, avatars of menstruating women dodge Hindu priests trying to bar them from a temple. Meanwhile, women of childbearing age can't enter India's Sabarimala temple — for real.

People dressed as Santa Claus compete in a run to mark Christmas at Xiannu Mountain in Chongqing, China. Even though only about 5 percent of the population is Christian, many people celebrate during the holiday.

Religion

Sorry, Santa: A Chinese City Has Just Banned All Things Christmas

3:15pm December 21, 2018

by Yuhan Xu

No public Christmas displays. No celebrations. No holiday socks or Santa costumes sold by vendors. What's behind this seemingly Grinch-like stance?

Pope Francis told a gathering of cardinals Friday that clergy who break their vows by sexually abusing children are similar to Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ.

Pope Francis Tells Abusive Priests And Bishops To Turn Themselves In

12:58pm December 21, 2018

by Bill Chappell

Priests who sexually abuse children are like Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ, Pope Francis told a gathering of cardinals on Friday.

Religion

Female Mormon Missionaries May Wear Pants In Some Instances

6:57am December 21, 2018

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints updated its dress code for missionaries. Women must still wear skirts and dresses to worship, but they may wear dress slacks at other times.

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More Accusations Of Child Sex Abuse By Priests In Illinois Uncovered In Report

1:57pm December 20, 2018

by Cat Schuknecht

A preliminary investigation by the state's attorney general revealed the Illinois Catholic Church withheld from the public the names of at least 500 accused priests.

Illinois Releases Preliminary Catholic Clergy Sexual Abuse Report

6:59am December 20, 2018

by Susie An

The Illinois attorney general has found 690 Catholic clergy members in the state have been accused of sexual abuse. But the church has not publicly identified about 500 of the accused.

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Religious Rift Grows Between Ukraine And Russia

6:53am December 18, 2018

by Lucian Kim

Ukraine has taken another step in separating itself from Russian domination by establishing its own Orthodox church — a move which has angered the Kremlin and Russian Orthodox leaders.

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Author Joshua Harris influenced a whole generation of evangelical Christians with his book I Kissed Dating Goodbye. Now he has a new documentary, called I Survived I Kissed Dating Goodbye, about his new ideas on dating.

Evangelical Writer Kisses An Old Idea Goodbye

1:34pm December 17, 2018

by Sarah McCammon

Joshua Harris wrote I Kissed Dating Goodbye when he was 21 years old. It became the bible of the evangelical purity movement, which promotes putting off sex until marriage. His ideas have changed.

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Nuns and supporters demand the arrest of Bishop Franco Mulakkal, outside the High Court in Kochi in the southern Indian state of Kerala in September.

A Nun In India Accuses A Bishop Of Rape, And Divides The Country's Christians

6:14am December 17, 2018

by Lauren Frayer

A Roman Catholic nun says a bishop raped her multiple times between 2014 and 2016. The bishop denies wrongdoing and is out on bail. Some Indian Catholics are blaming the nun for tarnishing the church.

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