Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: Jewish athletes seek to honor the past in the Maccabi Games, activists call on Obama to intervene in Burma, and federal prisons agree to recognize a new religion.
BERKLEY CENTER IN THE NEWS
The Obama Administration's Entangling Alliances in the Middle East
by Drew Christiansen
National Catholic Reporter
http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/obama-administrations-entangling-alliances-middle-east
With the Iranian nuclear disarmament agreement behind him, Obama now faces his most serious foreign policy challenge: the Islamic State group. (…) Before it can achieve long-term success against Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's caliphate, the Obama administration has to take a hard look at the tangle of problems that is today's Middle East. Allowing itself to be drawn into the struggle for religious and regional dominance between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran is not calculated to promote peace in the Middle East.
AROUND THE WORLD
At Maccabi Games, Jewish Athletes Vie for Medals While Mindful of Past
by Melissa Eddy
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/28/world/europe/at-maccabi-games-jewish-athletes-vie-for-medals-while-mindful-of-past.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
At a time when anti-semitism has risen in Europe, organizers of the 14th European Maccabi in Berlin games are seeking to honor the past--while sending a clear message about the survival of Jewish life into present.
Muslims in Moscow Work to Break a Stereotype
by Natalia V. Osipova
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/28/world/europe/muslims-in-moscow-work-to-break-a-stereotype.html?ref=world
A group of young Moscovite Muslims are trying to redefine the image of Islam in Russia, where the religion has been heavily stigmatized and associated with terrorism for years. A charity fashion bazaar marks the group's most recent attempt improve the public perception of Islam and raise the the social status of Muslim women.
Burma’s Moment of Truth
by Christian Caryl
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/07/27/burmas-moment-of-truth-myanmar-elections/
While Burma has come a long way in the past few years with the opening of its government, which has led to vast improvements in infrastructure and freedom of the press, human rights abuses still prove a serious issue throughout the country. As the Rohingya population continues to face brutal persecution, many activists are calling on the Obama administration to intervene.
How Israel's Wars Hurt Diaspora Jews
by J.J. Goldberg
Forward op-ed
http://forward.com/opinion/317923/israeli-study-finds-jews-fretful-as-israeli-actions-stir-bias/
In the past year, studies suggest dramatic, negative shifts in the attitudes of the Diaspora Jewish population toward Israel, its government policies, and its military actions. These changes may be due partly to fallout from last summer's Gaza war, which some believe has left lasting impacts on the relationships of Diaspora Jews to their surrounding communities.
Arab Parliament Member Denies Jewish Claim to Temple Mount, Sparking Israeli Outrage
by Michele Chabin
Religion News Service
http://www.religionnews.com/2015/07/27/arab-parliament-member-denies-jewish-claim-to-temple-mount-sparking-israeli-outrage/
An Arab-Israeli parliament member drew harsh criticism from Jewish Israelis after claiming that Jews have no religious ties to the Temple Mount, which is considered the holiest site in Judaism and has been a longstanding source of tensions between Jews and Muslims.
Philippine Leader Seeks Laws to End Rebellion, Dynasties
by Jim Gomez
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/philippines-president-urges-passage-of-muslim-autonomy-bill/2015/07/27/648509c0-349f-11e5-adf6-7227f3b7b338_story.html
In his final state of the nation speech, the president of the Philippines prompted the passage of a Muslim autonomy bill, which had stalled earlier this year after a deadly clash in the country. This peace deal, made with the largest Muslim rebel group in the country, would establish a more powerful and potentially larger autonomous region for Muslims in the south of the predominantly Roman Catholic nation.
Sermonizing With Al Shabab
by Joshua Meservey
Foreign Affairs
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/kenya/2015-07-26/sermonizing-al-shabab
The terrorist group has branched out from its standard tactic of violent attacks, as leaders in the past few months have rounded up villagers in a number of towns and forced them into mosques--where they are peacefully released after a lengthy sermon.
DOMESTIC
Pope Likely to Alter Economic Message in the U.S., Vatican Adviser Says
by Daniel Burke
CNN Belief blog
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/24/world/archbishop-sorondo-qanda/index.html
Archbishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo--who has worked closely with not only Pope Francis, but also with a number of scientists and political leaders to research, promote, and defend Pope Francis' condemnation of current global trends--surmises that the leader's message in the United States will be markedly different than the one delivered in South America this month.
With Religious Services, Immigrant Detainees Find 'Calmness'
by Liz Jones
NPR
http://www.npr.org/2015/07/27/425884890/with-religious-services-immigrant-detainees-find-calmness
When undocumented immigrants move through detention centers, it might take months before they find out if they will be deported or allowed to stay in the country. Many of the detainees turn to religion during this waiting period, so the government-run facilities ensure that spiritual needs can be met.
Federal Prisons Agree to Recognize Humanism as Religion
by Steven Dubois
Washington Post/AP
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/federal-prisons-agree-to-recognize-humanism-as-religion/2015/07/27/aaeda0d2-34bf-11e5-b835-61ddaa99c73e_story.html
In the settlement of a lawsuit, the federal Bureau of Prisons has agreed to add a section on humanism to its manual on inmate beliefs and practices. Prisoners who identify as humanist will now have the opportunity to request study materials, observe certain holy days, and may be allowed time and space for religious activities.
The Obama Administration's Entangling Alliances in the Middle East
by Drew Christiansen
National Catholic Reporter
http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/obama-administrations-entangling-alliances-middle-east
With the Iranian nuclear disarmament agreement behind him, Obama now faces his most serious foreign policy challenge: the Islamic State group. (…) Before it can achieve long-term success against Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's caliphate, the Obama administration has to take a hard look at the tangle of problems that is today's Middle East. Allowing itself to be drawn into the struggle for religious and regional dominance between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran is not calculated to promote peace in the Middle East.
AROUND THE WORLD
At Maccabi Games, Jewish Athletes Vie for Medals While Mindful of Past
by Melissa Eddy
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/28/world/europe/at-maccabi-games-jewish-athletes-vie-for-medals-while-mindful-of-past.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
At a time when anti-semitism has risen in Europe, organizers of the 14th European Maccabi in Berlin games are seeking to honor the past--while sending a clear message about the survival of Jewish life into present.
Muslims in Moscow Work to Break a Stereotype
by Natalia V. Osipova
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/28/world/europe/muslims-in-moscow-work-to-break-a-stereotype.html?ref=world
A group of young Moscovite Muslims are trying to redefine the image of Islam in Russia, where the religion has been heavily stigmatized and associated with terrorism for years. A charity fashion bazaar marks the group's most recent attempt improve the public perception of Islam and raise the the social status of Muslim women.
Burma’s Moment of Truth
by Christian Caryl
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/07/27/burmas-moment-of-truth-myanmar-elections/
While Burma has come a long way in the past few years with the opening of its government, which has led to vast improvements in infrastructure and freedom of the press, human rights abuses still prove a serious issue throughout the country. As the Rohingya population continues to face brutal persecution, many activists are calling on the Obama administration to intervene.
How Israel's Wars Hurt Diaspora Jews
by J.J. Goldberg
Forward op-ed
http://forward.com/opinion/317923/israeli-study-finds-jews-fretful-as-israeli-actions-stir-bias/
In the past year, studies suggest dramatic, negative shifts in the attitudes of the Diaspora Jewish population toward Israel, its government policies, and its military actions. These changes may be due partly to fallout from last summer's Gaza war, which some believe has left lasting impacts on the relationships of Diaspora Jews to their surrounding communities.
Arab Parliament Member Denies Jewish Claim to Temple Mount, Sparking Israeli Outrage
by Michele Chabin
Religion News Service
http://www.religionnews.com/2015/07/27/arab-parliament-member-denies-jewish-claim-to-temple-mount-sparking-israeli-outrage/
An Arab-Israeli parliament member drew harsh criticism from Jewish Israelis after claiming that Jews have no religious ties to the Temple Mount, which is considered the holiest site in Judaism and has been a longstanding source of tensions between Jews and Muslims.
Philippine Leader Seeks Laws to End Rebellion, Dynasties
by Jim Gomez
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/philippines-president-urges-passage-of-muslim-autonomy-bill/2015/07/27/648509c0-349f-11e5-adf6-7227f3b7b338_story.html
In his final state of the nation speech, the president of the Philippines prompted the passage of a Muslim autonomy bill, which had stalled earlier this year after a deadly clash in the country. This peace deal, made with the largest Muslim rebel group in the country, would establish a more powerful and potentially larger autonomous region for Muslims in the south of the predominantly Roman Catholic nation.
Sermonizing With Al Shabab
by Joshua Meservey
Foreign Affairs
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/kenya/2015-07-26/sermonizing-al-shabab
The terrorist group has branched out from its standard tactic of violent attacks, as leaders in the past few months have rounded up villagers in a number of towns and forced them into mosques--where they are peacefully released after a lengthy sermon.
DOMESTIC
Pope Likely to Alter Economic Message in the U.S., Vatican Adviser Says
by Daniel Burke
CNN Belief blog
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/24/world/archbishop-sorondo-qanda/index.html
Archbishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo--who has worked closely with not only Pope Francis, but also with a number of scientists and political leaders to research, promote, and defend Pope Francis' condemnation of current global trends--surmises that the leader's message in the United States will be markedly different than the one delivered in South America this month.
With Religious Services, Immigrant Detainees Find 'Calmness'
by Liz Jones
NPR
http://www.npr.org/2015/07/27/425884890/with-religious-services-immigrant-detainees-find-calmness
When undocumented immigrants move through detention centers, it might take months before they find out if they will be deported or allowed to stay in the country. Many of the detainees turn to religion during this waiting period, so the government-run facilities ensure that spiritual needs can be met.
Federal Prisons Agree to Recognize Humanism as Religion
by Steven Dubois
Washington Post/AP
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/federal-prisons-agree-to-recognize-humanism-as-religion/2015/07/27/aaeda0d2-34bf-11e5-b835-61ddaa99c73e_story.html
In the settlement of a lawsuit, the federal Bureau of Prisons has agreed to add a section on humanism to its manual on inmate beliefs and practices. Prisoners who identify as humanist will now have the opportunity to request study materials, observe certain holy days, and may be allowed time and space for religious activities.
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