Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: civil war in Yemen, terrorist attacks in Kenya, and the decline of "nones."
AROUND THE WORLD
Forget What You’re Hearing. The Civil War in Yemen Is Not a Sectarian Conflict
by Ishaan Tharoor
Washington Post blog
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/04/07/forget-what-youre-hearing-the-civil-war-in-yemen-is-not-a-sectarian-conflict/
Saudi Arabia frames its current military intervention into Yemen, which has involved wave upon wave of airstrikes for the past two weeks, as a bid to bring stability to a failing, unraveling state. But another narrative also came immediately into play—that of a Sunni-Shiite proxy war between Saudi interests in Yemen and the Iran-backed Houthis, who belong to a Shiite sect patronized by Tehran's theocratic leadership.
Terrorist Turf Wars
by Joshua Meservey
Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/143649/joshua-meservey/terrorist-turf-wars
As the group feels its stature weaken, it is more likely to lash out, carrying out high-profile and gratuitously brutal attacks like the one in Garissa. The United States and the rest of the international community must do all they can to support Kenya as it weathers al Shabab’s grisly turn.
The All-Arab Army?
by Michael Broning
Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/143648/michael-broening/the-all-arab-army
However, the envisioned Arab League military force would have severe negative repercussions for sectarian relations in the greater Middle East. After all, the announcement was made as a Saudi-led military force continued to bombard alleged Iranian-backed Shia insurgents in Yemen and as Western negotiators raced to finalize a framework nuclear agreement with Iran.
Defending Women’s Rights in Afghanistan: Lives on the Line
by Salil Shetty
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/04/07/defending-womens-rights-in-afghanistan-lives-on-the-line/
Through our research, a clear pattern emerges of institutionalized indifference on behalf of the Afghan authorities to threats and attacks against these women and men. The government has systematically failed to provide a protected environment for them. This impunity, where perpetrators are almost never held to account, only entrenches a culture of violence against women’s rights activists.
Campaign for a 'French Islam' Reaches out to Both Imams and Non-Muslim Government Leaders
by Elizabeth Bryant
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/07/french-islam-campaign_n_7017638.html?utm_hp_ref=religion
The country’s leftist government has responded with a raft of new measures to fight homegrown extremism. Among them: plans to enroll hundreds of imams, and other key Muslim figures in civics training programs, and to make those programs mandatory for chaplains working in prisons and the military. But Lyon’s program has broader ambitions, as it reaches out to include government officials in the training.
Why People With No Religion Are Projected to Decline as a Share of the World’s Population
by Michael Lipka
Pew Research Center
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/03/why-people-with-no-religion-are-projected-to-decline-as-a-share-of-the-worlds-population/
For years, the percentage of Americans who do not identify with any religion has been rising, a trend similar to what has been happening in much of Europe (including the United Kingdom). Despite this trend, in coming decades, the global share of religiously unaffiliated people is expected to fall, according to the Pew Research Center’s new study on the future of world religion.
DOMESTIC
On the 20th Anniversary of His Conversion, Jeb Bush Talks Pope Francis and How to Win on Social Issues
by Kathryn Jean Lopez
National Review
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/416550/20th-anniversary-his-conversion-jeb-bush-talks-pope-francis-and-how-win-social-issues
An interview with Jeb Bush on his religion and the intersection of faith and politics.
Here’s What We Know About Sen. Rand Paul’s Faith: ‘Never Been Easy’
by Sarah Pulliam Bailey
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/04/07/heres-what-we-know-about-sen-rand-pauls-faith-never-been-easy/
Sen. Rand Paul, a libertarian who has pitched himself to social conservatives, became the second Republican to launch his campaignTuesday in Louisville. Paul was baptized into the Episcopal Church, but he has been a member of the Presbyterian Church in Bowling Green, Ky., which is part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Forget What You’re Hearing. The Civil War in Yemen Is Not a Sectarian Conflict
by Ishaan Tharoor
Washington Post blog
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/04/07/forget-what-youre-hearing-the-civil-war-in-yemen-is-not-a-sectarian-conflict/
Saudi Arabia frames its current military intervention into Yemen, which has involved wave upon wave of airstrikes for the past two weeks, as a bid to bring stability to a failing, unraveling state. But another narrative also came immediately into play—that of a Sunni-Shiite proxy war between Saudi interests in Yemen and the Iran-backed Houthis, who belong to a Shiite sect patronized by Tehran's theocratic leadership.
Terrorist Turf Wars
by Joshua Meservey
Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/143649/joshua-meservey/terrorist-turf-wars
As the group feels its stature weaken, it is more likely to lash out, carrying out high-profile and gratuitously brutal attacks like the one in Garissa. The United States and the rest of the international community must do all they can to support Kenya as it weathers al Shabab’s grisly turn.
The All-Arab Army?
by Michael Broning
Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/143648/michael-broening/the-all-arab-army
However, the envisioned Arab League military force would have severe negative repercussions for sectarian relations in the greater Middle East. After all, the announcement was made as a Saudi-led military force continued to bombard alleged Iranian-backed Shia insurgents in Yemen and as Western negotiators raced to finalize a framework nuclear agreement with Iran.
Defending Women’s Rights in Afghanistan: Lives on the Line
by Salil Shetty
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/04/07/defending-womens-rights-in-afghanistan-lives-on-the-line/
Through our research, a clear pattern emerges of institutionalized indifference on behalf of the Afghan authorities to threats and attacks against these women and men. The government has systematically failed to provide a protected environment for them. This impunity, where perpetrators are almost never held to account, only entrenches a culture of violence against women’s rights activists.
Campaign for a 'French Islam' Reaches out to Both Imams and Non-Muslim Government Leaders
by Elizabeth Bryant
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/07/french-islam-campaign_n_7017638.html?utm_hp_ref=religion
The country’s leftist government has responded with a raft of new measures to fight homegrown extremism. Among them: plans to enroll hundreds of imams, and other key Muslim figures in civics training programs, and to make those programs mandatory for chaplains working in prisons and the military. But Lyon’s program has broader ambitions, as it reaches out to include government officials in the training.
Why People With No Religion Are Projected to Decline as a Share of the World’s Population
by Michael Lipka
Pew Research Center
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/03/why-people-with-no-religion-are-projected-to-decline-as-a-share-of-the-worlds-population/
For years, the percentage of Americans who do not identify with any religion has been rising, a trend similar to what has been happening in much of Europe (including the United Kingdom). Despite this trend, in coming decades, the global share of religiously unaffiliated people is expected to fall, according to the Pew Research Center’s new study on the future of world religion.
DOMESTIC
On the 20th Anniversary of His Conversion, Jeb Bush Talks Pope Francis and How to Win on Social Issues
by Kathryn Jean Lopez
National Review
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/416550/20th-anniversary-his-conversion-jeb-bush-talks-pope-francis-and-how-win-social-issues
An interview with Jeb Bush on his religion and the intersection of faith and politics.
Here’s What We Know About Sen. Rand Paul’s Faith: ‘Never Been Easy’
by Sarah Pulliam Bailey
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/04/07/heres-what-we-know-about-sen-rand-pauls-faith-never-been-easy/
Sen. Rand Paul, a libertarian who has pitched himself to social conservatives, became the second Republican to launch his campaignTuesday in Louisville. Paul was baptized into the Episcopal Church, but he has been a member of the Presbyterian Church in Bowling Green, Ky., which is part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
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