Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and
around the globe: defining "Palestinian," American Muslims set the record straight, and an anti-discrimination measure passes in Utah.
AROUND THE WORLD
German Court Rules that Muslim Teachers May Wear Head Scarves
by Alison Smale
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/14/world/europe/german-court-rules-that-muslim-teachers-may-wear-head-scarves.html?_r=0
The decision comes amid growing tensions throughout Europe over the absorption of thousands of Syrian refugees and other Muslims, stoking nationalism in many parts of the continent. Several politicians and legal experts welcomed the ruling as an advance for religious and individual freedom. Leaders of Germany’s estimated 3.5 million Muslims noted that Muslim women who had previously declined to train as teachers for fear they would not be able to wear the head scarf in school would now be encouraged to do so.
Why Isis Destroys Antiquities
by Sturt Manning
CNN Opinions
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/06/opinions/manning-isis-antiquities/
ISIS, like so many iconoclastic extremist groups through history, seeks to destroy the record of the past. In the past week, video has circulated showing neatly dressed figures wielding rather new-looking sledgehammers and destroying archaeological objects in the Mosul Museum. The spectacle would be ridiculous and pathetic if it were not so tragic.
What’s a Palestinian?
by Zachary J. Foster
Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/143249/zachary-j-foster/whats-a-palestinian
It is not often that American presidential candidates make public pronouncements about the historical origins of national identities, but the Palestinian identity is a unique case. It has long been the source of much controversy and mystery, raising the question of when the Arabic speakers of Palestine first began calling themselves Palestinians.
The Real War on Christianity
by Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian and Yochi Dreazen
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/03/12/the-real-war-on-christianity-iraq-syria-islamic-state/
In the Middle East, the Islamic State is crucifying Christians and demolishing ancient churches. Why is this being met with silence from the halls of Congress to Sunday sermons?
Pope Francis Finds Popularity, Dissent At Two-Year Mark
by Nicole Winfield
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/12/pope-two-year-anniversary_n_6854668.html?utm_hp_ref=religion
Pope Francis marks his second anniversary Friday riding a wave of popularity that has reinvigorated the Catholic Church in ways not seen since the days of St. John Paul II. He's also entering a challenging third year, facing dissent from within on everything from financial reform to family issues.
DOMESTIC
Setting the Record Straight
Economist
http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2015/03/muslim-americans
A 2011 Pew report found that around a fifth of Muslim Americans say there is support for extremism in their community. At the time nearly half of Muslim Americans faulted their own leaders for failing to challenge Islamic extremists. Small wonder then that many Muslim clerics in America say it is in their interest to speak out against radical Islam, to distance themselves from the violence of extremists.
Christians Loving Jews: Benjamin Netanyahu, John Boehner and America’s Evangelicals
by Frank Bruni
New York Times op-ed
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/08/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-benjamin-netanyahu-john-boehner-and-americas-evangelicals.html
Jews in the Democratic Party are more divided on the actions that conservative Israeli leaders like Netanyahu have taken in defense of Israel than evangelical Christians in the Republican Party are. And that helps to explain the tightened bond between Israel and Republicans over the last few decades.
LGBT, Mormon Groups Announce Compromise Anti-discrimination Measure in Utah
by Michelle Boorstein
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/03/04/lgbt-mormon-groups-in-utah-to-announce-compromise-anti-discrimination-measure/
Utah lawmakers of both parties, Mormon Church leaders and gay equality advocates Wednesday praised a new bill meant to protect from discrimination lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as well as opponents of gay equality who cite religion as a basis for their beliefs.
German Court Rules that Muslim Teachers May Wear Head Scarves
by Alison Smale
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/14/world/europe/german-court-rules-that-muslim-teachers-may-wear-head-scarves.html?_r=0
The decision comes amid growing tensions throughout Europe over the absorption of thousands of Syrian refugees and other Muslims, stoking nationalism in many parts of the continent. Several politicians and legal experts welcomed the ruling as an advance for religious and individual freedom. Leaders of Germany’s estimated 3.5 million Muslims noted that Muslim women who had previously declined to train as teachers for fear they would not be able to wear the head scarf in school would now be encouraged to do so.
Why Isis Destroys Antiquities
by Sturt Manning
CNN Opinions
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/06/opinions/manning-isis-antiquities/
ISIS, like so many iconoclastic extremist groups through history, seeks to destroy the record of the past. In the past week, video has circulated showing neatly dressed figures wielding rather new-looking sledgehammers and destroying archaeological objects in the Mosul Museum. The spectacle would be ridiculous and pathetic if it were not so tragic.
What’s a Palestinian?
by Zachary J. Foster
Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/143249/zachary-j-foster/whats-a-palestinian
It is not often that American presidential candidates make public pronouncements about the historical origins of national identities, but the Palestinian identity is a unique case. It has long been the source of much controversy and mystery, raising the question of when the Arabic speakers of Palestine first began calling themselves Palestinians.
The Real War on Christianity
by Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian and Yochi Dreazen
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/03/12/the-real-war-on-christianity-iraq-syria-islamic-state/
In the Middle East, the Islamic State is crucifying Christians and demolishing ancient churches. Why is this being met with silence from the halls of Congress to Sunday sermons?
Pope Francis Finds Popularity, Dissent At Two-Year Mark
by Nicole Winfield
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/12/pope-two-year-anniversary_n_6854668.html?utm_hp_ref=religion
Pope Francis marks his second anniversary Friday riding a wave of popularity that has reinvigorated the Catholic Church in ways not seen since the days of St. John Paul II. He's also entering a challenging third year, facing dissent from within on everything from financial reform to family issues.
DOMESTIC
Setting the Record Straight
Economist
http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2015/03/muslim-americans
A 2011 Pew report found that around a fifth of Muslim Americans say there is support for extremism in their community. At the time nearly half of Muslim Americans faulted their own leaders for failing to challenge Islamic extremists. Small wonder then that many Muslim clerics in America say it is in their interest to speak out against radical Islam, to distance themselves from the violence of extremists.
Christians Loving Jews: Benjamin Netanyahu, John Boehner and America’s Evangelicals
by Frank Bruni
New York Times op-ed
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/08/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-benjamin-netanyahu-john-boehner-and-americas-evangelicals.html
Jews in the Democratic Party are more divided on the actions that conservative Israeli leaders like Netanyahu have taken in defense of Israel than evangelical Christians in the Republican Party are. And that helps to explain the tightened bond between Israel and Republicans over the last few decades.
LGBT, Mormon Groups Announce Compromise Anti-discrimination Measure in Utah
by Michelle Boorstein
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/03/04/lgbt-mormon-groups-in-utah-to-announce-compromise-anti-discrimination-measure/
Utah lawmakers of both parties, Mormon Church leaders and gay equality advocates Wednesday praised a new bill meant to protect from discrimination lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as well as opponents of gay equality who cite religion as a basis for their beliefs.
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