Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: Religious freedom and the Supreme Court, Ebola, and Islamic State.
AROUND THE WORLD
Europe Tries to Stop Flow of Citizens Joining Jihad
by Steven Erlanger
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/world/europe/isis-europe-muslim-radicalization.html?ref=world
European countries pressed ahead on Tuesday with efforts to deter the growing numbers of their citizens seeking to join radical Islamic movements in Iraq and Syria, as some experts warned that the United States-led military campaign against the Islamic State increased the risk that the groups would turn their attention to attacking Western targets.
The Destruction of Mecca
by Ziauddin Sardar
New York Times op-ed
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/opinion/the-destruction-of-mecca.html
When Malcolm X visited Mecca in 1964, he was enchanted. Fifty years on, no one could possibly describe Mecca as ancient, or associate beauty with Islam’s holiest city.
Pope Summons Mideast Envoys to Rome Over Islamist Advance
by Philip Pullella
Reuters
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2014/10/01/pope-summons-mideast-envoys-to-rome-over-islamist-adv...
Pope Francis, who has expressed alarm over the rise of Islamic State militants and the plight of Christians in the Middle East, has summoned his envoys in the region to a rare meeting to discuss a response to the crisis, the Vatican said on Tuesday.
Reza Aslan: Radical Islam Is Still Islam
by Sally Quinn
On Faith
http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2014/09/30/reza-aslan-radical-islam-is-still-islam/34314
The popular author says we can’t reject ISIS as non-Muslim. What’s needed is a rigorous expression of religious peace.
Nigeria’s Actions Seem to Contain Ebola Outbreak
by Donald G. McNeil Jr.
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/health/ebola-outbreak-in-nigeria-appears-to-be-over.html?ref=world
With quick and coordinated action by some of its top doctors, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, appears to have contained its first Ebola outbreak, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.
A Conspicuous Absence on Israel’s List of Top Baby Names
by Jodi Rudoren
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/world/middleeast/a-revelation-in-israeli-baby-names.html
Muhammad was by far the most popular name for babies born in Israel last year. That fact alone was worthy of note, a reminder that the Arab minority in Israel is 21 percent of what the Israeli government likes to call the Jewish State. But even more striking was that Israel’s population authority left Muhammad off the annual Top 10 list of baby names it issued last week before Rosh Hashana.
Hindu Temple in India Purified After Low-Caste Chief Minister Visits
by Reuters Staff
Reuters
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2014/10/01/hindu-temple-in-india-purified-after-low-caste-chief-...
The government in the Indian state of Bihar has ordered an investigation after reports that a Hindu temple was cleaned and its idols washed after a visit by the state’s chief minister (governor), who belongs to a lower caste community.
DOMESTIC
How Serious Is the Supreme Court About Religious Freedom?
by Dawinder S. Sidhu
Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/09/how-serious-is-the-supreme-court-serious-about-r...
In supporting the religious rights of business owners over a national health-care policy predicated on broad participation, the Roberts Court seemed to stake its place on the more protective end of the religious-freedom spectrum.
NFL Says Ref Botched Call on Player's Muslim Prayer
by Daniel Burke
CNN
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2014/09/30/nfler-penalized-for-muslim-prayer/
The N.F.L. said Tuesday that Kansas City Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah was mistakenly penalized by a game official when he knelt to pray after scoring a touchdown Monday night.
Millennial Jews Do An About-Face, Start Keeping Kosher
by NPR Staff
NPR
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/09/30/352583387/millennial-jews-embrace-old-world-eating
According to a 2013 Pew Research Center study, nearly a fourth of millennial Jews are keeping kosher. That's almost twice the rate of their baby-boomer parents.
Europe Tries to Stop Flow of Citizens Joining Jihad
by Steven Erlanger
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/world/europe/isis-europe-muslim-radicalization.html?ref=world
European countries pressed ahead on Tuesday with efforts to deter the growing numbers of their citizens seeking to join radical Islamic movements in Iraq and Syria, as some experts warned that the United States-led military campaign against the Islamic State increased the risk that the groups would turn their attention to attacking Western targets.
The Destruction of Mecca
by Ziauddin Sardar
New York Times op-ed
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/opinion/the-destruction-of-mecca.html
When Malcolm X visited Mecca in 1964, he was enchanted. Fifty years on, no one could possibly describe Mecca as ancient, or associate beauty with Islam’s holiest city.
Pope Summons Mideast Envoys to Rome Over Islamist Advance
by Philip Pullella
Reuters
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2014/10/01/pope-summons-mideast-envoys-to-rome-over-islamist-adv...
Pope Francis, who has expressed alarm over the rise of Islamic State militants and the plight of Christians in the Middle East, has summoned his envoys in the region to a rare meeting to discuss a response to the crisis, the Vatican said on Tuesday.
Reza Aslan: Radical Islam Is Still Islam
by Sally Quinn
On Faith
http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2014/09/30/reza-aslan-radical-islam-is-still-islam/34314
The popular author says we can’t reject ISIS as non-Muslim. What’s needed is a rigorous expression of religious peace.
Nigeria’s Actions Seem to Contain Ebola Outbreak
by Donald G. McNeil Jr.
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/health/ebola-outbreak-in-nigeria-appears-to-be-over.html?ref=world
With quick and coordinated action by some of its top doctors, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, appears to have contained its first Ebola outbreak, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.
A Conspicuous Absence on Israel’s List of Top Baby Names
by Jodi Rudoren
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/world/middleeast/a-revelation-in-israeli-baby-names.html
Muhammad was by far the most popular name for babies born in Israel last year. That fact alone was worthy of note, a reminder that the Arab minority in Israel is 21 percent of what the Israeli government likes to call the Jewish State. But even more striking was that Israel’s population authority left Muhammad off the annual Top 10 list of baby names it issued last week before Rosh Hashana.
Hindu Temple in India Purified After Low-Caste Chief Minister Visits
by Reuters Staff
Reuters
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2014/10/01/hindu-temple-in-india-purified-after-low-caste-chief-...
The government in the Indian state of Bihar has ordered an investigation after reports that a Hindu temple was cleaned and its idols washed after a visit by the state’s chief minister (governor), who belongs to a lower caste community.
DOMESTIC
How Serious Is the Supreme Court About Religious Freedom?
by Dawinder S. Sidhu
Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/09/how-serious-is-the-supreme-court-serious-about-r...
In supporting the religious rights of business owners over a national health-care policy predicated on broad participation, the Roberts Court seemed to stake its place on the more protective end of the religious-freedom spectrum.
NFL Says Ref Botched Call on Player's Muslim Prayer
by Daniel Burke
CNN
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2014/09/30/nfler-penalized-for-muslim-prayer/
The N.F.L. said Tuesday that Kansas City Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah was mistakenly penalized by a game official when he knelt to pray after scoring a touchdown Monday night.
Millennial Jews Do An About-Face, Start Keeping Kosher
by NPR Staff
NPR
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/09/30/352583387/millennial-jews-embrace-old-world-eating
According to a 2013 Pew Research Center study, nearly a fourth of millennial Jews are keeping kosher. That's almost twice the rate of their baby-boomer parents.
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