Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: religious universities, an Iranian identity crisis, and Canada's court ruling on the niqab.
AROUND THE WORLD
How to Defeat Religious Violence
by Jonathan Sacks
Wall Street Journal op-ed
http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-defeat-religious-violence-1443798275
Religion has lately demanded our attention not as a still, small voice but as a whirlwind. If Isaiah’s prophecy that nations “shall beat their swords into plowshares” is to be fulfilled, then the essential task now is to think through the connection between religion and violence.
Cautiously, Iranians Reclaim Public Spaces and Liberties Long Suppressed
by Thomas Erdbrink
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/06/world/cautiously-iranians-reclaim-public-spaces-and-liberties-long...
Following the election of a moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, and the signing of the nuclear agreement this summer, Iranians are increasingly taking to the streets, this time not to challenge the government but to reclaim public spaces. Though there are plenty of skeptics who say the changes are minimal and could be reversed at any time, the lifestyle movement seems to be spreading across the country.
related | Iran's Identity Crisis
by Kim Ghattas
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/10/05/irans-identity-crisis/
Canada Court Rules for Niqab Wearer in Citizenship Ceremonies
Reuters FaithWorld
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/10/06/canada-court-rules-for-niqab-wearer-in-citizenship-ce...
The Canadian Federal Court of Appeals, weighing in on an issue that has proved pivotal in the campaign for the Oct. 19 election, ruled on Monday in favor of a Muslim woman who has sought to take the oath of citizenship with her face veiled.
Myanmar Nationalist Monks Stage Large Rally as Religious Tensions Grow
Reuters FaithWorld
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/10/06/myanmar-nationalist-monks-stage-large-rally-as-religi...
Thousands of Myanmar’s nationalist monks and their supporters prayed, clapped and held speeches at a large rally in the country’s biggest city on Sunday, in a show of growing clout of radical Buddhists ahead of a Nov. 8 election.
Pope Francis Opens Vatican Meeting on the Family
by Elisabetta Povoledo
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/06/world/europe/pope-francis-vatican-synod.html?ref=world
Pope Francis told bishops gathered at the Vatican for a meeting on the family on Monday to dismiss personal “conventions and prejudices” and remain open to different opinions.
Baptist Pastor in Bangladesh Survives Knife Attack
by Hari Kumar
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/07/world/asia/baptist-pastor-bangladesh-luke-sarker-knife-attack.html...
A Baptist pastor in Bangladesh has survived a knife attack by three men who had been invited to his home to discuss religion, the police said on Tuesday.
DOMESTIC
The Big University
by David Brooks
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/06/opinion/david-brooks-the-big-university.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
It’s tough to know how much philosophical instruction anybody can absorb at age 20, before most of life has happened, but seeds can be planted. Universities could more intentionally provide those enchanted goods that the marketplace doesn’t offer. If that happens, the future of the university will be found in its original moral and spiritual mission, but secularized, and in an open and aspiring way.
America's Crisis of Interfaith
by Paul Brandeis Raushenbush
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-raushenbush/interfaith-movement-rally-for-humanity_b_8246146.html...
As we speak, Muslim-Americans are preparing to be visited by possible armed protests at mosques across the country. A small movement of self-described patriots is organizing a Global Rally for Humanity, which so far has resulted in 20 planned protests.
How to Defeat Religious Violence
by Jonathan Sacks
Wall Street Journal op-ed
http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-defeat-religious-violence-1443798275
Religion has lately demanded our attention not as a still, small voice but as a whirlwind. If Isaiah’s prophecy that nations “shall beat their swords into plowshares” is to be fulfilled, then the essential task now is to think through the connection between religion and violence.
Cautiously, Iranians Reclaim Public Spaces and Liberties Long Suppressed
by Thomas Erdbrink
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/06/world/cautiously-iranians-reclaim-public-spaces-and-liberties-long...
Following the election of a moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, and the signing of the nuclear agreement this summer, Iranians are increasingly taking to the streets, this time not to challenge the government but to reclaim public spaces. Though there are plenty of skeptics who say the changes are minimal and could be reversed at any time, the lifestyle movement seems to be spreading across the country.
related | Iran's Identity Crisis
by Kim Ghattas
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/10/05/irans-identity-crisis/
Canada Court Rules for Niqab Wearer in Citizenship Ceremonies
Reuters FaithWorld
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/10/06/canada-court-rules-for-niqab-wearer-in-citizenship-ce...
The Canadian Federal Court of Appeals, weighing in on an issue that has proved pivotal in the campaign for the Oct. 19 election, ruled on Monday in favor of a Muslim woman who has sought to take the oath of citizenship with her face veiled.
Myanmar Nationalist Monks Stage Large Rally as Religious Tensions Grow
Reuters FaithWorld
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/10/06/myanmar-nationalist-monks-stage-large-rally-as-religi...
Thousands of Myanmar’s nationalist monks and their supporters prayed, clapped and held speeches at a large rally in the country’s biggest city on Sunday, in a show of growing clout of radical Buddhists ahead of a Nov. 8 election.
Pope Francis Opens Vatican Meeting on the Family
by Elisabetta Povoledo
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/06/world/europe/pope-francis-vatican-synod.html?ref=world
Pope Francis told bishops gathered at the Vatican for a meeting on the family on Monday to dismiss personal “conventions and prejudices” and remain open to different opinions.
Baptist Pastor in Bangladesh Survives Knife Attack
by Hari Kumar
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/07/world/asia/baptist-pastor-bangladesh-luke-sarker-knife-attack.html...
A Baptist pastor in Bangladesh has survived a knife attack by three men who had been invited to his home to discuss religion, the police said on Tuesday.
DOMESTIC
The Big University
by David Brooks
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/06/opinion/david-brooks-the-big-university.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0
It’s tough to know how much philosophical instruction anybody can absorb at age 20, before most of life has happened, but seeds can be planted. Universities could more intentionally provide those enchanted goods that the marketplace doesn’t offer. If that happens, the future of the university will be found in its original moral and spiritual mission, but secularized, and in an open and aspiring way.
America's Crisis of Interfaith
by Paul Brandeis Raushenbush
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-raushenbush/interfaith-movement-rally-for-humanity_b_8246146.html...
As we speak, Muslim-Americans are preparing to be visited by possible armed protests at mosques across the country. A small movement of self-described patriots is organizing a Global Rally for Humanity, which so far has resulted in 20 planned protests.
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