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After 50 years, 'liberation theology' is still reshaping Catholicism and...
A woman prays in front of a statue of the martyred Catholic archbishop of El Salvador, Oscar Romero, known for his embrace of liberation theology.Vlady Chicas/picture alliance via Getty ImagesIt isn’t...
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The Catholic view on indulgences and how they work today
The National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago recently offered indulgences.Myriam Renaud, CC BY-NCIn 1517, the German theologian Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to Wittenberg’s Castle...
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Why early Christians wouldn't have found the Christmas story's virgin birth...
'The Nativity,' circa 1406-10, by Lorenzo MonacoHeritage Images/Hulton Archive via Getty ImagesEvery year on Christmas, Christians celebrate the birth of their religion’s founder, Jesus from Nazareth...
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Muslim Brotherhood at the crossroads: Where now for Egypt's once-powerful...
Members of the Muslim Brotherhood protest at a rally in 2013.Carsten Koall/Getty ImagesIbrahim Munir, the leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, died on Nov. 4, 2022, in exile in London. While the news...
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'Untraditional' Hanukkah celebrations are often full of traditions for Jews...
Hanukkah creates opportunities for families to celebrate their heritage – especially in the kitchen.zilber42/iStock via Getty ImagesHanukkah, the Jewish “festival of lights,” commemorates a story of a...
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Who are Iran's morality police? A scholar of the Middle East explains their...
Protestors are pressing the Iranian regime for changes since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.AP Photo/Emrah GurelUntil recently, most people outside of Iran had never heard of the country’s...
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Why winter solstice matters around the world: 4 essential reads
Stonehenge has long been the site of some of the most famous solstice celebrations. Chris Gorman/Getty Images NewsIf you’ve already spend hours shoveling snow this year, you may be dismayed to realize...
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How an American magazine helped launch one of Britain’s favorite Christmas...
'In the Bleak Midwinter' didn't begin life as a song, but being set to music helped it find fame.starryvoyage/iStock via Getty Images PlusIn 1906, a new carol appeared in “The English Hymnal,” an...
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Who is at the manger? Nativity sets around the world show each culture's take...
A handmade Nativity from Kyrgyzstan by an unknown artisan. Instead of a stable, it features a yurt, the traditional home of nomadic Kyrgyz people.The Marian Library, University of Dayton, CC...
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How female Iranian activists use powerful images to protest oppressive policies
Women have been at the forefront of protests in Iran.Hawar News Agency via AP via APImages of unveiled Iranian women and adolescent girls standing atop police cars or flipping off the ayatollah’s...
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Christmas isn't always holly jolly – even some of its best-loved songs are...
'Joy to the World' may be one of the most famous hymns, but the Yuletide season isn't always cheery.Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty ImagesIn American culture, Christmas is supposed to be synonymous...
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Lionel Messi's black cloak: a brief history of the bisht, given to the...
Argentina's Lionel Messi is honored with a cloak prior to receiving the World Cup trophy at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 18, 2022. AP Photo/Thanassis StavrakisShortly before Lionel Messi...
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Pope Benedict XVI: A man at odds with the modern world who leaves a legacy of...
Pope Benedict XVI waves as he is driven through a crowd during his weekly general audience, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on June 2, 2010.AP Photo/Andrew MedichiniBenedict XVI leaves behind a...
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Why you should give the gift of mindfulness this New Year
The late Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh leading a meditation walk.Steve Cray/South China Morning Post via Getty ImagesThe start of another year can feel magical to many of us. Even though the days remain...
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On New Year's Day, Buddhist god Hotei brings gifts and good fortune in Japan
Hotei hands out gifts to children.Detail of print by Kuniyoshi Utagawa, 1798-1861, via Wikimedia CommonsThe new year brings a fresh start, symbolized in some cultures by the cherubic baby New Year who...
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Making sweat feel spiritual didn't start with SoulCycle – a religion scholar...
A studio set up for a SoulCycle event in New York City.Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty ImagesEach January, Americans collectively atone for yet another celebratory season of indulgence. Some...
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What is Pentecostal Christianity?
Pentecostal televangelist Paula White, center, prays before giving a sermon in Maryland in 2017.Mary F. Calvert For The Washington Post via Getty ImagesIn the wake of every election, political analysts...
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Israel's new hard-line government has made headlines – the bigger demographic...
People wait at a bus stop at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem.Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty ImagesIsrael’s new goverment is the most right-wing and religious leadership the country has had in the 75 years...
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Islamic paintings of the Prophet Muhammad are an important piece of history –...
A painting showing the Prophet Muhammad raising his hands in prayer while standing on the Mountain of Light in Mecca.Siyer-i Nebi (Biography of the Prophet), Istanbul, Ottoman lands, 1595-96. Topkapı...
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God and guns often go together in US history – this course examines why
Views on guns are intertwined with views on God for many Americans.RichLegg/E+ via Getty ImagesUncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches...
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