Religion

How Important is Religion to Urban Indians? New Survey Offers Answers

A new global religion survey by Ipsos discovered that 8 out of 10 urban Indians believe in the existence of God and claim to be comfortable around different faiths amidst rising Hindu nationalism and sectarian violence in the country.

The Doomsday Cult Mother Convicted of Triple Murder

A jury convicted a 49-year-old mother in Idaho on May 12th for killing her two children and her current husband’s late wife in a bizarre triple murder case that has perplexed many in the state since 2019.

Lori Vallow Daybell was found guilty of conspiring to murder her two children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. Lori Vallow Daybell was also convicted of grand theft, and she will face another trial in Arizona for her involvement in the murder of Charles Vallow, Lori’s fourth husband, a businessman, and a member of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS) church.

6 Ex-Muslim Christians Face Death Penalty for Conversion in Libya

Human rights activists say Libyan authorities arrested six Libyans last March for converting to Christianity and proselytizing. They said the Libyan Christians were accused of violating laws being used increasingly to stifle human rights organizations and civil societies.

Beard Ban Backlash: Muslim Security Guard Sues US State Department

A lawsuit was filed against the State Department of the US government for discriminating against a guard when he was allegedly forced to shave his beard to keep his job at the agency.

The case was filed on May 3rd by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on behalf of security guard Devin Brooks against the US State Department and State Secretary Anthony Blinken. The suit stated that the agency “denied permission to maintain a beard longer than ½ inch,” as required by Brook’s Islamic faith.

Islamic Cleric Lynched in Pakistan Over Alleged Blasphemy

A local Muslim religious leader was beaten to death by an angry mob in Pakistan after allegedly making “blasphemous” remarks during an opposition party rally, which came at a time when lynchings due to blasphemy allegations continue to rise in the country.

United Against Love: Indian Religious Leaders Unite Against Gay Marriage

In a rare display of unity amongst India’s major religions, leaders from the country’s Muslim, Christian, Sikh, and Jain communities join hands with Hindu nationalist groups in opposing calls to recognize same-sex marriage in the country.

This move comes as India’s Supreme Court hears petitions filed by various LGBTQIA+ organizations in the country, pleading to legalize same-sex marriage. These petitions were filed around five years after a landmark case in 2018 that decriminalized homosexuality in India.

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