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21 Aug 2010
Anthropologists have recently discovered Christianity but they still have some difficulty in understanding the ancient Eastern Christian churches that exist apart from the West and its history of colonialism and individualism. A new book represents a challenge to the anthropology of religion, since it has often treated Christianity as embodying Western concepts and practices, such as individualism, in its relation to other cultures and religions. 
Catholicism: Vatican mulling Arabic and Russian versions of website
14 Aug 2010
The Vatican plans to revamp its official website and is considering opening sections in Arabic and Russian. The need to use language "that is comprehensible to today's internet users", is prompting the initiative, Monsignor Lucio Adrian Ruiz who manages the site, told the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano.
Hinduism: faith drives millions to throng Deoghar temple
14 Aug 2010
They come in droves on foot, trekking for over 100 km to reach this town revered by Hindus for its ancient Shiv temple. The revered Bababaidyanath temple in Deoghar, about 385 km from Jharkhand state capital Ranchi, is witnessing close to 100,000 devotees every day to offer oblations at the Shiv linga there in the month of Shravan. This year more than three million people are expected during the auspicious month.
India: Lucknow's Bada Mangal — experiencing a festival
20 Jul 2010
Dedicated to Hanuman, the festival of Bada Mangal is said to be Lucknow's symbol of communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims. Ramesh Avadhani, who recently moved to Lucknow, shares his discovery of the festival in the streets of the capital city of Uttar Pradesh.
United States: religious and spiritual scientists defying religion-science feud
14 Jun 2010
Most scientists are not the rabid atheists that they are often portrayed as, especially in the U.S., according to a new book by Rice University sociologist Elaine Howard Ecklund.
Canada: Islamic mortgage system introduced for Muslims
20 May 2010
At a time when failed mortgages have led to collapse of major banks and foreclosure of millions of homes in the US, a credit union in Canada has introduced Islamic mortgages for Muslims.
United States: sociologist finds Christian activism and politics ineffective and damaging
5 May 2010
The Christian attempt to transform American society through politics has failed and may actually be counterproductive for Christianity, according to University of Virginia sociologist James Davison Hunter.
Analysis: survey into the religious and ideological roots of Iran's political crisis
18 Apr 2010
The Iranian Presidential Elections of June 2009 and its aftermath have touched off a flurry of analysis on the country's political crisis and the prospects for reform or even radical change in the Islamic Republic. But too often the analysis is focussed on fast-moving political events at the expense of a more comprehensive survey into the deep-seated tensions and dynamics driving the evolution of the Iranian political system.
Sikhism: Canadian Sikh divisions deepen over scripture
14 Apr 2010
Divisions among Canadian Sikhs over the ongoing controversy about the Dasam Granth reached a flash point with hardliners using kirpans to attack supporters of former Akal Takht head priest Darshan Singh Ragi who suspects the authenticity of the scripture.
Taiwan: Mount Zion and Typhoon Morakot — a new religious movement's response to a natural disaster
1 Apr 2010
On 8 August 2009 Typhoon Morakot blasted across Taiwan, the strongest typhoon to reach the island in recent decades. Floods ravaged much of the island and severe landslides destroyed roads, towns and farmland. The village of Hsiao-lin, located in the mountains of southern Taiwan became the focal point of the disaster when it was completely buried by a landslide, killing several hundred people. Approximately 10 kilometres upstream from Hsiao-lin is Mount Zion, the primary holy site of the New Testament Church that, the group claims, will be the venue for the heavenly descent of Jesus Christ.
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