Canadians turning away from organized religion
TORONTO (RNS) A new national study shows that while Canada is still overwhelmingly Christian, Canadians are turning their backs on organized religion in ever greater numbers.
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Dalai Lama wows Maryland crowd, rubs noses with governor
(RNS) His English is terribly broken, and punctuated by sudden fits of giggles. But for nearly an hour Tuesday, the Dalai Lama entranced an arena full of admirers at the University of Maryland, who said he conveyed his message perfectly.
After failed self-immolation, Tibetan says ‘I won’t repeat it’
DHARAMSALA, India (RNS) Dawa Dhondup drank kerosene and poured it all over his body at a March 10 procession to mark the anniversary of a failed 1959 Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule. As he was about to light a match, fellow Tibetans and police overpowered him.
Canadian prisoners sue over lack of chaplains
TORONTO (RNS) A group of prisoners in British Columbia is suing the Canadian government over a policy to cancel the contracts of non-Christian chaplains.
Bhutan seeks to curb sexual diseases among Buddhist monks
NEW DELHI (RNS) Health officials in the tiny Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan are making condoms available at all monastic schools in a bid to stem the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV among young monks who are supposed to be celibate.
For aging religious leaders, is it still ’till death us do part’?
(RNS) When aging religious leaders reach the top echelons of temporal and spiritual power, their followers have a certain expectation: Till death us do part. But Pope Benedict XVI’s surprise resignation has shifted that calculus, prompting introspection about when, if and how to let go of religion’s senior management.
Tibetans mourn as self-immolations near 100
(RNS) In its latest move to crack down on dissent, the Chinese government treats self-immolations as a crime and charges anyone inciting the act with “intentional murder.”
Audio Slideshow: Welcoming a sister
NEWPORT, Wash. (RNS) On Sunday Sravasti Abbey welcomed a new novice nun to its community. In an ordination ceremony Daniela Mieritz took vows and became Venerable Thubten Jampa. Ruby Pan also took vows to become an Anagarkia.
From nuns to ‘nones,’ 10 ways religion shaped the news in 2012
WASHINGTON (RNS) From the nuns to the nones, religion dominated the headlines throughout 2012. Questions of religious faith took center stage in the presidential race, and deep questions of morality and ethics played out in budget debates, mass killings and an unexpected focus on “religious freedom.” Here are 10 ways religion played out in the news in 2012. By Kevin Eckstrom.
The `nones’ now form the world’s third-largest ‘religion’ *
(RNS) A new report on global religious identity shows that while Christians and Muslims make up the two largest groups, those with no religious affiliation — including atheists and agnostics — are now the third-largest “religious” group in the world. The study, released Tuesday (Dec. 18) by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, [...]
