Democrats emphasise values not beliefs in pluralistic society
The US Democrats, holding their convention in Chicago this week, are 60 per cent Christian, 10 per cent other faiths and 30 per cent non-religious, and their policies are said to be wrapped in the language of a pluralistic society, with an emphasis on common values. Speakers at a Religion Media Centre briefing, said the US vice president Kamala Harris, who will be formally nominated as the Democrat’s presidential candidate on Thursday, embodies religious pluralism in a diverse country, having a Hindu mother, Baptist father and Jewish husband. The briefing heard the view that the conservative white evangelical support of Donald Trump, with its particular take on Christianity, has pushed the Democrats towards greater clarity that religion and the state are separate, and this is what binds their party in a big tent, including people of all faiths and none. View the briefing again on our YouTube channel here or listen to the podcast via links here.
Mobile abortion clinic near Convention centre draws criticism
A Planned Parenthood mobile clinic, offering free medical abortions and vasectomies just a block away from the Democrats convention, has been criticised by Christian groups. A Christian confessional bus has parked nearby and a demonstration has been held outside a fence protecting the area. Christians have commented in outrage on social media, as reported by Premier Christian News.
Ukraine bans groups linked to the Russian Orthodox Church
Ukraine has banned religious groups tied to the Russian Orthodox Church or any religious group supporting Russia’s invasion. Patriarch Kirill in Moscow has consistently supported Russian’s action in Ukraine calling it “a holy war” and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, aligned to Moscow, has been regarded with suspicion and raided by police on suspicion of spying. The controversial bill was passed by 265 to 29 votes in Ukraine’s parliament but has been criticised for violating human rights and freedom of religion. The London based lawyers representing the church, Amsterdam and Partners, say the measure “amounts to a collective punishment of innocent citizens on religious grounds”. It points to the UOC’s action to distance itself from Russia and says it will work with international partners “to seek the repeal of this pernicious law”.
Christians are the world’s largest migrant group, with Jews most likely to migrate
The Pew Research Centre has produced a report on the “Religious Composition of the World’s Migrants”, which shows that Christians are the largest migrant group, but Jews are most likely to have migrated. It says that migration has grown steadily in recent decades. In the past 30 years, the number of international migrants has increased by 83 per cent. Today, there are more than 280 million migrants, or 3.6 per cent of the world’s population. Using latest data from 2020, the report says Christians accounted for an estimated 47 per cent of all people living outside their country of birth. Stephanie Kramer, the study’s lead researcher, told the Religion News Service: “You see migrants coming to places like the US, Canada, different places through Western Europe, and being more religious — and sometimes more Christian in particular — than the native-born people in those countries.” Muslims accounted for 29 per cent, Hindus 5 per cent and Jews 1 per cent of the global migration total. Jews form a much larger share of migrants than any other faith group, with the majority moving to Israel. The report says that the religious make up of all international migrants has remained stable since 1990. The figures come from an analysis of United Nations data and 270 censuses and surveys.
Woman stabbed to death in Manchester was pillar of local church
The 43-year-old woman, Alberta Obinim, killed in a stabbing attack in Manchester on Sunday night, was a well-known and highly regarded leader at the Blessed Baptist Temple in the city. The Independent has spoken to a spokesperson from the church who said that Mrs Obinim led the women’s wing at the church, alongside her husband. He said she smiled all the time and the church is deeply shocked at the news. Her 17-year-old daughter and 64-year-old husband were also stabbed and are being treated for their injuries, which are life threatening. A man aged 22, believed to be known to the family, has been arrested.
New Zealand Cathedral restoration in jeopardy
The Church Times reports that the restoration of Christ Church Cathedral, New Zealand, has been paused because of a $85-million shortfall. The government has said it will not allocate further taxpayers’ money because the cathedral is a private, religious space. The building was badly damaged after two earthquakes in 2011 and demolition plans were drawn up, but the Great Christchurch Buildings Trust and the High Court ruled that the plans were incomplete. Restoration was hampered by Covid and more earthquakes, but there is a determination to continue. The Bishop of Christchurch, Peter Carrell, said: “We are still committed to the cathedral being reinstated. It is now going to take a bit longer.”
Mormons criticise horror film for misrepresenting missionaries
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has criticised the horror film “Heretic”, which tells the story of two church missionaries who are ensnared by a sinister man they call upon, played by Hugh Grant. The film is due to be premiered at the Toronto film festival on 8 September. In a statement made without mentioning the film, the church says “a number of recent productions depict lifestyles and practices blatantly inconsistent with the teachings of the Church. Others irresponsibly mischaracterize the safety and conduct of our volunteer missionaries. We understand the fascination some in the media have with the Church, but regret that portrayals often rely on sensationalism and inaccuracies that do not fairly and fully reflect the lives of our Church members or the sacred beliefs that they hold dear”.
Muslims in New York City withdraw from India Day parade over Hindu float
The India Day Parade in New York City ran into controversy last weekend, when a float featuring a model of the Ram Mandir temple in India, which is built on the site of a mosque, was allowed to take part despite criticism from the Indian American Muslim Council. It was one of several groups which called for the float to be banned, but when it lost the argument, it withdrew from the parade. It said the float conflated Hindu nationalist ideology with Indian identity. Othe organisations said the float was “a vulgar celebration of anti-Muslim heat, bigotry, and religious supremacy.” But the parade organisers, the Federation of Indian Associations, said the float celebrated the inauguration of a sacred landmark that is significant to hundreds of millions of Hindus. Associated Press report here
“Laughter yoga” is catching on across the world
Laughter yoga is a developing business across the world. The Religion News Service reports on how it works by talking to yoga teacher Celeste Greene, in Atlanta Georgia, who claps as she chants Ho Ho Ho and Ha Ha Ha, then lifts arms to the sky and belly laughs. A doctor in India developed the practice in the 1980s to reduce stress, as the brain can’t tell the difference between real and fake laughter, with both producing happy chemicals. The technique was also used by the “Orange People”, followers of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, in the 1980s. Laughter Yoga International has 25,000 leaders in 130 countries and in the UK, there are courses in Llandudno, Stourbridge, Manchester, Cardiff, Penarth, Newton Abbott and Chichester
