Is the rise of Political Islam destroying South Asia’s pluralism? A couple of Pakistani historians indicate so. Read on: Feminists and the liberals are divided on whether the burqa, a garment that covers the entire body, or the niqab, the facial veil, represent personal freedom or suppression. While most experts agree that women, like men, […]
While Maharastra might indict Islamic tele-evangelist Naik for unlawful activities, the case is stirring up a lot of interest in Muslim and non-Muslim circles all over the country. Several liberal Muslims have been quite uncomfortable with the tone and nature of Naik’s television broadcasts, which they say lean towards the fundamentalist, Wahabi brand of Islam, […]
The Catholic Church in India lost one of its ‘truly remarkable shepherds’ this week with the death of 81-year-old Archbishop Emeritus Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, who died August 14. As the senior metropolitan archbishop in the region, gave leadership to the Church in Odisha when the anti-Christian wave swept the eastern Indian state. His funeral […]
Bangladesh has begun to screen Friday sermons in mosques, in an effort to control the proliferation of extremist ideas in the country. Bangladesh has also blocked ‘Peace TV’, the channel run by Zakir Naik, a preacher who ‘inspired’ extremist Islam radicals. The decision was taken by senior government officials, who have also decided to implement […]
India may soon lose its unique Jewish community living in the Northeast, as Israel plans to help their en-masse migration to ‘the promised land’. The Israeli government set aside eight million shekels to settle 712 members of the Bnei Menashe, a religious group from India which claims Jewish roots, in the Holy Land. The decision […]
New Delhi: The Indian government was severely critical of an official US government report that claimed religious freedom in India was on a “negative trajectory” in 2015 as religious tolerance had “deteriorated” and that violations of religious freedom had “increased”. The report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom also named some top BJP […]
It’s well known the Zoroastrians are like the Jews, you are born into the faith. So, if you aren’t born a Parsi, you can’t become a Zoroastrian and call yourself a Parsi. The Indian Parsis have been told by seven of their high priests, that non-Zoroastrian spouses can’t be considered Parsi. In an open letter […]
New Delhi: It’s a tough set of questions: should Jains be allowed to practice Santhara? Is suicide the same as giving up one’s life voluntarily? Why should a non-Jain challenge the religious practice of a Jain? If the law is the same for everyone, then why shouldn’t we allow euthanasia? The Supreme Court on […]
