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A Peek Inside the ‘Onion’ of Scientology

By Kristin Rawls

…If it is not, then we might legitimately ask the question of how kids of 12, 14, or 16 years old have been allowed to work 16- or 18-hour days, seven days a week. But if it is a religion, as it is right now, then the Sea Organization is protected as a religious order, and what goes on within that order is not open to the same level of scrutiny. Courts are generally loath to take Scientology on because [the Church] has a messy legal history. They…

Naked Jihad

By Kate Blanchard

…would soon be feeling the need to leave her home country. Not surprisingly, a number of Western women felt moved to show their support for Amina. An international movement called Femen staged bare-breasted protests in European cities, in which the writings on their chests echoed Amina’s, along with “Freedom for women” and “Fuck your morals.” (Be warned: photos contain nudity and strong language.) But Femen did not have the last word. Almost imme…

The Internet Is Not Killing Religion, Religion is Killing Religion

By Elizabeth Drescher

…eople like me—“Someone who has taken an introductory statistics class” (But, ha!, some of us had to take it twice! So there!)—“might insist that correlation does not imply causation.” My statistically muddled insistence be damned, however, because Downey doubles down by arguing that “correlation does provide evidence in favor of causation, especially when we can eliminate alternative explanations.” Like pipers, for instance. What is missed, howeve…

Exclusive: Religious Leaders for Immigration Equality for Gay and Lesbian Couples

By Sarah Posner

…erosexuals currently can sponsor their undocumented spouses for citizenship, thousands of gay and lesbian couples face the possibility of their families being separated unless the UAFA becomes law. According to Steve Ralls, director of communications for Immigration Equality, the group will send the letter to members of Congress after the legislation is reintroduced, probably in April. Ralls said the group anticipates that Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N…

Fox News Controversy on Yoga and White Supremacy Reveals Problem of Yoga Discussion

By Andrea R. Jain

…images. The interreligious and intercultural exchanges–between, for example, Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains–throughout the history of yoga problematize a definition of yoga as essentially or originally Hindu. Gandhi and Wolff also suggest that postures “comprise only one-eighth of the practice,” therefore white American practitioners dilute “its true depth and meaning” and miss the true aim of yoga, which is to “remember our innate oneness and conne…

Competing Visions of Family & Freedom at UN; Methodists Try to Avoid Schism on Sexuality; Catholic Cardinal Denounces LGBT ‘Demonic Ideology’; Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…aign called “Together Our Voice is Louder.” ILGA, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trans and Intersex Association, released the 11th edition of “State Sponsored Homophobia,” which it describes as a world survey of sexual orientation laws coving criminalization, protection, and recognition. In addition to country-by-country reports on legislation, it includes essays on regional developments in Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe, and the Americas…

‘It’s a Gay Problem,’ and Other Myths From the Catholic Church’s Sexual Abuse Crisis

By Joelle Casteix

…eral from at least a half dozen states have vowed to investigate the Church, and, according to the New York Times, “Pope Francis has summoned bishops from around the world to Rome for an unprecedented meeting focused on protecting minors.” It’s a good start. In addition, despite the cries of apologists, we must continue to demand robust laws that expose predators and hold the Church accountable for the cover-up and encourage law enforcement to do…

By The Numbers: Jeb Opposes Francis on Climate Change at His Peril

By Daniel Schultz

…ers attributing warming to human activity rise among moderates and liberals, of course, but they’re not going to vote for Jeb anyway. There is one number Bush might want to worry about, though: 85. That’s the percent of Hispanic Catholics who think climate change is a real problem: For a guy who’s been touting his potential to draw Spanish-speaking voters into the Republican fold, this is a sticky situation. Hispanic Catholics, as it turns out, ac…

‘Imagine Better’: Can Harry Potter Change the World?

By B. Howell Belser

…Association, which held its fourth annual Quidditch World Cup on Nov. 13-14, 2010, in New York City. Potter fans are often passionate, creative, and imaginative, and no organization demonstrates this more clearly than the Harry Potter Alliance. The Harry Potter Alliance (HPA) was founded in 2005 by Andrew Slack, Executive Director, and Paul DeGeorge, of wrock band Harry and the Potters, as an organization whose mission is to draw on the language a…

Hobby Lobby: Key to a More Liberal and Less Religious America?

By Rebecca Sager

…politicization of religion as the cause. This trend of legal victories will, in the long run, very likely create a more secular America. Recent data indicate that this process is already clearly under way. A poll just released by Carnegie Mellon University has found that millennials are often disenchanted with organized religion, with only 52% saying they often look to religious institutions for guidance. Millennials, and Americans in general, are…