Religions Around The World

In the early morning hours, monks can be seen walking on their alms round in Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Showing humility and detachment from worldly goods, the monk walks slowly and only stops if he is called. Standing quietly, with his bowl open, the local Buddhists give him rice, or flowers, or an envelope containing money.  In return, the monks bless the local Buddhists and wish them a long and fruitful life.
Christians Celebrate Good Friday
Enacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in St. Mary's Church in Secunderabad, India. Only 2.3% of India's population is Christian. 
Ancient interior mosaic in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora
The Church of the Holy Saviour in Istanbul, Turkey is a medieval Byzantine Greek Orthodox church.
Dome of the Rock located in the Old City of Jerusalem
The site's great significance for Muslims derives from traditions connecting it to the creation of the world and to the belief that the Prophet Muhammad's Night Journey to heaven started from the rock at the center of the structure.
Holi Festival in Mathura, India
Holi is a Hindu festival that marks the end of winter. Also known as the “festival of colors”,  Holi is primarily observed in South Asia but has spread across the world in celebration of love and the changing of the seasons.
Jewish father and daughter pray at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Israel.
Known in Hebrew as the Western Wall, it is one of the holiest sites in the world. The description, "place of weeping", originated from the Jewish practice of mourning the destruction of the Temple and praying for its rebuilding at the site of the Western Wall.
People praying in Mengjia Longshan Temple in Taipei, Taiwan
The temple is dedicated to both Taoism and Buddhism.
People praying in the Grand Mosque in Ulu Cami
This is the most important mosque in Bursa, Turkey and a landmark of early Ottoman architecture built in 1399.
Savior Transfiguration Cathedral of the Savior Monastery of St. Euthymius
Located in Suzdal, Russia, this is a church rite of sanctification of apples and grapes in honor of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
Fushimi Inari Shrine is located in Kyoto, Japan
It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. Fushimi Inari is the most important Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice.
Ladles at the purification fountain in the Hakone Shrine
Located in Hakone, Japan, this shrine is a Japanese Shinto shrine.  At the purification fountain, ritual washings are performed by individuals when they visit a shrine. This ritual symbolizes the inner purity necessary for a truly human and spiritual life.
Hanging Gardens of Haifa are garden terraces around the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel
They are one of the most visited tourist attractions in Israel. The Shrine of the Báb is where the remains of the Báb, founder of the Bábí Faith and forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh in the Bahá'í Faith, have been buried; it is considered to be the second holiest place on Earth for Bahá'ís.
Pilgrims praying at the Pool of the Nectar of Immortality and Golden Temple
Located in Amritsar, India, the Golden Temple is one of the most revered spiritual sites of Sikhism. It is a place of worship for men and women from all walks of life and all religions to worship God equally. Over 100,000 people visit the shrine daily.
Entrance gateway of Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple Kowloon
Located in Hong Kong, China, the temple is dedicated to Wong Tai Sin, or the Great Immortal Wong. The Taoist temple is famed for the many prayers answered: "What you request is what you get" via a practice called kau cim.
Christian women worship at a church in Bois Neus, Haiti.
Haiti's population is 94.8 percent Christian, primarily Catholic. This makes them one of the most heavily Christian countries in the world.

Top Religion News 2024: NYT Reporter Ruth Graham



This week, Ruth Graham, National Reporter on Religion, Faith and Values at The New York Times, joins Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to reflect on the dynamic intersection of religion and politics in America, especially in light of recent political developments and the evolving religious landscape. Their discussion touches on a range of key issues, from the rise of religious nationalism to shifting religious affiliations and the effects of politics on religious practice.

Ruth speaks about some of her fascinating recent work for the New York Times, including Pete Hegseth and His ‘Battle Cry’ for a New Christian Crusade; In a First Among Christians, Young Men Are More Religious Than Young Women; and America’s New Catholic Priests: Young, Confident and Conservative. She expands on the complexities of religious reporting, the challenges of capturing the diverse and evolving nature of faith in the U.S., and the personal stakes of writing these stories with empathy and understanding.

“I think the most important story, and maybe it’s recency bias, [is] the tremendous comeback of Donald Trump, and the realization that you know, boy, yeah, that consolidation of Christian power of men. I think it is the comeback of Trump and what that means for Christian power in the US. And also for the Church itself. I don’t know if that’s the number one most important story, but it’s the one I find myself most interested in, the ways that Trump is reshaping the Church… You have a whole movement on the right for pastors to quote-unquote ‘speak their minds,’ and speak truth – which, in this context, means being much more direct in preaching directly on political and culture war topics. And that’s going to have a long impact. You know, an administration is only four years, but that’s reshaping the American Church for the next generation.”

Ruth Graham, national reporter based in Dallas, covering religion, faith and values for The New York Times. She is the recipient of awards from the Religion News Association and the American Academy of Religion. In 2024, her work featured a range of topics, including coverage of the interaction between religion and politics. Highlighted work in 2024 includes Pete Hegseth and His Battle Cry For A New Christian Crusade; First Among Christians, Young Men Are More Religious Than Young Women; Piety and Profanity: The Raunchy Christians Are Here.

Original Source:

https://religionnews.com/2024/12/21/top-religion-news-2024-nyt-reporter-ruth-graham/