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.

World Religions News

Grief over Gaza and qualms over US election add up to anguish for many Palestinian Americans

(AP) — “Without stopping U.S. financial support and military support to Israel, this will not stop,” said Ghada Elnajjar who in 2020 campaigned for Biden. “I’m a U.S. citizen. I’m a taxpayer ... and I feel betrayed and neglected.”

The post Grief over Gaza and qualms over US election add up to anguish for many Palestinian Americans appeared first on Religion News Service.

Medieval theology has an old take on a new problem − AI responsibility

(The Conversation) — Autonomous AI is still designed by people − so who or what is really responsible for its actions? For centuries, theologians have posed similar questions about mankind and God.

The post Medieval theology has an old take on a new problem − AI responsibility appeared first on Religion News Service.

Nigeria diocese appeals for help, prayers after thousands displaced by floods

Devasting flooding has hit the city of Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria, and the diocese there is appealing for assistance and prayer. / Credit: Diocese of Maiduguri/ACI Africa

ACI Africa, Sep 12, 2024 / 11:00 am (CNA).

The Diocese of Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria is appealing for prayers and humanitarian assistance for thousands of people displaced by floods that intensified Sept. 10.

In a Facebook post, the diocese announced that the flooding in Maiduguri, a city in Borno Estate, is the worst the region has experienced in decades.

Images circulated on social media platforms show St. Patrick’s Cathedral submerged under water and a few visible rooftops of buildings in the surrounding areas of the city known for Boko Haram activity.

The catastrophic event is believed to be the result of damage to the Alau Dam, located several miles from Maiduguri city.

Explaining the nature of the devastation in the Facebook post, the diocese said: “Maiduguri city experienced the worst flooding in over 30 years… Thousands have been rendered homeless and no one knows the number of fatalities yet.”

“Please pray for us,” the diocese representative requested in the post, adding that the diocese has been working on reaching out for support to help those affected.

“Kindly give what you can to assist; help spread this message… and pray for us.”

The diocese said that there is no food, shelter, or sanitation facilities for those displaced by the floods, adding: “Government has reopened the IDP [internally displaced person] camps, but these are overwhelmed by the number of those seeking refuge.”

In further attempts to describe the nature of the catastrophe, the diocese said the raging waters had broken the confines of a zoo, allowing dangerous animals to roam freely.

“There are also news reports of a prison break,” the post noted.

Meanwhile, the pontifical charity foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International has launched an urgent appeal for prayer and support for the affected community of Maiduguri.

In a statement on Sept. 11, ACN said it had contacted the Diocese of Maiduguri to determine the extent of the damage, its impact on the community, and the immediate needs of those affected.

This article was first published by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

The Consequences of Perfectionism and How to Embrace Life’s Messiness

“Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough.” ~Julia Cameron

My name is Steffi, and I am a recovering perfectionist. This might come as a surprise to those who know me because I don´t fit the stereotype. The inside of my bag is as messy as my hair, and I always give off the impression that I left the house five minutes too late (which is usually true). My wardrobe is not color-coordinated, and I haven’t organized …

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