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.

Comment names Tiffany Thompson as Executive Editor


OTTAWA — Comment magazine is pleased to announce that Tiffany Thompson has joined its leadership team as the publication’s first executive editor. “Since the hiring of Anne Snyder as our editor-in-chief in 2019, Comment has sought to serve as the leading edge of a public theology strategy—equipping culture shapers to serve as agents of renewal in society by providing an intellectual oasis and a supportive community for their work toward the common good,” says publisher Ray Pennings. “We are thankful for the significant increase in paid subscriptions, web views, and podcast downloads, but the more important metric is engagement. Tiffany brings to us a résumé of creative and organizational leadership experience that will bring this project to the next level.”

Tiffany is a cultural strategist, artist, and producer with nearly two decades of experience spanning the US intelligence community, non-profit leadership, and global corporate and artistic collaborations. A former leadership analyst and content manager at the Central Intelligence Agency, she has led creative teams, produced global events, and advised leaders across sectors—from technology and agriculture to the arts. In 2021, she founded Artistic Leadership, a consultancy helping organizations unleash creative collaboration in service of culture.

“Tiffany brings a rare mix of artistic imagination, strategic insight, and cross-cultural agility to Comment’s leadership,” says Snyder. “Her life’s work has been to bridge worlds—across sectors, disciplines, and cultures—in ways that make beauty, and the truth of human dignity, more visible. I am eager for the ways her presence will strengthen our editorial voice, deepen our engagement with readers, and help weave together the many strands of Comment’s growing ecosystem into a coherent, hope-filled witness.”

In addition to its quarterly print editions published for over two decades, Comment has expanded to include a podcast network, online essays, and public events. In May 2026, the magazine will host the inaugural Understory Festival at the Washington National Cathedral—a three-day gathering of artists, scholars, and institutional leaders offering a hopeful vision for cultural and spiritual renewal.

The magazine’s audience includes public figures, institutional leaders, public intellectuals, cultural influencers, bridge-builders, and next-generation leaders. In 2024, Comment published a manifesto outlining its vision of Christian humanism, guiding its editorial direction and community-building efforts.

“Although the hiring process took a bit longer than we hoped, that was due to the overwhelming number of applicants, many of whom were very qualified and hirable,” noted Pennings. “It’s a pleasant problem that is a sign of the vibrancy of the Comment community, and the process helped us refine the articulation of where we were heading and which skill sets would be most valuable. We are confident that Tiffany’s joining the team represents a significant benchmark in our anticipated growing impact.”

Learn more about Comment‘s team at comment.org/about-us.

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About Comment
Comment is a magazine of public theology and one of the core publications of Cardus, a non-partisan think tank dedicated to clarifying and strengthening, through research and dialogue, the ways in which society’s institutions can work together for the common good. Learn more at comment.org.

Contact:
Ray Pennings
Comment
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RNS or Religion News Foundation.

Original Source:

https://religionnews.com/2025/08/14/comment-names-tiffany-thompson-as-executive-editor/