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

Gloo AI Hackathon awards $250,000 for values-aligned AI innovations advancing human flourishing


Nearly 700 tech innovators participated to build AI technologies advancing the mission of the global Church

BOULDER, Colo. — Gloo, a technology platform serving the faith ecosystem, today announced the winners of its third annual Gloo AI Hackathon, held Oct. 8-10, in Boulder, Colorado. The three-day event brought together developers, content creators, Bible translators, publishers, church leaders, game designers and more to harness AI for human flourishing and organizational thriving within Christian communities. More than $250,000 in cash prizes were awarded to the top-performing teams whose ideas pushed the boundaries of what values-aligned AI can do.

The Hackathon attracted 98 teams and nearly 700 participants from around the world, both in person and virtually. Centered on the theme “AI that helps people flourish — spiritually, relationally, emotionally and beyond,” the event challenged some of today’s brightest minds to reimagine how technology can serve the Church and the greater good. Participants also had the opportunity to learn from industry leading voices in tech, theology and strategy through a lineup of inspiring talks that included Bobby Gruenewald, Founder of YouVersion; Carey Nieuwhof, a best-selling leadership author, speaker, podcaster; James Kelly, founder and CEO of FaithTech; Alex “Magnus” Lehmann, director of creative management at Riot Games; Bryan Brown, CEO of Masterworks; and Michael Arena, the dean of the Crowell School of Business at Biola University, among others.

For the event, three challenges were presented — spanning developers, gaming, and vibe coding tracks — pushing participants to reimagine what values-aligned technology could look like in practice. From building tools that strengthen community connections, to creating immersive faith-based gaming experiences, to designing new ways for people to engage with Scripture, each track stretched the boundaries of what’s possible when innovation meets purpose.

Submissions were reviewed by a distinguished panel of judges that included Scott Beck, co-founder and CEO of Gloo; James Chung, CTO of YouVersion; Eric Célérier, CEO of HelloBible; and Scott Mosley, VP of Software at RightNow Media, who looked for solutions that not only worked but moved people.

“At Gloo, we believe technology should not only be powerful — it should be redemptive,” said Beck. “The Gloo AI Hackathon brought together some of the brightest minds in tech and faith to build technologies that empower ministries, uplift communities and help people become all they were created to be. AI has the potential to shape culture, faith, and human flourishing — and it was incredible to see that power directed toward good, right before our eyes.”

Participants were eligible for $250,000 in cash prizes, with individual awards ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, as well as opportunities for future acceleration through continued investment and business development.

The Overall Grand Prize was awarded to Veritas from Austin Christian University, an immersive Bible app designed to help people not just know the Bible, but live it. Built for a generation searching for meaning, it offers clarity, context and confidence through biblically grounded tools that guide users to truth and transformation.

Prizes were awarded across additional categories including:

  • Best of Hacking Track – Kommonwealth from kommon.ai
  • Best of Gaming Track – Cede from BareHand
  • Best of Vibe Coding Track – Flora from Biola University
  • Best of Gloo Track – TheoBox from XRI Global
  • Best Technology – Church Search Engine from Pastors AI
  • Best Design – Adventure Awaits: Family Road Trip from So Peculiar
  • Best Storytelling – Spiritual Openness Score from Apologist Project
  • Best Concept – faith.tools AI Kit from faith.tools x Lightworks
  • International Prize – Trellis from Trellis/Australia
  • Bible Translation Prize – Glossbot from Glossbot
  • Hackers’ Choice 1 – Ephphatha from Biola University
  • Hackers’ Choice 2 – Ripples from Clear Creek Community Church

“There is a massive opportunity for the Church to shape the future of AI positively, but it takes collaboration across the faith community to do so with greater impact,” said Nick Skytland, vice president of Gloo Developers. “When we come together with focus and intention, we spark innovation and challenge boundaries. We’re grateful for the creativity and contributions of every hacker and excited to see how their technologies will uplift, connect and transform people everywhere.”

To learn more about the Hackathon and this year’s winners, visit www.gloo.com/hackathon.

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About Gloo
Gloo is a leading technology platform for the faith and flourishing ecosystem, providing values-based AI, resources, insights and funding so people and communities flourish and organizations thrive. Gloo serves over 140,000 faith, ministry and nonprofit leaders and is based in Boulder, Colorado. For more information visit Gloo.com.

Contact:
Sarah Bunyea
Gloo
571-205-1931
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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/2025/10/14/gloo-ai-hackathon-awards-250000-for-values-aligned-ai-innovations-advancing-human-flourishing/