Fault Lines: Evangelism in the US Military - Al Jazeera

January 23, 2013 on Al-Jazeera English:

The United States is a deeply religious country, over 90% believe in god and 80% believe in miracles. For the US military, dealing with its own religious identity has become an internal battle.

Growing evidence points towards a rising influence of evangelical Christianity, and with two wars still raging in Muslim countries with significant religious overtones, there could be serious consequences for the US mission.

Pentagon officials say incidents are isolated, aberrations occur, but others closely tied to the military and its religious leadership say a transformation is taking place with dire costs. On this weeks episode of Fault Lines, we look at the battle over the religious soul of the US military.

Also, we sit down with Brent Scowcroft, the National Security Advisor under Presidents Ford and George H.W. Bush. He gives Fault Lines a fresh take on the issue of religion in the military and how it is impacting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

New Health Law in Philippines Opposed by Church

January 20, 2013 on Al-Jazeera English

Major social change is underway in Philippines. A new reproductive health law is paving the way for reform, providing sex education in schools and easy access to birth control. But, although many people welcome the legislation, the roman Catholic Church remains staunchly opposed. Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas reports from Manila.

Al-Jazeera Special Programme - Dawkins on Religion

December 22, 2012 on Al-Jazeera English:

Fanaticism, fundamentalism, superstition and ignorance. Religion is getting a bad press these days. Much of the conflict in the world, from the Middle East to Nigeria and Myanmar, is often blamed on religion.

But how are things from a different perspective? Defenders of religion claim Adolf Hitler was an atheist. Communism under Joseph Stalin, Pol Pot or Mao Zedong banned religion, but also massacred millions. And science brought incredible and amazing advances, but also pollution and the atomic bomb.

A critic of religious dogmatism, Professor Richard Dawkins revolutionised genetics in 1976 with the publication of The Selfish Gene, which explained how evolution takes place at the genetic level. He has since written 12 more bestsellers, including The God Delusion which sold millions of copies, was translated into more than 30 languages, and catapulted him to the position of the world's foremost atheist.

Mehdi Hasan interviews evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins at the Oxford Union and asks: Is religion a force for good or evil? Can it co-exist with science? Is science the new religion? And why if god does not exist, is religion so persistent?

Nigeria Seeks to Curb Child Sorcery Claims

November 1, 2012 on Al-Jazeera English

The Nigerian state of Akwa Ibom has introduced a law that makes it illegal to accuse children of withcraft and sorcery. The state has spent significant amounts of money to aid the hundreds of Nigerian children that had been branded withches in Akwa Ibom for years. But some say churches in the impoverished state where unemployment is rampant, must also be reigned in. Some activists cite the churches as the source of the belief that children are sorecerers or witches. Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege reports from Uyo.

First Native American to become saint

October 21, 2012 on Al Jazeera English

For the first time, a Native American will be named a Saint by the Vatican. Kateri Tekakwitha is being honoured for the miracles she's believed to have performed from the grave.

Buddhist temple destroyed in Bangladesh

October 1, 2012 on Al-Jazeera English

In Bangladesh, government leaders are blaming opposition parties and what they call "Islamic radicals" for attacks on Buddhists.

Temples have been set on fire in the country, apparently after photos appeared on Facebook showing the Quran being desecrated.

But there might have been other more complex causes for the violence, and some think the attacks were premeditated.
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Preacher charged with blasphemy in Egypt

September 29, 2012 on Al-Jazeera English

Ahmed Abdallah, a Muslim television preacher in Egypt, has been charged with blasphemy against Christianity.

Abdallah was videotaped burning a Bible in a protest in Cairo earlier this month.

The preacher's case, along with cases of blasphemy by Egypt's Christian minority has led some to say the nation's laws need to be revised to insure the regulations are not being abused by lawmakers and prosecutors.

Britain's Religious Clash With Secular Society

September 3, 2012 on Al Jazeera English

Britain is a nation of many faiths each with its own set of religious values.

But increasingly these strongly held religious beliefs are coming into collision with the secular world and the fall out from that clash is often painful.

Inside Story: Are US evangelicals exporting anti-gay views?

July 27, 2012 on Al Jazeera English:

Gay rights has always been a divisive issue in American politics, with the religious right strongly promoting anti-gay policies. Conservative religious groups have played a major role in US politics for decades. They have also been seeking influence in other countries. But are they also exporting their conservative ideology to countries in sub-Saharan Africa? Guests: Rev Kapya Kaoma; Pamela Spees.

Scandals Shut Catholic Churches, Schools

July 8, 2012 on Al Jazeera English

Dozens of Catholic churches and schools are being shut down across the US as the church defends itself against accusations of sexual abuse. Parishioners blame financial mismanagement and a series of high-profile sex abuse scandals for the fall from grace. Al Jazeera's Scott Heidler reports from Philadelphia.

Richard Dawkins: New Atheism's Most Polarising Figure? - Al Jazeera

June 27, 2012 on Al Jazeera English

Singapore Pastor Charged in $18m Fraud Case

June 27, 2012 on Al Jazeera English:

The founder of one of the largest churches in Singapore has been charged over the misuse of church funds. Pastor Kong Hee of the City Harvest Church, allegedly siphoned off 18 million dollars from the church's account, to finance his wife's singing career. Al Jazeera's Stephanie Scawen reports from Singapore.

Indonesian Man Faces Jail For Being Atheist

June 13, 2012 on Al Jazeera English:

An Indonesian man is waiting to hear if he will face a jail term for professing his atheism online.

Alexander Aan, a West Sumatran civil servant was arrested earlier this year for posting on Facebook: "There is no God".

Prosecutors in the case have demanded a prison sentence of three and a half years and the verdict is expected later on Thursday.

Al Jazeera spoke to Endy Bayuni, the chief editor from the Jakarta Post.

(Thanks Robert)

Moroccan Girl, 16, Commits Suicide After Being Forced to Marry Her Rapist

From Al-Arabiya English:

A 16-year-old Moroccan girl has committed suicide after a judge ordered her to marry her rapist, according to Moroccan media reports.

Last year Amina al-Filali’s parents filed charges against their daughter’s rapist, a man 10 years older than her but it was only recently that a judge in the northern city of Tangier decided that instead of punishing him, the two must be married.

The court’s decision to forcibly marry Amina to her rapist was supposed to “resolve” the damage of sexual violation against her, but it led to more suffering in the unwelcoming home of her rapist/husband’s family.

“After I filed a complaint against him, he said he will marry her. And when he married her and took her to his family's home he mistreated her, beating her and leaving her starve with no food,” Zahra Mallim, Amina’s mother told the Morocco's 2M TV.
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Relic to Promote Motherhood in Russia

November 12, 2011 on Al-Jazeera english:

A sacred relic, believed by some Orthodox Christians to be the belt of the Virgin Mary, is drawing thousands of Russian pilgrims in search of a cure for a myriad of ailments including infertility. But the treasure -- a 2,000 year old cincture woven from camel fur - is also having political resonance.

Russian leaders have called the country's shrinking population a matter of national security and now the influential Orthodox church has joined the fight.

It wants to take the relic to pregnancy centres to discourage women from having abortions and save mother Russia by promoting motherhood.

Saudi Woman Driver To Be Lashed

September 27, 2011 on Al-Jazeera English

Amnesty International says a court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced a woman to 10 lashes for challenging a ban on women driving in the conservative kingdom.

The sentence comes two days after Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud announced women would be allowed to vote and run in municipal elections for the first time in 2015.

Saudi Women Driving for Change

Thousands of women activists in Saudi Arabia planned to start driving on Friday in defiance of a longstanding ban that prohibits women from even getting a drivers license.

The protest action comes after a campaign launched on social media began calling for women's right to drive in the Kingdom.

Saudi Woman Arrested After Campaigning for Right to Drive

May 21, 2011 on Al-Jazeera English:

And a Saudi woman is held after mounting an internet campaign to get more females driving

A woman has been detained in Saudi Arabia for defying the ban on driving.

The kingdom is the only country in the world where women are discouraged from getting behind the wheel.

Manal al Sharif is part of an online campaign group determined to get women in the driving seat more.

Mexicans Seek Spiritual Solace Amid Chaos

March 7, 2011 on Al Jazeera English:

As Mexico's drug-related violence continues, some are finding comfort in spirituality.

It is a mainly Catholic nation, but as Al Jazeera's Franc Contreras reports from Mexico City, many are turning to religious figures rooted in Mexico's indigenous past.

One alternative is the saint of death, also known as Santa Muerte.

Inside Story - Pakistan's Blasphemy Law

January 12, 2011 on Al-Jazeera English:

Pakistan's blasphemy laws are in the spotlight once again - following the assassination of Salman Taseer last week. Is this law being misused? And is the conservative religious base taking over in this troubled country?