For centuries, the role has gone to a member of the College of Cardinals – and almost always to an Italian. Might we soon have our first pope from Asia or Africa?
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Churchgoers who think their religious leaders don’t believe humans are driving climate change are less likely to discuss it with fellow congregants or take action to mitigate the effects.
In reality, most Roman Catholic exorcists recognise the danger of encouraging a person suffering from auditory hallucinations to believe that these are demonic.
From the earliest years of Christianity, some people have been recognised as having lived exceptionally holy lives.
Research on how the Catholic Church has responded to sexual abuse shows it’s not only time for the church to walk the talk, but to change the talk away from a defensive legalistic approach.
The age-old practice of priestly celibacy is now under fire, with the suggestion that the rules should be relaxed.
Suicide bombers struck Sri Lanka’s churches and hotels on Easter Sunday, killing and injuring hundreds of people. Seven percent of Sri Lanka’s population is Christian – most of them Roman Catholics.
On Good Friday, Christians give thanks for their salvation, which they believe was made possible by the suffering of Jesus. But for Jews, it was common in the Middle Ages to be attacked with stones.
The term refers to passages in the Christian gospels, in which Jesus urges his apostles to make ‘disciples of all nations.’ Later, it became a prime motivator of missionary efforts.
While the problem of priestly abuse might be centuries old, its modern paper trail began after World War II, when ‘treatment centers’ appeared for rehabilitating priests. Many were send to New Mexico.
Americans have debated what it means to be Christian in politics throughout their history. Those debates continue today.
The Alabama state auditor defended Roy Moore, citing Mary and Joseph. A scholar goes back to early Christian texts texts to explain lesser-known beliefs about the relationship.
Top contributors
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Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross
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Assistant Professor, Case Western Reserve University
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Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies, Claremont Graduate University
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Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies, Michigan State University
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President, Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
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Visiting Professor of History, University of Reading / Worcester College Oxford, University of Reading
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Professor, Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University
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Professor of Church History, Seminary of the Southwest
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Cathy Driscoll is a Friend of The Conversation.
Professor, Department of Management, Saint Mary’s University
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Assistant Professor of Psychology, Boston College
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Assistant Professor of Psychology, Arizona State University
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Professor of History, Australian Catholic University