religion
Bibles and porn, same difference?
A stand set up by students on the college campus of the University of San Antonio, Texas, caused quite a stir last week: a group of atheist students were giving out free porn magazines and books in exchange for…bibles. Read more...
India celebrates festival of colours with holy marijuana milkshakes
Holi is a spring Hindu festival celebrated in north India, well known around the world as an extravagant celebration of colours. But lesser-known is that it’s also traditionally celebrated with marijuana milkshakes. Read more…
Mexico's latest saint, not on your calendar
In Mexico, where people have traditionally been devout followers of the Virgin of Guadalupe and the peasant Juan Diego, a new "saint" is quickly growing in popularity. But it's not one you can find in the Catholic pantheon: "Santa Muerte" (Holy Death), as she's known, has a skull's head and a bride's body. Read more..
Na Nach Jews: religion, tradition and techno music
Na Nachs" travel around Israel by truck with the aim of bringing joy and happiness to everyone they come cross... their method for spreading this joy is encouraging people to dance to "spiritual" techno music. And while they're at it, they also try to enlighten people about their particular brand of Judaism. Read more...
Ministry takes up residence in Cairo synagogue
Working among Hebrew inscriptions and Stars of David, the staff of the Ministry of Social Affairs in the east of Cairo are, effectively, squatting in a disused synagogue. Read more and see the photos...
Anti-gay bill "inspired by American pastors"
The Ugandan parliament is currently discussing legislation about how best to "fight homosexuality". The bill in question will see all homosexuals jailed, along with those who refuse to out them. According to one Ugandan pastor, the project was strongly influenced by religious extremists from the US. Read more...
West “hypocritical” to protest Hindu mass animal slaughter
Every five years, Hindus travel for miles to participate in Nepal's mass sacrifice of tens of thousands of buffaloes, goats, roosters and pigeons. Animal rights activists, including French actress Brigitte Bardot, have attempted to put an end to the tradition. But as one of our Observers there points out, the five-yearly mass slaughter is no worse than the daily dealings of a modern abattoir. Read more and see the images...
Samba dancers too risqué for southern Lebanon
A Samba street party on its way to a town in south Lebanon was stopped in its tracks after a group of religious dignitaries labelled it "pornographic" and "against Muslim beliefs". According to one of our Lebanese Observers, the decision is a disgrace to the country. Read more...
Ukraine Christ sighting: miracle or mould?
Hundreds of people flocked to a small town in western Ukraine to pray before a mysterious mark that appeared on a wall last July. For some, it's a sign from heaven. For others, it's urban legends. Read more...
What’s Ramadan like in your country?
The month of Ramadan starts tomorrow (22 August). We asked our Observers from Algeria to Iraq to tell us what goes on in their country. Read more and take part in the post...
