RELIGIOUSITY

Clergymen clash at Bethlehem birthplace of Jesus

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — The annual cleaning of one of Christianity's holiest churches deteriorated into a brawl between rival clergy Wednesday, as dozens of monks feuding over sacred space at the Church of the Nativity battled each other with brooms until police intervened.

Northern Nigerian Christians warn of religious war

(Reuters) - Northern Nigerian Christians said on Tuesday they feared that a spate of Christmas Day bombings by Islamist militants that killed over two dozen people could lead to a religious war in Africa's most populous country....

Full story

What does Islam say about how Muslims should treat animals?

In Islam, mistreating an animal is considered a sin. The Quran and guidance from the Prophet Muhammad, as recorded in hadith, give many examples and directives about how Muslims should treat animals....

Israeli girl's plight highlights Jewish extremism

BEIT SHEMESH, Israel (AP) — A shy 8-year-old schoolgirl has unwittingly found herself on the front line of Israel's latest religious war....

In family horror, some Canadians see culture clash

TORONTO (AP) — On a summer morning in 2009, in canal locks east of Toronto, police made a grisly discovery: In a submerged Nissan car were the bodies of three teenage sisters and a 52-year-old woman....

Appearing Frail, Pope Offers Prayers for Peace on Christmas

ROME — Offering his annual Christmas Day message on the state of the world, Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday prayed for peace in the Middle East and Horn of Africa and offered prayers for flood victims in Southeast Asia. ...

Ancient "purity" seal found near Jerusalem temple site

(Reuters) - Israeli archaeologists said on Sunday they had found a 2,000-year-old clay seal near Jerusalem's Western Wall, confirming written accounts of ritual practices in the biblical Jewish Temple....

Christmas pilgrims pray for peace in Bethlehem

(Reuters) - Thousands of foreign pilgrims and Palestinian Christians, some in Santa hats, gathered at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity Saturday to pray for peace at the place where Jesus was born....

Pope ushers in Christmas, decries commercialization

(Reuters) - Pope Benedict ushered in Christmas for the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics on Saturday, urging humanity to see through the superficial glitter and commercialism of the season and rediscover the real significance of the humble birth of Jesus....

Ultra-religious schools test Israel's high-tech future

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - There are no computers at Maoz Hatorah, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish boys school on the outskirts of Israel's bustling high-tech commercial hub, Tel Aviv....