Sustainability and Spirituality News Articles

Violence Taints Religion's Solace for China's Poor

China's growing material wealth has eluded the countryside, but there is a bull market in sects competing for the souls of the rural poor.

Brazil Promises Crackdown After Nun's Shooting Death

The American nun was renowned for her work with the poor and landless and for her efforts to preserve the Amazon rain forest.

What Good Is Religion?

From the standpoint of evolution, why do humans "waste time" with religious behavior? Outspoken Darwinist Richard Dawkins argues that religion is pointless yet universal in human culture—and ponders why it persists.

Keeping the Faith in My Doubt

With the presidential election over and the holidays upon us, unbelievers may be feeling a bit beleaguered.

Christian Conservatives Turn to Statehouses

Energized by electoral wins, conservative Christians are pushing ahead state and local initiatives on controversial issues.

Activists Hope Nun's Slaying in Amazon Is Catalyst for Change

RIO DE JANEIRO-As mourners laid her bullet-riddled body to rest Tuesday, environmentalists and colleagues of slain missionary Dorothy Stang seesawed between fragile optimism and angry skepticism over a question they had hoped never to consider. Would the slaying of the silver-haired American nun, who devoted her life to fighting land grabbers and loggers in the Amazon, galvanize action and world opinion the same way the killing of legendary Brazilian rubber tapper Chico Mendes did 16 years ago?

Black Churches Struggle Over Their Role in Politics

A tug of war is under way, spurred by conservative black clergy members who are looking to align themselves more closely with President Bush.

Learn from courage of "Hotel"

Denver Post columnist Pius Kamau writes that the recent film "Hotel Rwanda" is a lesson that heroism should be pursued in "small measures" by all, and compares the efforts of Paul Rusesabagina, who sheltered 1,200 Tutsis from murderous hordes of Hutus to those of the French, Italian and Dutch families who sheltered Jews during Hitler's Holocaust. Kamau also reflects on the nature of "black on black" violence throughout the ages, from the African slave trade to modern day America. The Denver Post (1/26)

Freedom's Not Just Another Word

"Liberty" and "freedom" have blurred together in our usage, but the words name two distinct concepts.

God and Evolution

Modern science is turning up a possible reason why the religious right is flourishing and secular liberals aren't: instinct.

My Bugaboo

Beliefnet columnist and former faith-based official David Kuo criticized the White House for not caring enough about the poor. Now he's eyeing a snazzy Bugaboo and wondering how to balance the world's needy against what's good enough for his baby.

Please, Keep Faith

David Kuo, former deputy director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, writes an exclusive piece on how "minimal commitment" from the White House plus Democratic hostility have hindered the faith-based plan from helping the poor.

Where Faith Thrives

With Easter approaching, here I am in the heart of Christendom: Africa.

Rice Sounds a Theme in Visit to Beijing Protestant Church

After a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao in which the primary subject was North Korea, the secretary of state attended Palm Sunday services.

Evangelical Leaders Swing Influence Behind Effort to Combat Global Warming

The leaders have put their considerable political power behind a cause that has barely registered on the evangelical agenda.

Colorado Court Bars Execution Because Jurors Consulted Bible

The Bible, the court said, constituted an improper outside influence and a reliance on what the court called a "higher authority."

Next Pope Faces Concerns Over Poverty, Islam and Technology

The next pope faces challenges so urgent that even a pope with the charisma of John Paul II will have to resort to a strategy of triage.

Ha Ha or Hmmm Odd Rabbi Out

I thought this Joke was worth sharing. As I strggle with my own personal belierfs and values, it gave me both a Ha Ha and a Hmmm! Is a democratically achieved policy always going to be the right policy? How many signs will nature have to send us before we hear her message? God, if your out there watching all of this, can you send us a sign? Enjoy!

Third World Represents a New Factor in Pope's Succession

The strength of the Roman Catholic Church in Africa and Latin America is sure to be a factor in the cardinals' deliberations.

The Pope and Hypocrisy

The message of the pope's ministry was about standing up to evil, the kind that's going on in Darfur right now.

Pope May Color Debate in U.S. Over 'Life' Issues Like Abortion

The election of a conservative pope could inject new force into the conflicts in American politics over social issues.

Scientists Speak Up on Mix of God and Science

Disdain for religion is far from universal among scientists, and some are beginning to speak out about their faith.

Does Affluence Fuel Spirituality?

Instead of rotting our souls, money may make us contemplate the profound.

Riding the Metrospiritual Wave

The growing ranks of the hip and holistic are seeking their inner bliss with serious style.

Create Your Own Miracles

"Are there really miracles?" Achieving Sustainability seems to require that miracles happen. Here is an article that may help some people to "keep the faith".

Choices for the Dying

End-of-life planning ensures that critical choices are left to you, and not someone else.

A Political Victory That Wasn't

On life-and-death issues, moral values among Americans still contend with deeply held pragmatism.

The Price of Infallibility

Though John Paul II will be remembered as one of the great political figures of our age, he was not a great religious figure.

Finding Design in Nature

The Catholic Church's official stance on evolution.

A Poverty of Dignity and a Wealth of Rage

Why are young Sunni Muslim males so willing to blow up themselves and others in the name of their religion?

Reflections from South Asia