Tag: Muslims

The Dutch parliament has voted to ban ritual animal slaughter. In a proposal condemned by Muslim and Jewish organisations, the Party for the Animals wanted a complete ban on dhabiha and shechita — the ritual slaughtering by Muslims and Jews — in cases where the animals were not stunned before being killed.

At least 37 people were killed when Iraqi forces stormed a Baghdad church that was seized Sunday afternoon by Al Qaeda-linked gunmen.

Authoritarianism is a sin of religiosity: believers need to heed the Jewish experience about respecting the secular majority.

There is a creationist movement whose influence is growing, and which is fueling challenges to science in countries where Christianity has little sway: Islamic creationism. Campaigners in countries like Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, and Indonesia have fought the teaching of evolution in schools there, sometimes with great success.

The author decries mis-characterization of crimes such as murder and child sexual abuse as unrelated to religion when committed by churches.

A referendum in Germany has failed to give children a choice between classes in secular ethics or religion.

A referendum next month may import religious teaching into Berlin’s schools