Archive for 'Security & civil liberty'

Religion and violence: Divining the connections

Religion and violence: Divining the connections

The bombings at the Boston Marathon and the subsequent identification of two ethnic Chechen immigrant brothers as the suspected perpetrators once again raised questions about the relationship between religion and violence. The older of the two men in particular seemed to be inspired in part by radicalized elements of Islam.

Osama bin Laden killed: Assessing the aftermath

Osama bin Laden killed: Assessing the aftermath

News that U.S. troops have killed Osama bin Laden, leader of Al Qaeda and mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, is a stunning development that is bound to spark a range of reactions — jubilation for many, anger for others, and for some believers, a debate over whether this was the moral and ethical course of action.

Afghan turmoil: War and peace … and faith

Afghan turmoil: War and peace … and faith

President Barack Obama’s decision to replace the leader of allied forces in Afghanistan has led to renewed questions on the U.S. strategy there — and on whether the war is morally and militarily justified.

Muslims and civil rights: A continuing debate

Muslims and civil rights: A continuing debate

President Barack Obama’s June 4 address to the Muslim world served as a fresh reminder of the tensions between civil rights and national security that have played out in the U.S. and abroad since 9/11. The president’s speech was welcomed by the Muslim community, which remains deeply concerned about attacks against Muslims.

Tortured debate: the morality of prisoner abuse

Tortured debate: the morality of prisoner abuse

Is torture ever justified? The answer is clear to American believers – but for some that answer is clearly “yes,” for others it is definitely “no.” And that stark moral divide is shaping a debate that is growing more intense even years after the first revelations of prisoner abuse.

Islamofascism: Anatomy of an epithet

Islamofascism: Anatomy of an epithet

Islamofascism has emerged into the national conversation with increasing frequency and prominence since the Sept. 11 attacks. Supporters of the term claim they are using it to describe a dangerous form of radicalism. But critics say the word is offensive and ill-considered — a poorly conceived shortcut to describe a mix of Islam and politics.

Religion and human rights: China and the Olympics

Religion and human rights: China and the Olympics

The world’s eyes will turn to China when it hosts the XXIX Olympic Games Aug. 8-24 in Beijing. For many, eyes are already on the ascendant Asian economic powerhouse. Tensions and issues involving China are making headlines daily. Riots in the Buddhist region of Tibet, dissenters on trial in China, allegations of terrorism by China’s [...]

The torture debate: Religious opposition two years after Abu Ghraib

The torture debate: Religious opposition two years after Abu Ghraib

UPDATED OCT. 15, 2007 Torture remains a front-burner issue almost four years after the first images of American troops abusing Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib shocked Americans into debate over the ethics of torture. The debate continues to gain force, led by a widening array of religious voices. The debate is complex. On one hand, [...]


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