religion

By Mitchell Zimmerman | – ( Otherwords.org ) – Barely a month ago we lived in a world where all Americans had the right to decide for themselves whether to continue a pregnancy. For much of the country, that’s now history. Just weeks ago, states could implement at least some common-sense limits on carrying guns. […]

Antisemitism

Former Oath Keeper reveals racist, antisemitic Beliefs of White Nationalist Group – and their Plans to start a Civil War

The Conversation

By Sara Kamali, University of California Santa Barbara | – During his testimony before congressional investigators, former Oath Keepers spokesman Jason Van Tatenhove left little doubt about the intentions of the white nationalist militia group when its members stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Tatenhove explained that Jan. 6 “could have been a […]

Featured

The Islamic Peace Studies Initiative

Juan Cole

The Islamic Peace Studies Initiative – Presentation by Juan Cole at the Conference “Fi Subul al-Salām: Pacifism and Nonviolence in Contemporary Islam” at Manchester University, Tuesday, May 17 2022. Many thanks to Walaa Quisay. “Juan Cole and Samer Ali have directed the Islamic Peace Studies Initiative at the Center for Middle Eastern and North African […]

Feminism

There is no one Islamic interpretation on ethics of abortion, but the belief in God’s mercy and compassion is a crucial part of any consideration

The Conversation

Zahra Ayubi, Dartmouth College | – As a scholar of Islamic ethics, I’m often asked, “What does Islam say about abortion?” – a question that has become even more salient since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed 50 years of constitutional protection for the right to get an abortion in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health […]

Islam

From caravans to markets, the hajj Pilgrimage has always included a commercial Component

The Conversation

By Noorzehra Zaidi, University of Maryland, Baltimore County | – In early June 2022, Saudi Arabia announced a hajj “lottery” for Western pilgrims that made it mandatory for people from Europe, the Americas and Australia to apply for visas through a random draw through the Saudi government-backed website. This new website also offered customized and […]

Bill of Rights

Theocracy: Supreme Court backing for Coerced Christian Prayer in Schools Harms Rights of Jews and other Minorities

H. Scott Prosterman

Oakland, Ca. (Special to Informed Comment) – In one of its recent flurry of dismaying decisions, the radical Supreme Court overturned church and state boundaries, making public school student athletes subject to oppressive pressure from coaches and peers to participate in things possibly repugnant to them. The most important core ideal of the Founding Fathers […]

Featured

In Sea Change, US Presbyterian Committee brands Israel’s Occupation of Palestinians Apartheid, calls for end to Collective Punishment in Gaza

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Last week, the International Engagement Committee of the 1.2-million-strong Presbyterian Church passed a resolution entitled, “On Recognition That Israel’s Laws, Policies, and Practices Constitute Apartheid Against the Palestinian People.” There are roughly 75 million Presbyterians around the world, and it has a strong presence in Africa, with 3.4 million members […]

Culture

Why MCU’s Ms. Marvel matters so much to Muslim, South Asian Fans

The Conversation

By Safiyya Hosein, Toronto Metropolitan University | – (The Conversation) – The Disney+ TV show featuring Ms. Marvel, also known as Kamala Khan — the first Muslim superheroine of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), launched June 8 — and the internet has been alight with discussions about the lovable titular character. The comic book series, […]

Archaeology

Does Megadrought of the 500s in Yemen help Explain the Rise of Islam?

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – A new article in the journal Science gives evidence for a prolonged dry spell in the kingdom of Himyar (which now would comprise Yemen, southern Saudi Arabia and Oman) in the 500s. Since the Prophet Muhammad is traditionally said to have been born in 567 or 570, any new information […]