Politics and Religion

‘Beyond Wishful Thinking’: Peace Building in the Middle East

‘Beyond Wishful Thinking’: Peace Building in the Middle East

February 11, 2020

On January 3, the United States launched a drone attack that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, whom United States officials said was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition soldiers. Soleimani’s killing prompted a retaliatory attack by Iran on an American base in Iraq, during which a Ukrainian passenger jet was mistakenly shot down, killing 176 people on board.... Read more about ‘Beyond Wishful Thinking’: Peace Building in the Middle East

K. Healon Gaston

Scholar Creates ‘More Light and Less Heat’ around Judeo-Christian Political Discourse

February 4, 2020

K. Healan Gaston is Lecturer on American Religious History and Ethics at Harvard Divinity School for 2019–20. Gaston is a specialist in the history of religious thought, ethics, and theology, and she teaches courses on religion’s roles in the intellectual, cultural, and political history of the United States.

HDS student Emily Farnsworth spoke with Gaston about her new book ...

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Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom panel

The State of Religious Freedom in the U.S.

July 15, 2019

Starting July 16, the U.S. Department of State will host its 3-day Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. The event “brings together leaders from around the world to discuss the challenges facing religious freedom, identify means to address religious persecution and discrimination worldwide, and promote greater respect and preservation of religious liberty for all.” Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, Vice President Michael Pence, and U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi are all expected to speak.

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Why Hate Crimes Are on the Rise

Why Hate Crimes Are on the Rise

April 23, 2019

Hate crimes committed on the basis of religious identity have surged 23 percent, the biggest annual increase since 9/11.

And while many have placed blame at the foot of political leaders and specifically President Trump for emboldening anti-Semites and white supremacists—very fine people, he’s called them—there’s another, equally troubling side to the story—one that calls into question the validity of the FBI’s own hate crime statistics and gives us more questions than answers.... Read more about Why Hate Crimes Are on the Rise

Video: Promoting the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals

Video: Promoting the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals

March 14, 2019

Dr. Alaa Murabit discusses the promotion of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), at Harvard Divinity School, highlighting the intersection between women's leadership, religion, and sustainable development. She will present unique examples of women's religious leadership to advance human rights, societal development, and peacebuilding and explore the importance of leveraging religious scholarship.... Read more about Video: Promoting the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals

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