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Can a ritual remain sacred while also becoming a money-making tourism draw? That’s a question many Bamasaaba people are asking as the ethnic group’s ritualized circumcision ceremonies get underway in a remote corner of Uganda. Recently, an Associated Press crew went to the country’s mountainous east region to document the ritual and the new controversy surrounding it.
Every other year, thousands of boys are circumcised through the Imbalu ritual, which is carried out over several months. But this year the local king has opened the festivities to the public, with $120,000 from the Ugandan government and a corporate sponsor. Some are upset that it has trivialized such a key ritual and would rather families be able to continue quietly preparing their sons to face the knife with courage.
Religion News
Would Jesus park in a bike lane? For Philadelphia churches, it’s a real question
A dispute over weekend parking in bike lanes has left a group of inner-city congregations in Philadelphia dealing with a tricky urban dilemma. By Bob Smietana/Religion News Service
Judge says Maine can forbid discrimination by religious schools that take state tuition money
The judge also acknowledged that a higher court will ultimately have the final say. By David Sharp/The Associated Press
A wooden figure holding a bone fragment of St. Jude’s arm was kept in a glass case while it glided through the calm waters as part of a month-long visit to Mexico. By María Teresa Hernández/The Associated Press
The violence in Bangladesh after Hasina’s ouster stirs fear within the country’s Hindu minority
Members of the Hindu minority feel the most vulnerable because they have traditionally backed the Awami League, seen as a secular party in the Muslim-majority nation, and because of a history of violence against them. By Krutika Pathi, Al Emrun Garjon and Shonal Ganguly/The Associated Press
At her first tour since the pandemic, Amma embraces New York City
Whether you’re religious, spiritual or refuse labels, sometimes all you need is a hug. By Richa Karmarkar/Religion News Service
Commentary and Analysis
Kamala, a Sanskrit word for lotus, symbolizes wisdom. Its rooted in the fact that even though the flower blooms in a swamp, it remains untouched by the dirt around it. By Archana Venkatesan for The Conversation
A scholar of Iraq describes the ongoing loss following the genocidal violence by IS − not just of human lives, but of a rich cultural heritage. By Alda Benjamen for The Conversation
Several threads, including pre-Christian mythology, veneration of relics in Christian tradition, and medieval literature, have combined over the centuries into the Holy Grail metaphor of today. By Joanne M. Pierce for The Conversation
On Tisha B’Av, the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel will be added to the list of tragedies Jews mourn together. Sadly, it will also be added to the list of tragedies that are exploited for political gain. By Jonathan Jacoby/Religion News Service
A person riding a bicycle in front of the presidential office holds a poster that reads in Spanish: "Out with Milei and his sister" after a march from San Cayetano church to downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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