Friday, October 18, 2024

This Week in Religion - Growing gap between Canada and India

Lead story

The parking lot outside of a temple.

Editor's note:

Sikhs make up about 1.7% of India’s population – making them one of the country’s three largest religious minorities. For decades, there’s been tension over a Sikh independence movement centered in the northern state of Punjab, where Sikhs are the majority. The movement is banned in India but has support among the Sikh diaspora – notably in Canada, home to the largest Sikh population outside India. Now, there’s a flare-up of tensions between India and Canada, which is alleging that Indian officials were connected to the assassination of a Canada-based Sikh activist last year. This week, Canada told India that its top diplomat in the country is a “person of interest” in that assassination, and that police have uncovered evidence of an intensifying campaign against Canadian citizens by Indian government agents. Canada also expelled five other Indian officials. India rejected the accusations as absurd and said it was expelling six Canadian diplomats. 

A headshot of David Crary with the text "David Crary, Religion News Director, The Associated Press."
 

Religion News

Elton John turns the saga of televangelist Tammy Faye into song for Broadway

When Elton John was on tour in America the 1970s, there was someone on TV who caught his eye. She was a garish performer who wore her heart on her sleeve and seemed in on the joke — televangelist Tammy Faye. John has put her story to song with the musical “Tammy Faye” — it opens on Broadway this month. By Mark Kennedy/The Associated Press

Bishop Joseph Espaillat challenges Catholics to listen to Latino youth

'If we don’t learn how to speak to our children, well, then, we’re going to continue on the same path, and we’re going to continue to lose them,' Espaillat warned. By Aleja Hertzler-McCain/Religion News Service

As Hindu American participation in politics has increased over the past decade, its political affiliations have begun to shift. By Richa Karmarkar/Religion News Service

Hindu devotees pray at a temple.

Hindus in Bangladesh celebrate their largest festival under tight security following attacks

Bangladesh’s largest Hindu festival, Durga Puja, took place this year in a climate of fear and violence in the Muslim-majority country. There were reports of harassment and attacks on Hindus, who make up about 8% of the country’s nearly 170 million people. By Julhas Alam and Al Emrun Garjon/The Associated Press

 

Commentary and Analysis

Women’s formal involvement in bishops’ synods has grown slowly over the decades. Even when they were excluded, Catholic women found ways to learn about proceedings – and weigh in, often critically. By Carol E. Harrison for The Conversation

If not, new Jewish spaces are emerging to welcome students who may dissent from its strict stance on Israel and the war. By Zev Mishell/Religion News Service

Evangelicals are often regarded as a uniform, monolithic group − but there are differences within their politics and social engagement. By Richard Flory for The Conversation

Your identity is not the result of a single decision, but rather the confluence of several factors. By Wilson K. Okello for The Conversation

 
A traditional oil lamp that is burning. There is a small golden statue of the Hindu goddess Durga.

Devotees pray in front of a holy fire from a traditional oil lamp during the worship of Hindu goddess Durga, in Kolkata, India, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

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