The Columbian

Churches & Religion

Muslim residents walk past racial slurs painted on the walls of a mosque in the town of Saint-Etienne, central France.

Europe’s Muslims feel heat of backlash after Paris terror

January 12, 2015, 4:00pm Churches & Religion

PARIS -- Firebombs and pig heads thrown into mosques. Veiled women subjected to crude insults in the street. The Internet awash with threats against Muslims. Europe's Muslims are feeling the heat of a fierce backlash following last week's terror attack against French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Read story

Pope Francis exchanges gifts with newly elected Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, right, in the Presidential Secretary's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Tuesday.

Pope dodges rules with Sri Lanka saint

January 12, 2015, 4:00pm Churches & Religion

Pope Francis on Tuesday began a highly anticipated six-day visit to Sri Lanka and the Philippines. Here are some glimpses of his trip as it unfolds: Read story

Justices appear to favor small Arizona church over sign law

January 11, 2015, 4:00pm Churches & Religion

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Monday appeared likely to side with a small church in its fight with a Phoenix suburb over limits on roadside signs directing people to Sunday services. Read story

Events push Muslims who are interpreting faith

January 10, 2015, 4:00pm Churches & Religion

CAIRO -- After gunmen in Paris killed 12 people, Saudi Arabia's top body of Muslim clerics quickly condemned the attack and said it could have no acceptable justification. It was a signal from some of the Islamic world's strictest voices that cartoons lampooning the Prophet Muhammad in the French satirical… Read story

Archaeologists dug down through seven layers of Jerusalem history inside the Kishle, shown on Dec.

Site of Jesus’ trial unearthed?

January 9, 2015, 4:00pm Churches & Religion

JERUSALEM -- It started 15 years ago with plans to expand the Tower of David Museum. But the story took a strange turn when archaeologists started peeling away layers under the floor in an old abandoned building adjacent to the museum in Jerusalem's Old City. Read story

Artist makes her mark on Bible

January 9, 2015, 4:00pm Churches & Religion

In our image-bombarded world, one-of-a-kind creations are hard to find. Paintings and sculptures, maybe. But digital media -- smartphones, e-readers, tablets -- have made the world of words an infinitely expanding universe. Read story

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill responds with the "V" for victory sign he made a trademark during World War II as spectators cheer his arrival at National Airport in Washington, D.C., June 25, 1954.

Churchill took interest in Islam

January 9, 2015, 4:00pm Churches & Religion

PORTLAND -- Barack Obama has struggled throughout his presidency with misconceptions about his relationship with Islam. It turns out that Sir Winston Churchill, Great Britain's leader during World War II, had the same problem early in his long, distinguished political career. Read story

An experimental stage presentation called "Kultar's Mime" uses poetry, theater, music and painting to present the "tale of four young children who survived the massacre" of Sikhs in India, says Camas resident Pawneet Sethi.

Bis ‘n’ Pieces: Performance exposes Sikh genocide

January 8, 2015, 4:00pm Churches & Religion

Here's a quick, horrible history lesson that will be new news to some: In 1984, the Sikh bodyguards of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi assassinated her in retaliation for a military assault on their holiest site, the Golden Temple, which had become the base of operations where Sikh separatists stockpiled… Read story

Pope Francis meets Angelina Jolie during a private audience at the Vatican on Thursday.

Angelina Jolie screens ‘Unbroken’ in Vatican, meets pope

January 7, 2015, 4:00pm Churches & Religion

VATICAN CITY -- Angelina Jolie has met with rock stars, refugees and royalty. Read story