The Muslim Brotherhood, which has a presence in dozens of Muslim countries, has been banned, repressed or restricted for much of its more than eight-decade history in Egypt, the place where it was born. After ruling Egypt for the past year, the group was effectively ousted when the military overthrew Mohammed Morsi as president on July 3. The security forces have cracked down on the Brotherhood and its supporters this past week, resulting in leaving hundreds dead.
26 August 2013
Muslim Brotherhood: A Force Throughout The Muslim World
Posted by J Tan at 6:15 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Egypt, Islam, Islamism, Muslim Brotherhood, religious violence
For Arab World's Christians, An Uncertain Fate
As Egypt plunges into unrest amid the military-backed government's crackdown on demonstrators, the country's Christian minority has been targeted by Islamic extremists. Dozens of churches have been burned, ransacked and looted since the government began fighting against supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted President Mohammed Morsi two weeks ago.
Posted by J Tan at 6:05 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Christianity, Church of the East, Coptic Christianity, Egypt, Iraq, Islam, Islamism, Middle East, Muslim Brotherhood, religious communities, religious violence
24 August 2013
Higher social class predicts increased unethical behavior (PNAS)
Seven studies using experimental and naturalistic methods reveal that upper-class individuals behave more unethically than lower-class individuals. In studies 1 and 2, upper-class individuals were more likely to break the law while driving, relative to lower-class individuals. In follow-up laboratory studies, upper-class individuals were more likely to exhibit unethical decision-making tendencies (study 3), take valued goods from others (study 4), lie in a negotiation (study 5), cheat to increase their chances of winning a prize (study 6), and endorse unethical behavior at work (study 7) than were lower-class individuals. Mediator and moderator data demonstrated that upper-class individuals’ unethical tendencies are accounted for, in part, by their more favorable attitudes toward greed.
- Full Abstract
- Full Text of Article (PDF)
- Full Text + SI (PDF)
Posted by J Tan at 1:49 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: ethics
22 August 2013
‘Strong’ Catholic Identity at a Four-Decade Low in U.S. (Pew Research)
The percentage of U.S. Catholics who consider themselves “strong” members of the Roman Catholic Church has never been lower than it was in 2012, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of new data from the General Social Survey (GSS). About a quarter (27%) of American Catholics called themselves “strong” Catholics last year, down more than 15 points since the mid-1980s and among the lowest levels seen in the 38 years since strength of religious identity was first measured in the GSS, a long-running national survey carried out by the independent research organization NORC at the University of Chicago.
Posted by J Tan at 8:36 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Catholic, Church, Pew Forum, Pew Research, religious communities, statistics, USA
18 August 2013
Syria refugees swell Christian community in Turkey
Syria's Christians belong to one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, but chased away by the threat of violence some are heading for neighbouring Turkey, where they have been greeted with considerable enthusiasm.
Posted by J Tan at 7:53 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Christianity, Eastern Christianity, Interreligious Dialogue, Islam, Islamism, religious freedom, religious tolerance, religious violence, Syria, Turkey
Science and Islam (BBC Documentary)
- Episode Guide (BBC)
Posted by J Tan at 7:08 AM 0 comments Links to this post
"The Life of Muhammad" (BBC / PBS Documentary)
Part 1: The Seeker
In a journey that is both literal and historical, and beginning in Muhammad's birthplace of Mecca, Omaar investigates the Arabia Muhammad was born into - a world of tribal loyalties and polytheistic religion. Drawing on the expertise and comment of some of the world's leading academics and commentators on Islam, the programme examines Muhammad's first marriage to Khadijah and how he received the first of the revelations that had such a profound effect both on his life, and on the lives of those closest to him.
Part 2: Holy Wars
Part 3: Holy Peace
- Episode Guide (from BBC)
- PBS series ‘Life of Muhammad’ explores diverse opinions of prophet (Washington Post, 16 August 2013) - review of the documentary.
Posted by J Tan at 6:59 AM 0 comments Links to this post