The measles outbreak originating in Disneyland in California—which was finally declared over last month after 169 cases in the U.S.—thrust the issue of non-medical vaccination exemptions into the political spotlight again, and fueled the growing public controversy over their place in mandatory immunization policies. Personal exemptions for moral or philosophical reasons exist in some states, but religious exemptions, which are allowed in forty-eight states, are far more prevalent. Determined to cut down on the number of unvaccinated people, lawmakers across the U.S. have proposed restrictions and bans on religious exemptions, triggering heated (and ongoing) debates in California, Maine, and Vermont. The current backlash raises a series of important legal, political, and religious questions about these exemptions, beginning with the most basic one.
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How will the same-sex marriage ruling affect religious liberty?
by Jana GlaeseOn Friday, June 28, the United States Supreme Court ruled in a 5 to 4 decision that same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry. The Court’s ruling overturns restrictions on same-sex marriages in 13 states. While many have celebrated the landmark ruling—which was announced just before last weekend’s gay pride events in cities nationwide—the decision has also sparked concerns about the […]
Materializing the Bible
by Wei ZhuThe Immanent Frame contributor James S. Bielo and co-curator Amanda White have recently launched a new website called Materializing the Bible.
Politics of Religious Freedom
by The EditorsIn a just-published edited volume, Politics of Religious Freedom, editors Winnifred Fallers Sullivan, Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, Saba Mahmood, and Peter Danchin ask contributors: what is religious freedom, why is it being promoted, and how are we talking about it?
A View from the Margins of the Banlieue
by Jana GlaeseWhat light does the experience of Salafi Muslim women shed on satire mocking Islam and Muslims? New Directions in the Study of Prayer grantee Z. Fareen Parvez takes up this question in her recent article on the place of female Muslim piety in contemporary France.
Coalitions and slippery slopes: The same-sex marriage debate continues
by The EditorsEarlier this summer, the Supreme Court of the United States confirmed the constitutional right of same-sex couples to marry. Unsurprisingly, debates on the meaning and future of marriage have not subsided, but have taken on new directions. Among the hottest topics of debate are how American Muslims should respond to the ruling and whether polygamy will be the next battleground.
The religious roots of ISIS
by The EditorsAt Arc of the Universe, Daniel Philpott draws from the recent New York Times article, "ISIS Enshrines a Theology of Rape" and the earlier Atlantic article, "What ISIS Really Wants," to add to the long-running debate on the universality of religious freedom, and emphasizes the importance of political theology.
John Boehner resigning
by The EditorsAmidst growing tension between conservative factions in Washington, Speaker of the House John Boehner has announced his intention to resign from Congress in October, leading some to speculate on whether yesterday's remarks from Pope Francis played a role in Boehner's decision.
Christianity and human rights at Religion Dispatches
by The EditorsAs part of a joint project, Religion Dispatches contributing editor Austin Dacey has written a series of posts on The Immanent Frame's recent discussion on Christianity and human rights. The last in the series asks what is the true extent of Catholicism's contribution to the contemporary discourse of human rights.
René Girard dies at 91
by The EditorsEarlier this month, Stanford University announced that prominent faculty member René Girard had died after a long illness.