Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the five so-called pillars of Islam, an obligation of Muslims worldwide. Muslims use a lunar calendar, and Ramadan begins with the new moon. But for devout Muslims, it’s not enough to calculate mathematically when the crescent moon rises. It has to ...

For nearly a millennium, part of Roman Catholic prayer life has included saying the rosary, with each rosary bead representing a prayer. The rosary includes a set of meditations on the life of Christ, known as mysteries. Use of the rosary, has diminished in recent years but many Catholics say it's ...

"It's good to be able to see where we were and where we've come from. So this camp meeting is an opportunity for us to go back and reflect," says Rev. Randy Mincey. We visit the Rock Springs campground in northwest Georgia, where they've been having camp meetings since 1887.

"Repentance, prayer, and charity are the hallmark[s] of this season," says Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, "We search our souls and then we pour out our souls to God, saying, 'God help us, give us the strength to be the kind of people that we want to be.'"

Part one of a five-part series exploring religious America: In partnership with U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY conducted a national poll on religion and spirituality in American life. Part one investigates the challenges and consequences of religious diversity in ...

"The freedom that is so important in the Passover story, in the Haggadah, is something that doesn’t belong to a specific time period 3,000 years ago...There’s a fresh message available to be garnered from the Passover story no matter when or who is looking at it," says David Wachtel of the ...

During Holy Week, Western Christians remember Jesus' crucifixion, and the days leading up to it. One of the most moving observances, especially for Catholics, is walking the 14 Stations of the Cross, each one representing an event as Jesus carried his cross to Calvary, where he was put to death.

For Tibetan Buddhists, the new year is celebrated with dancing, and R & E sat in as members of the Drepung Loseling Monastery in Washington, D.C. performed. Our guide was Geshe Lobsang Tenzin, who spoke of the power of negative and positive energy, and about the legends associated with snow ...

All over the world and in almost every culture, the tradition of displaying scenes from the birth of Jesus has become a cherished part of the holiday season. There is even a group dedicated to keeping this Christmas tradition alive.

Hanukkah is a holiday of freedom, recalling the successful Jewish revolt against the Syrians who had conquered and occupied Jerusalem. We heard the story at the home of Rabbi Bentzion Geisinsky, in Potomac, Maryland.

This week, Hindus are celebrating the festival of Diwali, which means "row of light." Menaka Kannan, who participated in a colorful celebration of Diwali in Landover, Maryland, describes the origins and customs of the Diwali holiday.

During the weeklong Jewish holiday of Sukkot, many Jews build lean-tos, open to the elements, called “sukkahs,” to recall the way their ancestors lived for 40 years in the desert after their escape from slavery in Egypt.

Paryushana Parva is a festival of fasting, friendship, and forgiveness. Members of the Jain faith are celebrating the holiest time of the year. It coincides with monsoon season in India, which is where Jainism began.

Deborah Rosenthal is a respected artist who is also an observant Jew. As a result, her work is often infused with her religious beliefs. Recently, she was asked by the conservative Jewish congregation to which she belongs to create two stained glass windows for its sanctuary. For the commission, she ...

While a Bris, or circumcision ritual, has been the traditional way for Jews to welcome baby boys into the covenant, many families are now creating rituals to welcome their baby daughters.

Wicca, as modern witchcraft is often called, and its symbol of the pentacle are becoming more visible in today's society. It is a polytheistic, earth-based religion that emphasizes feminism and the environment and encourages diversity of beliefs. It has no theological system or creed, no central ...

Baptism is an important rite of initiation in the Christian tradition, but the baptism ceremony varies depending upon the denomination. Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and many in the Protestant denominations baptize infants. Baptists and Pentecostal Churches baptize only adults or children old ...

The National Conference of Catholic Bishops have approved the first national guideline for church art and architecture. Titled “Built of Living Stones,” the document advises parishes, priests, and architects on appropriate church styles, which reflect solid theological foundations.

African tribal religions include diviners who are believed to communicate with the gods in the spirit world. Diviners discover and then relate what the gods want, and harness the gods’ powers to help followers overcome illness and other crises.

Bob Abernethy takes a look at the 7-day Jewish observance of Sukkot.