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Religion

American Taliban Sues For Religious Freedom

John Walker Lindh was captured in Afghanistan in 2002 after fighting with the Taliban. AP hide caption

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AP

Law

American Taliban Sues For Religious Freedom

John Walker Lindh's lawsuit says a prison ban on group prayer violates his right to practice his religion freely. But the government argues that group prayer would allow the prisoners to undermine safety and plot together.

American Taliban Sues For Religious Freedom

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Romney Campaign Focuses Spotlight On Mormons

As Mitt Romney prepares to accept the GOP presidential nomination, he brings increased attention to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For some Mormons, it's an opportunity to clear up misconceptions and educate others on their beliefs. Others view this moment with concern.

Romney Campaign Focuses Spotlight On Mormons

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Faith Matters

Is Your Candidate Keeping The Faith?

As the Republican convention continues, the major political parties are defining their positions — and many are focused on faith. Host Michel Martin speaks with a diverse panel of religious leaders to weigh how they balance faith and politics.

Is Your Candidate Keeping The Faith?

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The Risks And Rewards Of Romney's Faith Story

Mitt Romney rarely talks about his Mormon faith. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images hide caption

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Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Mitt Romney

The Risks And Rewards Of Romney's Faith Story

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney is beginning to open up about his Mormon faith. Will this help "humanize" him, or will it backfire in an age when most people's exposure to the Mormon faith is South Park or The Book of Mormon?

The Risks And Rewards Of Romney's Faith Story

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What Does Mormon Food Culture Say About Mitt Romney?

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney eats ice cream from Millie's on the run before a fundraising event earlier this month in Nantucket, Mass. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

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Evan Vucci/AP

The Salt

What Does Mormon Food Culture Say About Mitt Romney?

Mormon food culture comes from spiritual teachings and the pioneering ways of a new religion in a new country as it evolved westward. Knowing more about it may provide some insights into the personal beliefs of GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Closing Maine Churches Auction Their Remnants

Maine Public

At a yard sale over the weekend, the Good Shepherd Parish in Saco, Maine, sold the remnants from three closed Catholic churches. It was a way for parishioners to say their last goodbyes and carry away keepsakes along with their memories.

Closing Maine Churches Auction Their Remnants

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John Walker Lindh Sues For Prison Prayer Group

John Walker Lindh was captured in Afghanistan in 2002 after fighting with the Taliban. File Photo/AP hide caption

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File Photo/AP

The Impact of War

John Walker Lindh Sues For Prison Prayer Group

John Walker Lindh was a middle-class kid in Northern California who converted to Islam, traveled the world, and was captured by U.S. authorities in Afghanistan after Sept. 11, allegedly fighting alongside the Taliban. Now, he's suing the government over religious rights at a secret prison facility.

John Walker Lindh Sues For Prison Prayer Group

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Elections

Who Best Represents American Catholics?

Catholics are considered one of the most important swing groups in the country. Now, for the first time in history, both major political parties have Catholic vice presidential candidates. Guest host Viviana Hurtado discusses the Catholic voting bloc with pollster Robert Jones and conservative Catholic blogger Gayle Trotter.

Who Best Represents American Catholics?

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With A Girl Jailed, Pakistan Law Again Under Scrutiny

Christians pray for Rimsha on the roof of their priest's compound. Hundreds of the girl's Christian neighbors have fled their homes, fearing attacks by Muslims. Lauren Frayer for NPR hide caption

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Lauren Frayer for NPR

Asia

With A Girl Jailed, Pakistan Law Again Under Scrutiny

A young Christian girl is behind bars in Pakistan, accused of burning pages of Quranic verse. Defaming Islam or its holy book is punishable by death in Pakistan. The case has drawn wide attention to Muslim extremists' influence on the law and intolerance toward religious minorities.

With A Girl Jailed, Pakistan Law Again Under Scrutiny

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Some Israeli Parents Rethink Ritual Circumcision

Family members and friends gather around 8-day-old Israeli baby Oz Naftaly Cohen after his traditional Jewish circumcision ceremony in 2005. Ariel Schalit/AP hide caption

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Ariel Schalit/AP

Some Israeli Parents Rethink Ritual Circumcision

A debate is growing among Israel's secular Jewish majority over the question of whether to circumcise newborn sons. The vast majority still chooses to have the procedure done, but voices of dissent are on the rise.

Some Israeli Parents Rethink Ritual Circumcision

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Biden And Ryan Share Faith, But Not Worldview

This composite image shows Republican vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan (left) and Vice President Biden. Both men are Catholic, but their worldviews are strikingly different. Jose Luis Magana/Thanassis Stavrakis/AP hide caption

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Jose Luis Magana/Thanassis Stavrakis/AP

Elections

Biden And Ryan Share Faith, But Not Worldview

The views of vice presidential candidates Joe Biden and Paul Ryan are strikingly different, but both espouse the same Catholic faith and are reaching out to Christian voters. Their views, which represent opposite wings of their religion, are a reflection of the growing divide among Catholics.

Biden And Ryan Share Faith, But Not Worldview

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Pakistani Televangelist Is Back On Air, Raising Fears

Aamir Liaquat, 41, is one of Pakistan's most famous and controversial TV hosts. During the holy month of Ramadan, he broadcasts live for 11 hours a day while fasting and drawing record audiences. Back in 2008, remarks he made about a religious minority in Pakistan were followed by a wave of deadly violence. He was fired and recently rehired. Courtesy of Geo TV hide caption

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Courtesy of Geo TV

Asia

Pakistani Televangelist Is Back On Air, Raising Fears

Pakistan's most famous, and infamous, TV evangelist has been rehired by a top station. In 2008, Aamir Liaquat made on-air threats against a religious minority, the Ahmadis. Those comments were followed by widespread violence against the group. Liaquat's return to the airwaves has rekindled the controversy.

Pakistani Televangelist Is Back On Air, Raising Fears

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Faith Matters

Does Law Protect Prayer Or Exclude Non-Christians?

Advocates say a public prayer amendment to the Missouri state constitution will strengthen the right to pray in public. But critics say it'll marginalize non-Christians. Guest host Jacki Lyden talks with Missouri State Rep. Mike McGhee who sponsored the initiative, and the Anti-Defamation League's Karen Aroesty, who opposes it.

Does Law Protect Prayer Or Exclude Non-Christians?

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Faith Matters

Nuns Ask Candidates To Spend A Day With The Poor

A group of Catholic nuns say they're worried about the way GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney will approach poverty and safety-net programs, if elected. So the nuns have invited him, and his running mate Paul Ryan, to spend a day with them, helping the poor. Sister Simone Campbell discusses the invitation with guest host Jacki Lyden.

Nuns Ask Candidates To Spend A Day With The Poor

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What Lies Ahead For America's Nuns

After the Vatican accused the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, America's largest organization of Catholic nuns, of failing to follow Church doctrine on several controversial issues, the group's president suggested they will not backing down.

What Lies Ahead For America's Nuns

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