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The belief in an afterlife is an important part of the Christian tradition. And unsurprisingly, there are many competing images of what that would look like and who would be allowed in. In an article for The Conversation, Joanne Pierce, …
“In a tiny northern Chilean town in the driest desert in the world, 200,000 people are gathering this week for one of the most remarkable, vibrant, and little-known Catholic feasts in the world,” said Thomas Landy, director of the Rev. …
Much of the national conversation this week has focused on the United States’ treatment of asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants trying to cross the southern border. Both Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the Southern Baptist Convention have used religious arguments …
In the wake of the highly publicized suicides of fashion designer Kate Spade and chef and writer Anthony Bourdain last week, there’s been increased discussion of some of the moral and ethical dilemmas surrounding suicide. Writing for The Conversation, Mathew …
In an article for The Conversation, Joanne Pierce, professor of religious studies at Holy Cross, traces the conceptual evolution of hell through the Jewish and Greek cultures and their influence on the Christian description of hell or the afterlife, including …
Last week, Pope Francis wrote to three clerical sexual abuse victims apologizing and asking for forgiveness for defending Chilean Bishop Juan Barros, accused of covering up their abuse by a former priest. In an article for The Conversation, Mathew Schmalz, …
“Never forget” is a phrase that’s long been used to remind people, Jews and non-Jews alike, to remember the pain of the Holocaust, which is being commemorated — on campus and around the world — as A Day of Remembrance …
New religious movements have been a subject of fascination in American popular culture for decades, often portrayed in movies and TV shows as “cults,” which comes with its own implications of brainwashing and authoritarian practices. In an article for The …
The College of the Holy Cross will host a conference on “Francis the Pilgrim: From Personal Devotion to Papal Diplomacy,” April 11-12, 2018 featuring Pope Francis biographer Austen Ivereigh and Rev. Thomas J. Reese, S.J., senior analyst at Religion News …
“Comparing traditions during Holy Week gives us a chance to recognize Catholicism as the vivid tapestry of practices and cultures that it is,” said Thomas Landy, director of the Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics, and Culture. …
Tragic murder-suicide cases throughout the country have shined light on the controversial Jehovah’s Witness practice of shunning or disfellowshipping, which in essence is a punishment by excommunication. Mathew Schmalz, associate professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross, offered …
Many students come to College of the Holy Cross wanting to make a difference in the world. Four graduating seniors — Katie Bowles, Marie Therese Kane, Clare Orie, and Colleen Brady — are leaving the Hill ready to do just …
Just about everyone who applies to medical school has top grades and test scores. So who gets in and who doesn’t? Often it comes down to “miles traveled” — experiences outside the classroom that show an applicant’s abilities beyond technical …
As the U.S. Congress debates a tax reform bill, Matthew Schmalz, associate professor of religious studies at Holy Cross, digs into the Christian and Hebrew bibles to find guidance on tax policy from Jesus and others. Writing for The Conversation, Schmalz says …
A diverse group of scholars will convene at the College of the Holy Cross Nov. 15-17 for a conference on “Religion, Protest and Social Upheaval.” All conference sessions are free and open to drop-ins. Find the schedule here. The recent …
Pope Francis’ declaration that the death penalty is “contrary to the Gospel” and “inadmissible,” points to his larger emphasis on mercy, said Mathew Schmalz, associate professor of religious studies, in an interview with Austrian station Radio FM4. “Well it is …
With the Roman Catholic Church banning the use of gluten-free wafers for communion, Joanne Pierce, professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross, writes a piece for The Conversation on the history of communion wafers and how …
Who benefits from economic development, growth, and technology? Who bears the burdens? This summer, 12 students from the College of the Holy Cross spent a month exploring these social justice concerns in Bangalore, India’s third largest and most developed city, …
What do Harry Potter and Christianity have in common? According to Rev. William Reiser, S.J., professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross, they have more in common than you’d think. In an article published by America Magazine, …
Following the suicide bombing outside of the Manchester Arena in England, which killed 22 concert attendees and the bomber, Salman Abedi, the Manchester Central Mosque has declined to be involved in Abedi’s funeral — a decision that The Atlantic reports …
