Contemporary art often is far away from Christianity. Rather than blaming the artists, Benedict called Christians to acknowledge that genuine art may always offer a spiritual experience.
From the World
Benedict XVI and the Arts. 2. The Cathedral and the City Hall
According to the German Pope, churches and civic buildings of old expressed both the ideal of magnificence and a hope for social harmony.
With Orthodoxy Torn Apart in Ukraine, Mediation is Needed to Heal It
While Ukrainian religious organizations are heroically engaged in humanitarian efforts, a conflict within Orthodoxy threatens the unity upon which the country’s future depends.
Vandals Attack Ahmadi Mosques in Pakistan—Encouraged by the Police
New attacks against the Ahmadiyya community in Karachi raise concerns about the complicity between public security forces and private bands of thugs.
Benedict XVI and the Arts. 1. The 2009 Meeting with the Artists
Benedict XVI’s meditations on the arts were unashamedly theological and Catholic. Yet, they make a challenging reading for everybody.
A Historian Looks at the Controversies About MISA (the Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute)
MISA’s teachings may appear new and shocking but they are based on ancient doctrines such as Chinese alchemy, Tantra, and Western Esotericism.
Mark Fino: No Asylum in Japan for Evangelist Threatened in Bangladesh
The persecuted Bangladeshi Christian preacher and blogger was denied refugee recognition—as it happens to many in Japan.
France Joins China and Russia by Introducing Special Police Techniques Against “Cults”
A new law allows officers to bug houses and cars, hack email, and even impersonate mail carriers delivering packages to those suspected of “cultic deviances.”
L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology, and the Visual Arts. 8. Art and Spirituality
Does Scientology offer a spirituality of the arts? Yes, answer some artists who are Scientologists.
L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology, and the Visual Arts. 7. The Scientologist as Artist
Through its Celebrity Centres, Scientology systematically interacts with the artists, be they superstars or “commercial” painters.