COMMENT | Gertrude Kamya Othieno | The relationship between Christianity and Judaism is rooted in a complex blend of shared lineage and divergent spiritual beliefs. The genealogical connection between the two faiths is undeniable, as Christianity emerged from Judaism, with Jesus, the central figure of Christianity, born into a Jewish family. However, …
Read More »Communities, neighborhoods start praying at homes
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Christians have resorted to small prayer groups following the nationwide closure of churches because of the Covid19 pandemic. Prayers houses have remained under lock and key since March 18th when President, Yoweri Museveni banned congregational prayers and all forms of social gatherings to contain …
Read More »The man I knew
Remembering Rt. Rev. Dr. Livingstone M. Nkoyoyo Kampala, Uganda | REV SAMUEL MURANGI | It was 1986. I had finished junior high school in Fort Portal, Uganda and moved to the Capital City Kampala, in search of an opportunity to pursue high school education. Mukono Diocese, which was only two years …
Read More »THIS WEEK: Controversy over Bobi Wine’s new song based on popular Christian hymn
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Musician and politician Robert Kyagu¬lanyi Bobi Wine released a new song dubbed ‘Tuliyambala Engule’ and sang it at the Buganda Kingdom organized Enkuuka show during which the Kabaka usually closes the previous and usher his subjects into the New Year. It has since caught on …
Read More »Hundreds mark Jesus baptism at historic Jordan site
Wadi al-Kharrar, Jordan | AFP | Hundreds of Catholic worshippers attended a special mass Friday on the banks of the Jordan River in an annual pilgrimage to the site where many believe Jesus was baptised. Before the ceremony started on the Jordanian side of the river, dozens of priests filled …
Read More »Orthodox worshippers mark Christmas in Bethlehem
Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories | AFP | Hundreds of Orthodox Christians began marking Christmas in Bethlehem Sunday, as protesters demonstrated against the sale of church land to Israelis. Greek Orthodox patriarch Theophilos III arrived at the Church of the Nativity, built on the traditionally recognised site of Jesus’s birth, as a …
Read More »In the #MeToo era, theologians publish ‘Women’s Bible’
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Tired of seeing their holy texts used to justify the subjugation of women, a group of feminist theologians from across the Protestant-Catholic divide have joined forces to draft “A Women’s Bible”. As the #MeToo movement continues to expose sexual abuse across cultures and industries, some …
Read More »Curfew declared in Nigerian city after deadly sectarian violence
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigerian authorities declared a 24-hour curfew Sunday in Kaduna after clashes between young Christians and Muslims left at least 55 people dead. Governor Nasir El-Rufai posted a statement on Facebook from his spokesman stating: “The state government has declared a curfew in Kaduna metropolis and …
Read More »Did Pope Francis deny existence of hell?
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Vatican communications department has been working overtime the past few weeks. They are scrambling to contextualize a remark attributed to Pope Francis by an Italian journalist at the newspaper La Repubblica that hell does not exist. Speaking to the newspaper’s founder, journalist and atheist …
Read More »Left-handers less likely to believe in God
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | In a study published in the journal `Evolutionary Psychological Science’, scientists have discovered an interesting connection between atheism and certain genetic traits, including left-handedness, schizophrenia, and autism. It all comes down to the DNA and something they refer to as “mutational load”. Essentially, people …
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