Top 10 Religious News Stories of 2015

Religion in the news took to new heights this past year – making international headlines and centering as the focus of several social and political debates. The virality of social media ensured that these stories made they way around the internet. While some 2015 religion news stories gave us hope, others have challenged us to work toward peace and understanding. Here are our top 10 religion-related news stories of 2015. Visit Deily to share your own religion news now.

1. ISIS Militants Carry Out Paris Attacks  

   

   The biggest religion-related news story of 2015 was the coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris that took place on the evening of November 13.  The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the suicide bombings and shootings, which killed 130 people and were the deadliest in French history since World War II.  The group asserted the killings were in retaliation to the French airstrikes perpetrated against ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria.

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   Pope Francis Visits the U.S. for the First Time

   

   Another massive religious news story this past year was Pope Francis‘ first ever visit to the United States in September.  His trip included speeches in front of a joint session of Congress and the United Nations General Assembly, and holding a Papal Mass for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.  The Pope addressed issues of climate change, refugees and income inequality.  Public opinion and media coverage was overwhelmingly positive for the Pope’s visit.

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   Mother Teresa to Be Made a Saint by Catholic Church 

   

   The Roman Catholic Church has announced that Mother Teresa will be canonized as a saint. Following her death in 1997, the Holy See began the process of her beatification, the third step toward possible canonization (sainthood). On December 17, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis had recognized a second miracle attributed to Mother Teresa, that being the healing of a Brazilian man with brain tumors.  The nun’s first miracle was approved by Pope John Paul II and she was beatified in October 2003.

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4. ISIS Militants Carry Out Charlie Hebdo Attacks

   

   On January 7, 2015, Saïd and Chérif Kouachi forced their way into the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, armed with assault rifles they killed 11 people and injured 11 others in the building. After leaving, they killed a French National Police officer outside the building before a massive manhunt led to their deaths.  The brothers had identified themselves as belonging to the Islamist terrorist group Al-Qaeda‘s branch in Yemen, who took responsibility for the attack.

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5. U.S. Government Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage 

   

   On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that state-level bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional.  Although public opinion has soared to over 60% in favor of allowing same-sex unions, many prominent religious groups have come out on in opposition of it, including the Southern Baptist Convention, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and the National Organization for Marriage.  These groups assert that the homosexual lifestyle is both sinful and dangerous to the individual and society at large.

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6. The Dalai Lama Claims Next Reincarnation Could Be Female 

   

   In an interview with the BBC in September, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama restated a point he has made in the past, that his successor could very well be a woman.  “The female biologically has more potential to show affection… and compassion,” he said.  However, he went on to make more controversial remarks about her appearance, that her “face must be very, very attractive…otherwise not of much use.”.  The question of succession within Gelug Tibetan Buddhism has been particularly uncertain since the Dalai Lama’s exile to India in 1959 and the kidnapping of the Panchen Lama in 1995 by Chinese officials. 

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7. Indian Government of Maharashtra Bans Sale and Possession of Beef 

   

   Cow slaughter in India has historically been a taboo subject as cows symbolize wealth, strength, abundance, and selfless giving in Hinduism.  The slaughter of cows was already made illegal in the state of Maharashtra in 1976, however on March 2 of this year, a new law extended the ban to the sale and export of beef.  Violation of the law is now punishable by a 5 year jail sentence and/or a 10,000 INR fine.

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8. Leah Remini Speaks Out Against Church of Scientology 

   

   On November 3, American actress and comedian Leah Remini, released her high-anticipated memoir Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology.  In it, she recounts her time in the Church of Scientology, including many bizarre anecdotes about Church policies and specifically talks about Tom Cruise and other high ranking officials.   Remini had been a Scientologist since the age of 9, deciding to leave the Church in 2005 after disagreeing with policies that disallowed the questioning of senior management.  The Church immediately responded that Remini was desperate for publicity and that her claims were false.

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9. The Viral Response to Racist Sikh Basketball Player Meme

   

   After a racist meme of Sikh American basketball player Darsh Preet Singh circulated on social media for months, Singh’s friend Greg Worthington decided to post a response on Facebook in December.  The post was shared more than 13,000 times in one day and supporters also rallied behind the athlete by using the hashtag #BeLikeDarsh.  Singh is a born and raised American citizen who made US history as the NCAA’s first turbaned Sikh American basketball player for Trinity University.

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10. Starbucks’ Red Cup Controversy 

    

    The internet exploded when Starbucks released this year’s version of its iconic Christmas cup, which lacked any winter-themed designs.  According to Starbucks, the cup is supposed to be a “blank canvas” encouraging “customers to tell their Christmas stories in their own way.” Social media personality and former pastor Joshua Feuerstein felt the new cup design was an insult to Christmas and Christians in general. In a viral video Feuerstein says the company removed Christmas from their cups “because they hate Jesus.” At present, Feuerstein’s video has more than 10 million views.

Read more of our top Religion in the News stories of 2015!