Religion

Beyond church and state April 2012
‘Religion’ and ‘secularism’ are not mutually exclusive categories, writes Mike Marqusee. Secularists need to focus more on the shared, public realm that has been eviscerated by neoliberalism

Biblical justice February 2011
The bible’s social vision isn’t as simple as many think – this contradictory book can be as radical as it is repressive, writes Mike Marqusee

Papal bull September 2010
The left should praise the Lord for the Pope, says Terry Eagleton. The Catholic church is the best recruiting sergeant we could hope for

Essay: Red Shi’ism, Iran and the Islamist revolution October 2009
From the Iranian revolution to the Palestinian struggle, it has often been Islamic ideas that have inspired resistance to imperialism. Here, Alastair Crooke argues that the left needs a more complex understanding of the thinking, critical forms of political Islam

Essay response: How not to understand Islamist politics October 2009
Saeed Rahnema argues that Alistair Crooke's understanding of the Iranian revolution and recent events is deeply flawed

Essay response: Which side are you on? October 2009
Alastair Crooke's glorification of the Islamist movement is based on distortions and falsification, says Azar Majedi

This artist blows March 2009
The young British Muslim artist Sarah Maple has been at the centre of controversy since first bursting onto the art scene at the end of 2007. Interview by Anikka Weerasinghe

Dissident Brits February 2009
British Jews are increasingly divided over Israeli policies towards the Palestinians. Antony Lerman reports on the dissident groups who are leading UK Jewish opposition to the war in Gaza

The war on sex February 2009
If you think evangelicals are anti-sex, you'd be wrong, today's evangelicals push a hyper-sexualised message, says Don Monkerud

After the neocons February 2009
The slaughter in Palestine has led to a significant breach in the walls of the Israel lobby in the US. For the first time, Jews who saw what the occupation was doing to the country are speaking out and setting up organisations that break with the traditional leadership, says Philip Weiss