Islam

More than half of evangelical Christians (52 percent) view Islam as "essentially a violent religion," a new report from Barna Group reveals, though only about a quarter (26 percent) of all American adults feel the same way.

Despite the general perception of Islam within the evangelical community, 68 percent of evangelicals agree with the statement: "Peace between Christians and Muslims is possible." Researchers also found that 79 percent of mainline Christians, 82 percent of college graduates and 75 percent of all American adults also believe such peace is possible.

The report indicates that those who associate with different religious groups tend to view Islam differently. Only 30 percent of non-evangelical born again Christians, 26 percent of Catholics and 20 percent of people who are agnostic or have no faith also consider Islam to be violent. In contrast, 62 percent of people who are agnostic or who have no faith agree that "Islam is essentially a peaceful religion," and 59 percent of Catholics, 47 percent of non-evangelical born again Christians and 27 percent of evangelicals agree. more >>

The mother of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev has seemingly confirmed suspicion that religion played a major part in the attack last week, revealing that her son had told her he was ready to die for Islam.

Twenty-six-year-old Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed on Friday morning in a shootout with police, while his younger brother, 19-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was captured later that day and placed in custody. The Boston Marathon bombings killed three people and wounded more than 200, shutting down the entire city as a large manhunt was launched for the suspects.

Various reports have since come out trying to pinpoint a motive for the attack, but what has been determined so far is that the brothers, from Chechnyan origin, began following a radical version of Islam sometime in the last few years while living in the U.S. Authorities have said they appear to have no ties to any established terrorist groups, but they had been attending a mosque in Boston with radical connections. more >>

The suspects behind the Boston Marathon bombings last week, 19-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and 26-year-old Tamerlan Tsarnaev, attended a mosque that was often visited by radical Islamists and convicted terrorists, reports revealed.

"We don't know where these boys were radicalized, but this mosque has a curriculum that radicalizes people. Other people have been radicalized there," said Charles Jacobs from Americans for Peace and Tolerance, an interfaith group that investigated the Islamic Society of Boston mosque in Cambridge, Mass., which the brothers attended.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is currently recovering in the hospital from a gunshot wound to the throat, suspected to be an attempted suicide, and has only been able to communicate through writing. Tamerlan Tsarnaev died after a shootout with police early Friday morning. more >>

Boko Haram, the Islamic terrorist organization that has targeted Christians and killed close to 3,000 people in the past few years in Nigeria, has not only rejected the government's offer of amnesty, but said the government should be the one begging for a pardon.

"Surprisingly, the Nigerian government is talking about granting us amnesty. What wrong have we done? On the contrary, it is we that should grant you [a] pardon," Abubakar Shekau, the group's leader, said in Hausa language audio recordings, according to AFP News agency.

Boko Haram explained that the numerous bombings and mass shootings it carried out against churches and government buildings in the last few years are part of its mission to drive out Christians from Nigeria. The African country is divided by both geographical and religion lines, with most Christians concentrated in the South and Muslims in the North. more >>

A well-known atheist author has taken issue with recent claims that his criticism of Islam is a form of bigotry against Muslims.

Sam Harris, author of such works as End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation, posted a lengthy essay on his website last week responding to the controversy over his words.

"My criticism of faith-based religion focuses on what I consider to be bad ideas, held for bad reasons, leading to bad behavior," wrote Harris. "Because I am concerned about the logical and behavioral consequences of specific beliefs, I do not treat all religions the same." more >>

Dave Hunt, a well-known Christian apologist, author, speaker, and radio commentator, passed away April 5 at the age of 87 with his wife, Ruth, by his side.

Hunt, a graduate of UCLA, began working in the full-time Christian ministry in 1973, authoring books and commentating radio programs in an effort to draw Christians back to the fundamental, biblical teachings of their religion.

In order to expand his ministry further, Hunt founded outreach publication The Berean Call in 1992 for the purpose of "encouraging spiritual discernment among those who regarded themselves not just as 'evangelicals' but as biblical Christians." more >>