Latest from Religion and Beliefs

Ganges braced for 60 million bathing pilgrims

Authorities have urged people to avoid dirtying the Ganges - India's most sacred river, yet one of its most heavily polluted.

<i>Jeff Tallon:</i> True faith opens door to happiness

Miracle mum revealed

Party pushes burqa law despite public discord

<i>Gwynne Dyer:</i> Risking fragile compromise in Allah's name

Gere backs vegetarian zone at site of enlightenment

Richard Gere has thrown his support behind a plan to transform the site of Buddha's enlightenment into a vegetarian zone to spread the message of peace.

Churches firebombed in Malaysia

Pastor's gamble hits snag

A kind-hearted pastor and his family who have donated their house to raise $1m for their church are nearly $650,000 short of their target.

What shot cop told his parents

Constable Jeremy Snow didn't want to go to work the night that he was shot, his stepmother says.

Celebrating the birthday of Christ

Auckland church leaders offer their thoughts for this Christmas.

<i>Garth George:</i> Blasphemy divides, but truth unites

The divine origin of Jesus' birth is a cornerstone of Christian faith and not up for revision, says Garth George.

<i>Derek Tovey:</i> Christians celebrating the birth of God as a human being

Cleric's death breathes life into Iran's protest movement

The funeral of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, the eminent cleric and champion of reform, turned into a mass protest in Iran yesterday as the vast crowd chanted slogans against the government and clashed on the streets with security.

Billboard vicar invited to address church progressives

'Fanatic' won't be prosecuted

An Anglican vicar has decided not to press charges against a woman who slashed a controversial billboard outside his church.

Woman who cut billboard avoids prosecution

An Anglican priest has decided not to press charges against a woman who slashed a controversial billboard outside his church.