It is unrealistic to force people who have nothing in common in this world to enjoy relaxed sociability, and yet that has become the norm among American religious communities.

ISIS is destroying Palmyra in order to murder history, in a manner of speaking. The past is not all that unchangeable—whether by eliminating its physical remains or by rewriting the “narrative.”

In a society that is both pluralist and democratic different beliefs and values will have to co-exist. Does this mean that polyamorous arrangements should be sanctioned by the state?

ISIS has become a widespread image of pure evil. Yet the global Muslim community can counter the jihadists with ideas—chief among them, perhaps, the centrality of mercy.

Some offhand observations on the increasingly surreal state of American politics.

Chinese President Xi has found in Confucianism (as he understands it) an ideology useful to the construction of a Chinese model of modernity—which is intended to contribute to the task of empire-building.

Despite recent authoritarian backsliding, could Turkey supply the prototype for a successful synthesis of Islam and democracy?

In our “transgender” world, some women want to be warriors, others are content to perform the traditional role of gentle care-givers.

There can be little doubt about Luther’s stature as an agent of historic change, whether intentional of not. To say this is not necessarily an act of homage.

The LGBT movement has been a step forward in the realization of the American democratic experiment. Why then my reluctance to participate in the ongoing victory party?