Skip to main content

Other Religions

Jehovah's Witness elder called out for providing court character reference for child abuser

Child sex abuse survivor Kezia Whitton says she was shocked to learn an elder from her former church had provided a character reference for her abuser. But the religious leader is defending his actions.
woman holding candle

Who is Bushra Bibi, the pious wife of Imran Khan now alleged to have broken Islamic law

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan says he "did not catch a glimpse" of his wife's face until they were married. Now they have received a seven-year jail term for an unlawful marriage.
A man in a blue shirt and vest sits next to a woman in dark black conservative Islamic garb behind a table.

Do religious ministers have to report historical child sex abuse?

Kezia Whitton was abused by her brother when she was five years old. Years later, her former church declined to report him to West Australian police — but in a different state, they may have had to.
A statue of Jesus.

Criss-crossed letters were once used 'worldwide', as this family recently discovered

When Colleen Dorahy’s mother died, a neatly folded criss-crossed letter dated 1879 was discovered among her belongings — marked only with the author's initials.
Updated
A criss-crossed letter

Raquel lives 'off the grid'. She's part of a growing trend finding meaning in new age spiritual practices

New age spiritualism is not new, but it morphed during the COVID pandemic and appears more popular than ever. The first detailed Australian study examines what happens when spirituality and wellness intersect with conspiracy theories.
Updated
A woman with brown hair stares soulfully at the camera.

Woman who survived gay 'conversion' attempt dismayed at new law proposal in Tasmania

Bron survived repeated sessions of gay conversion attempts under the instruction of her mother but it took a heavy toll. She says a new draft bill proposed for Tasmania will do nothing to stop such "therapy" from continuing.
Updated
A woman stands under an underpass.

These classic Christmas songs have one thing in common — they were all written by Jewish composers

From iconic TV shows to beloved pop songs, Jewish culture and Christmas traditions have long been inextricably entwined.
Updated
A brunette woman and a brunette man sit on a step outside a house

'God will never be happy with you': How Lujayn overcame the clash between veganism and her religion

Australians of faith who want to eat less meat can sometimes find themselves torn between their religious identity and environmentalism. 
Updated
A young woman wearing a black headscarf and black eyeliner looks serious.

'Acts of obscene exhibitionism': Why this Spanish city banned bad behaviour from partygoers

The Spanish city of Seville has long drawn partygoers from around the world — but some are clashing with the city's Catholic values.
Updated
A group of women in bikinis smile and laugh, holding up plastic champagne flutes.

Why do we scapegoat? A gay Catholic priest explains

James Alison knows what it's like to be a scapegoat. He's devoted his life to understanding why we do it. 
Updated
Silhouette of person with short hair standing against a large window with clear expanse.

Court overrules Jehovah's Witness parents to allow blood transfusion for seriously ill toddler

Health officials have won a court order authorising them to give a transfusion to a Jehovah's Witness toddler whose parents, due to their religious beliefs, did not consent to the use of blood.
Updated
Bag of blood from transfusion.

Satara left the church during the pandemic. Now she's a 'hopeful agnostic'

Since the pandemic began, Australians are having more spiritual conversations and thinking about mortality more often. So why do many of us consider ourselves not religious?
A photo of Satara standing in front of a few buildings. She's wearing an off the shoulder dark red top and black pants.

Hajj pilgrimage numbers are set to hit a post-COVID record. Here's what the ritual means to Muslims

More than 2 million people are expected to complete the Hajj pilgrimage, an annual ritual Muslims have kept up over centuries. Here's how the tradition lives on, even through wars and plagues.
Updated
Muslim pilgrims at the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca

New Compass host Indira Naidoo on spirituality and the touching thing that happened after her sister's suicide

Journalist Indira Naidoo shares her experience of finding meaning and how spirituality can help us navigate the darkest moments of our lives.
Head shot of a woman wearing a green dress with trees blurred in background.

Hillsong leaders announce financial review after federal parliament allegations

Hillsong church announces it will commission an independent financial review after being accused in federal parliament of "fraud, money laundering and tax evasion".
Updated
A man smiling

Australia's changing face of faith mirrored in Logan's diverse temples

The 2021 census revealed more Australians are now Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus than ever before. In Logan, south of Brisbane, these faiths intermingle.
Updated
A woman with religious bhindi smiles, she is inside a Hindu temple.

Diane has survived child sexual assault. But finally being heard is causing fresh trauma

Under the National Redress Scheme, the Jehovah's Witnesses are required by law to apologise to this woman. Yet, three months later, she is still waiting.
Updated
A woman with white hair stands at the kitchen bench with her phone in hand

Mother of allegedly murdered 8yo Toowoomba girl considered religious leader 'closer than blood relations'

Brendan Luke Stevens was committed to stand trial for failure to provide the necessaries of life to Elizabeth Struhs in 2019.
Updated
An eight-year-old girl with dark hair and wearing a pink cap sits on the knee of a person whose image is blurred.

'I was paid for my silence': Court hears Hillsong founder's father gave money to alleged victim

A Sydney court hears Hillsong founder Brian Houston attempted to deal with sexual assault allegations against his father internally, rather than go to the police.
Updated
A man in a suit walks as a microphone is held in his path

Leader of fringe religious group accused of murdering eight-year-old girl committed to stand trial

The last two members of a 14-member fringe religious group are committed to stand trial over the alleged murder of Elizabeth Struhs, who died earlier this year after her insulin medication was stopped.
An eight-year-old girl with dark hair and wearing a pink cap sits on the knee of a person whose image is blurred.

'He will rise her again': Religious group members reject murder charge over 8yo Elizabeth Struhs

A member of a religious group charged with the murder of Elizabeth Struhs has told a court she believes the "charge is false and does not apply to us".
An eight-year-old girl with dark hair and wearing a pink cap sits on the knee of a person whose image is blurred.

'Cooking for days': Sydney celebrates Diwali after last year's lockdown wipeout

Kirki Joshi has been "cooking for days". After the COVID lockdown wiped out festivities in 2021, she is going all to celebrate Diwali this year.
Updated
A man and a woman dressed in colourful clothes

Japanese PM orders probe into controversial church amid public backlash

Fumio Kishida launches an inquiry into links between his governing party and the controversial Unification Church revealed in the wake of Shinzo Abe's assassination.
On left a Japanese man in suit and face mask sits at table, on right is a crowd wearing traditional bridal attire.

Negar can't sleep at night knowing her mum is in an Iranian prison because of her religion

When Negar Sabet awakes after a restless night in Sydney, she agonises about her elderly mother Mahvash, who has been locked up in Iran's notorious Evin Prison since the end of July.
Updated
Mahvash Sabet at a Sydney café in an interview with Nassim Khadem in August 2022.

How faith fits into modern China

A United Nations report says China may have committed 'crimes against humanity' in its treatments of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. The report also raises questions about China's relationship with religious freedom.
ABC News Current
Duration: 5 minutes 3 seconds