While we may shy away from discussing religion, its role in politics, identity, and everyday life cannot be exaggerated. In this edition of the HPR, writers explore a range of topics that lie at the nexus of politics and religion, illuminating nuances often overlooked in partisan media coverage. In “Globalizing Hatred,” Jessica Boutchie uncovers the complicity of American evangelicals in the rise of homophobia in Uganda. Cathy Sun explores religious plurality and persecution in China in “Different but the Same,” and in “One Nation... Indivisible,” Alicia Zhang follows the long legal history of religious language in an increasingly heterogeneous United States. In “Raising Religion,” Beverly Brown synchronizes the stories of two Russian-Americans to reveal an intimate portrait of the intergenerational persecution of religious minorities in Russia. These cover pieces are complemented by a breadth of articles in our recurring sections, including an exclusive interview with education activist Malala Yousafzai.
