THE world’s major religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—stand today as distinct traditions with unique scriptures, practices, and followings. Surprisingly, their origins are concentrated within a relatively small geographic region, stretching from the Indian subcontinent to the Middle East. From the banks of the Ganges to the deserts of Arabia, this corridor of …
DIVALI, the festival of lights, is celebrated across the world from the White House on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to humble abodes on the Himalayan mountains. Light, the form through which humanity perceives the formless God is at once a metaphor and a mystery. Across the world’s religions, Light is the most enduring image …
