Patheos Featured Writers

Ken Chitwood
Writer
Ken Chitwood is a religion nerd, writer and scholar of global Islam and American religion based in Germany. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Salon, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Religion News Service, Christianity Today, and numerous other publications. He is the author of The Muslims of Latin America and the Caribbean. Follow Ken on Twitter @kchitwood.
Works by Ken Chitwood
The Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony uses satire to challenge norms and spark......
A Brief History of the "Culture Wars"
Ken Chitwood | July 09, 2024
for as long as there’s been some thing we call "religion," it has shaped, and been......
Religious leaders are addressing climate change, showing faith-driven environmental......
Debates about the best ethical approach — including whether an AI religion can save or......
In the months to come, and as debates intensify, it is imperative to not forget the......
While food and foodways are diverse, the basic processes of collection, cultivation,......
Hate Surge: Unpacking Antisemitism & Islamophobia
Ken Chitwood | February 07, 2024
Exploring the Surge in Antisemitic and Islamophobic Incidents Globally Amid Israel-Hamas......
Predictions for the World of Religion in 2024
Ken Chitwood | January 08, 2024
Dive into the intersection of religion, politics, and society in a world bracing for......
Institutions are becoming more welcoming and inclusive, sometimes even being led by......
Faith Visits Provide Experiences Of A Lifetime
Ken Chitwood | November 08, 2023
There are hundreds of enriching opportunities in any city that can give students......
A Critical Look at Luther Country
Ken Chitwood | October 05, 2023
There are darker, more difficult subjects in need of revisiting in Luther’s life —......
Religion at the Rugby World Cup
Ken Chitwood | September 06, 2023
Explore the intersection of religion and rugby as players' faith influences their......
Interreligious dialogue has multiple critics, from those who question its effectiveness......
In the Beginning, We Argued Over Origins
Ken Chitwood | July 13, 2023
There are innumerable etiologies floating around the world. The student of religion is......
Journeys to holy sites and major religious celebrations can be shot through with......
The hope is that by comparing two things — the known with the unknown, the foreign with......
IRD is a human activity. As such, it should be studied and critiqued for how it is part......
Religion and the 2023 Oscars
Ken Chitwood | March 06, 2023
It’s safe to say that if you head to the movies – or catch the Academy Awards ceremony –......
Christians are not alone in marking their faces with religious symbols. There are......
The Past, Present, and Future of Religion
Ken Chitwood | January 03, 2023
Every year, numerous pundits and forecasters offer their crystal-ball takes on financial......
From brain stimulation to synthetic psychedelics, new spiritual movements in Silicon......
When it comes to whether modest clothing is inherently oppressive or explicitly......
Religion, James Bond Religion
Ken Chitwood | September 30, 2022
...
Is That a "Cult?"
Ken Chitwood | September 03, 2022
In popular parlance, the word “cult” is used to mark certain social groups as irregular,......
What is a "Religious Experience?"
Ken Chitwood | August 04, 2022
Claims of experience and testimonies are not only defined and shaped by social context.......
Pew Research Center found that more than half of the U.S.’s large hub airports......
Pilgrimage and Profit in Oberammergau, Germany
Ken Chitwood | July 04, 2022
Pilgrimage and Profit in Oberammergau, Germany...
When Berliners Piet and Ulrike Jonas travel abroad, they head into local churches to......
According to Islamic tradition, fasting is required during Ramadan, the ninth month of......
What is "Religion" Anyway?
Ken Chitwood | February 24, 2022
Numerous scholars, saints, and specialists have tried to define religion. But what is......
What You Missed Without Religion Class
Ken Chitwood | February 06, 2022
What You Missed Without Religion Class...