In the 14 years since Boko Haram was formed, the Nigerian terrorist group has kidnapped and killed hundreds of people, hoping to stamp out Western influence and create an Islamic state, ruled by Shariah law. They've done all kinds of things to get attention, but on April 14th they pulled off one of their most notorious feats, kidnapping more than 200 Nigerian school girls in the middle of the night. As the world calls for their safe return, we ask: How can Boko Haram claim any religious grounds for such cruelty?

Western religions have long had an uneasy relationship with science, but the story is different in Buddhism. In recent years there’s been a growing dialogue between Buddhism and science--especially neuroscience. We can see it in the burst of research into mindfulness meditation. And we can see it in the passions of the Dalai Lama, who’s lately been intrigued by quantum theory. Today, we’re going behind that trend--both its roots, and its potential problems for modern Buddhism.