Shrinking Flock Examines Its Identity
The Rev. Todd Thomason looked out at the nearly empty pews of his congregation at Baptist Temple Church last Sunday. He had preached long and hard about Abraham leaving all that he knew and setting out into an unknown future on nothing more than faith in God. He was hoping that, after the service, what was left of his flock would have the courage to do the same.
Source: pewforum.org

Both Barack Obama and John McCain have problems with religion
Few Democrats have seemed more comfortable talking about God than Barack Obama has.
Source: pewforum.org

Turkey’s High Court Overturns Headscarf Rule
Turkey?s highest court dealt a stinging slap to the governing party of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, ruling that a legal change allowing women attending universities to wear head scarves was unconstitutional.
Source: pewforum.org

Some Muslims in U.S. Quietly Engage in Polygamy
Although polygamy is illegal in the U.S., some Muslim men in America have quietly married multiple wives. No one knows for sure how many Muslims in the U.S. live in polygamous families, but estimates range from 50,000 to 100,000 people.

Although polygamy is illegal in the U.S., some Muslim men in America have quietly married multiple wives. No one knows for sure how many Muslims in the U.S. live in polygamous families, but estimates range from 50,000 to 100,000 people.

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Source: www.npr.org

Clinton’s Ex-Pastor Weighs In on Her Exit, Next Step
The Rev. Don Jones is the former youth pastor at First United Methodist Church in Park Ridge, Ill., the childhood church of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY). A spiritual adviser to Clinton in the 1960s, he says he’s deeply saddened by her loss but will follow her lead in supporting Barack Obama for the presidency.

The Rev. Don Jones is the former youth pastor at First United Methodist Church in Park Ridge, Ill., the childhood church of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY). A spiritual adviser to Clinton in the 1960s, he says he’s deeply saddened by her loss but will follow her lead in supporting Barack Obama for the presidency.

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Source: www.npr.org

Evangelicals Are Still Wary Despite McCain?s Outreach
Lori Viars, an evangelical activist in Warren County, Ohio, essentially put her life on hold in the fall of 2004 to run a phone bank for President Bush. Her efforts helped the president?s ambitious push to turn out evangelicals and win that critical swing state in a close election.
Source: pewforum.org

Tags: religious products, Islam, religious artifacts, hebrew

A greater focus on candidates’ faith is generally applauded, but some cite reasons for caution. read more…

Maj. Khalid Shabazz is one of only five Muslim chaplains in the U.S. Army. Shabazz says it hasn’t always been easy to be a Muslim in the military, and his faith has placed him under a microscope wherever he’s been based.

Maj. Khalid Shabazz is one of only five Muslim chaplains in the U.S. Army. Shabazz says it hasn’t always been easy to be a Muslim in the military, and his faith has placed him under a microscope wherever he’s been based.

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Have you ever wondered why Hare Krishnas don’t eat meat, or how the movement differs from other strains of Hinduism? Read a primer on the Hare Krishna movement and its practices and beliefs.

Have you ever wondered why Hare Krishnas don’t eat meat, or how the movement differs from other strains of Hinduism? Read a primer on the Hare Krishna movement and its practices and beliefs.

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For the first time since the presidential election of 1988, the observant white Catholic vote might be up for grabs this November. read more…

Justices appear to be leaning toward forbidding doctors from denying treatment based on their religious views. read more…

Gov. David A. Paterson has directed all state agencies to begin to revise their policies and regulations to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, like Massachusetts, California and Canada. read more…

The Rev. Rod Parsley paces the stage, wiping his forehead and shouting to his congregation in a taped sermon that marriage is under attack by “tortured and angry homosexuals.” read more…

Tags: Hindu, metaphysics, hebrew, Islam

Every year, Mexican Catholics celebrate the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The holiday commemorates the day the Virgin Mary performed a miracle after appearing before a Mexican peasant in 1531. On Wednesday, a church in Harrisonburg, Va. hosted the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a vibrant celebration of Catholic tradition and Mexican culture. The Blessed Sacrament Church is working to integrate its English- and Spanish-speaking communities.

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Evangelical Iowans talk about the Republican presidential contest and the upcoming caucuses. They say no one contender seems to deliver on the entire package of faith and religious values.

Evangelical Iowans talk about the Republican presidential contest and the upcoming caucuses. They say no one contender seems to deliver on the entire package of faith and religious values.

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When high school freshman Dawn Sherman learned that Illinois had a new law requiring public schools to provide a moment of silence each day for “reflection and student prayer,” she was outraged. read more…

Largely unknown Christian leaders prove powerful in Iowa. read more…

While the holidays are a time of joy for many, they’re a source of depression and anxiety for others. A growing number of churches are acknowledging this and holding special services called “Blue Christmas” to help people cope.

While the holidays are a time of joy for many, they’re a source of depression and anxiety for others. A growing number of churches are acknowledging this and holding special services called “Blue Christmas” to help people cope.

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Tags: religious products, wiccan, Buddist, christianity

Romney: Church to Guide Him, Not the Presidency
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney says he would separate the affairs of government from any one religion if he is elected — but that does not mean keeping God out of government altogether.

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney says he would separate the affairs of government from any one religion if he is elected — but that does not mean keeping God out of government altogether.

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Source: www.npr.org

Hanukkah Is in the Holiday Season, Too
A writer describes her childhood in an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York where no one she knew celebrated Christmas, and her young adult years in Israel, where Hanukkah is a national holiday. Today she throws huge Hanukkah parties.

A writer describes her childhood in an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York where no one she knew celebrated Christmas, and her young adult years in Israel, where Hanukkah is a national holiday. Today she throws huge Hanukkah parties.

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Source: www.npr.org

Activists, Pastors in Iowa Question Impact of Romney Speech
Most conservative Christian political activists and pastors who studied Mitt Romney’s speech on Thursday addressing his Mormon faith agree it was something he had to do.
Source: pewforum.org

Iraqi Christians Return to Church
A handful of Christians in one of Baghdad’s most hotly contested neighborhoods cautiously attended services for the first Sunday of Advent. Iraq’s Chaldean Christians used to number around 800,000, but now there are few left.

A handful of Christians in one of Baghdad’s most hotly contested neighborhoods cautiously attended services for the first Sunday of Advent. Iraq’s Chaldean Christians used to number around 800,000, but now there are few left.

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Source: www.npr.org

Romney Speech May Quiet Some Critics, But Not All
Mitt Romney said Thursday (Dec. 6) that he’s running for president as an American, not a Mormon, and conceded that if his religious beliefs cost him the Oval Office, then “so be it.”
Source: pewforum.org

Huckabee Vs. Romney Is a Matter of Faith for Some
The Rev. Scott Weldon of Marshfield, Mo., has been way out in front of the Mike Huckabee surge that pushed the former Arkansas governor past Mitt Romney in the Iowa polls last weekend.
Source: pewforum.org

Tags: hebrew, Islam, Buddist, christianity

Hispanic Churches Turn to English to Target U.S.-born Latinos, Broader Community
A survey earlier this year by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that 77 percent of first-generation, churchgoing Hispanics in the United States choose churches with Hispanic clergy, Spanish-language services and a mostly Hispanic congregation. But as Hispanics become more established in this country, the hold loosens: 53 percent of second-generation Latinos attend ethnic congregations, while the numbers drop to 42 percent for the third generation and higher.
Source: pewforum.org

US Judge Rules Public Funds Can Be Used for Church Renovations
The Federal district court ruling in Michigan highlights a shift away from strict church-state separation.
Source: pewforum.org

Young Imam Serves as Islam’s Face to Community
Sheikh Rashid Lamptey, the new imam at the Dar Al Noor mosque in Virginia, plays a dual role: He’s the face of Islam to his congregation and to Americans who might be wary of Muslims.

Sheikh Rashid Lamptey, the new imam at the Dar Al Noor mosque in Virginia, plays a dual role: He’s the face of Islam to his congregation and to Americans who might be wary of Muslims.

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Source: www.npr.org

In La. Governor’s Race, a Furor Over an Ad About Religion
A Louisiana Democratic Party ad accusing Republican candidate for governor Bobby Jindal of calling Protestants “scandalous, depraved, selfish and heretical” has prompted a firestorm of criticism and calls Tuesday from the GOP to take the ad off the air.
Source: pewforum.org

Catholics Concerned Latin Mass Not Progressive
Earlier this month, Pope Benedict approved two major documents that Vatican observers see as signals of a major theological shift in the Catholic Church. The Pope approved wider use of the old Latin mass and reasserted the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church above all other Christian religions.

Earlier this month, Pope Benedict approved two major documents that Vatican observers see as signals of a major theological shift in the Catholic Church. The Pope approved wider use of the old Latin mass and reasserted the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church above all other Christian religions.

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Source: www.npr.org

Tags: holy relics, christianity, hebrew, Buddist

After a year and a half of painstaking construction, one of the world’s largest Hindu temples opens this month in Lilburn, an Atlanta suburb. Thousands of people from across the country are expected to come for its dedication.

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Source: www.npr.org

Priests’ Files to Shed Light on Abuse Scandal in L.A.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has settled hundreds of cases stemming from a sex-abuse scandal. Now it will release personnel files of accused priests. Will Cardinal Roger Mahony’s reputation suffer?

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has settled hundreds of cases stemming from a sex-abuse scandal. Now it will release personnel files of accused priests. Will Cardinal Roger Mahony’s reputation suffer?

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Source: www.npr.org

Vietnamese Americans Make Pilgrimage to Missouri
This weekend, tens of thousands of Vietnamese American Catholics have converged on the small town of Carthage, Mo., at the campus of a religious order called the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix. The event that draws them is called the Marian Days, a time for devotion to the Virgin Mary, whom many credit with helping them escape from communist Vietnam.

This weekend, tens of thousands of Vietnamese American Catholics have converged on the small town of Carthage, Mo., at the campus of a religious order called the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix. The event that draws them is called the Marian Days, a time for devotion to the Virgin Mary, whom many credit with helping them escape from communist Vietnam.

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Source: www.npr.org

Our Religious Destiny
Recently the presidential campaigns have been turning to talk of the candidates’ religious faith. Barack Obama proclaims a “personal relationship” with Jesus Christ. Democratic candidate John Edwards is on the religious offensive, speaking for Jesus himself when he tells an interviewer he thinks Christ “would be appalled” by our current policies regarding poverty and the war. Even the candidate who is arguably the least religious of the frontrunners — Rudy Giuliani — feels compelled to defend himself publicly on questions of whether he is “Catholic enough.”
Source: pewforum.org

Religious-Expression Policy for District Schools Advances
Trustees unanimously approved a first reading of a policy Tuesday that creates limited public forums at which students can express their personal religious opinions and calls for districtwide, uniform rules about who can speak at high school events.
Source: pewforum.org

Secularists Wary of Turkish Party’s Roots in Islam
The Justice and Development Party’s win in Turkey’s elections has secularists nervous, as the prime minister’s party has roots in political Islam. Soner Cagaptay, an expert in Turkish secularism, says Turkey’s brand of Islam is progress-oriented and outward-looking.

The Justice and Development Party’s win in Turkey’s elections has secularists nervous, as the prime minister’s party has roots in political Islam. Soner Cagaptay, an expert in Turkish secularism, says Turkey’s brand of Islam is progress-oriented and outward-looking.

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Source: www.npr.org

Former Televangelist Dies of Cancer
Tammy Faye Messner, previously Tammy Faye Bakker, and former husband Jim Bakker achieved wealth and fame as televangelists. Later, they saw it all come crashing down in a sex-and-money scandal in the 1980s. Messner died on Friday morning.

Tammy Faye Messner, previously Tammy Faye Bakker, and former husband Jim Bakker achieved wealth and fame as televangelists. Later, they saw it all come crashing down in a sex-and-money scandal in the 1980s. Messner died on Friday morning.

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Source: www.npr.org

Evangelicals Join Other Christian Groups in Push For Common Code of Conduct on Conversions
Evangelical groups have joined efforts spearheaded by Roman Catholic, Orthodox and mainstream Protestant churches to create a common code of conduct for religious conversions that would preserve the right of Christians to spread their religion while avoiding conflict among different faiths.
Source: pewforum.org

Tags: wiccan, Hindu, christianity, holy relics

Some scholars estimate that 4,000 Jews lived in Afghanistan a half-century ago. Today, 47-year-old Zabolon Simantov is believed to be the country’s only remaining Jewish resident.

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To understand the moral and legal conundrum of polygamy in Canada, consider that when the Canadian Bar Association discusses the matter at its annual meeting next week, it will be part of a larger discussion about the “implications of family diversity.” read more…

Recent articles have reported that young adults are turning to religion to the surprise — and sometimes chagrin — of their less-observant parents. Guests discuss God and the generation gap, and why parents aren’t always thrilled when their children become more observant.

Recent articles have reported that young adults are turning to religion to the surprise — and sometimes chagrin — of their less-observant parents. Guests discuss God and the generation gap, and why parents aren’t always thrilled when their children become more observant.

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Nashaa Jouie Salman lies on a small bed with her arm and waist bandaged – the result of a recent mortar explosion. Her two grim- faced daughters, in black abayas, hover around the bed; the faces of her late husband and son, victims of Saddam Hussein’s regime, stare from portraits above. read more…

This weekend, tens of thousands of Vietnamese American Catholics have converged on the small town of Carthage, Mo., at the campus of a religious order called the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix. The event that draws them is called the Marian Days, a time for devotion to the Virgin Mary, whom many credit with helping them escape from communist Vietnam.

This weekend, tens of thousands of Vietnamese American Catholics have converged on the small town of Carthage, Mo., at the campus of a religious order called the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix. The event that draws them is called the Marian Days, a time for devotion to the Virgin Mary, whom many credit with helping them escape from communist Vietnam.

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Tags: metaphysics, hebrew, holy relics, religious products

U.S. Muslims Condemn Taliban Kidnapping
Muslim advocacy groups in the United States are condemning the recent kidnapping of 23 South Koreans in Afghanistan and are demanding their release.
Source: pewforum.org

The Ultra-Orthodox Jews on a Mission to Save Jerusalem from Secularism
From anti-gay protests to airline boycotts, campaigns by anti-Zionist community are vocal and effective.
Source: pewforum.org

Romney: Faith Shouldn’t Count in Race
Applying religious tests to the presidential race would be like “what you see in countries in the Middle East,” and shouldn’t be a factor in 2008, Romney said Thursday.
Source: pewforum.org

Taliban Hostages Were Visiting With Christian Group
The 23 South Koreans captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan are still being threatened with execution, but the deadline has been delayed. The hostages are members of a church group that rented a bus in Kabul to travel on a dangerous road to Kandahar.

The 23 South Koreans captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan are still being threatened with execution, but the deadline has been delayed. The hostages are members of a church group that rented a bus in Kabul to travel on a dangerous road to Kandahar.

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Source: www.npr.org

Former Televangelist Dies of Cancer
Tammy Faye Messner, previously Tammy Faye Bakker, and former husband Jim Bakker achieved wealth and fame as televangelists. Later, they saw it all come crashing down in a sex-and-money scandal in the 1980s. Messner died on Friday morning.

Tammy Faye Messner, previously Tammy Faye Bakker, and former husband Jim Bakker achieved wealth and fame as televangelists. Later, they saw it all come crashing down in a sex-and-money scandal in the 1980s. Messner died on Friday morning.

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Source: www.npr.org

Textbook Watchdog Norma Gabler Dies
Norma Gabler, who, along with her husband Mel, exerted huge influence over the U.S. textbook industry as a watchdog for material they considered anti-family, has died.

Norma Gabler, who, along with her husband Mel, exerted huge influence over the U.S. textbook industry as a watchdog for material they considered anti-family, has died.

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Source: www.npr.org

Saudi Government Curbs Religious Police
In the conservative Wahhabi Islamic kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the government has imposed limits on the powers of the controversial religious police force. Two people died recently after being detained for alleged violations of Islamic law.

In the conservative Wahhabi Islamic kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the government has imposed limits on the powers of the controversial religious police force. Two people died recently after being detained for alleged violations of Islamic law.

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Source: www.npr.org

Tags: wiccan, christianity, Hindu, religious products

Tony Almeida, one of the plaintiffs in the recently settled lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, claims a priest in a Los Angeles parish began abusing him when he was an altar boy in 1974 at the age of 11.

Tony Almeida, one of the plaintiffs in the recently settled lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, claims a priest in a Los Angeles parish began abusing him when he was an altar boy in 1974 at the age of 11.

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Earlier this month, Pope Benedict approved two major documents that Vatican observers see as signals of a major theological shift in the Catholic Church. The Pope approved wider use of the old Latin mass and reasserted the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church above all other Christian religions.

Earlier this month, Pope Benedict approved two major documents that Vatican observers see as signals of a major theological shift in the Catholic Church. The Pope approved wider use of the old Latin mass and reasserted the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church above all other Christian religions.

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Texas students will have four more words to remember when they head back to class this month and begin reciting the state’s pledge of allegiance. read more…

Tammy Faye Messner, previously Tammy Faye Bakker, and former husband Jim Bakker achieved wealth and fame as televangelists. Later, they saw it all come crashing down in a sex-and-money scandal in the 1980s. Messner died on Friday morning.

Tammy Faye Messner, previously Tammy Faye Bakker, and former husband Jim Bakker achieved wealth and fame as televangelists. Later, they saw it all come crashing down in a sex-and-money scandal in the 1980s. Messner died on Friday morning.

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Rep. Keith Ellison made a weekend trip to Iraq, where a pair of sheiks urged Congress’ only Muslim lawmaker to help in countering al-Qaeda’s vision of Islam. read more…

Tags: Hindu, metaphysics, religious artifacts, wiccan

One of Mitt Romney’s biggest hurdles to winning the Republican presidential nomination is his faith. Many conservative Christians say they would not vote for a Mormon candidate.

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Source: www.npr.org

Church Copes with Black Flight from San Francisco
An African-American church in San Francisco celebrates its centennial, even as large numbers of blacks leave the city. The church’s “Wall of Black Heroes” offers an extraordinary history lesson.

An African-American church in San Francisco celebrates its centennial, even as large numbers of blacks leave the city. The church’s “Wall of Black Heroes” offers an extraordinary history lesson.

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Source: www.npr.org

South Dakota Sees First Execution in 60 Years
A 25-year-old man was executed by lethal injection Wednesday for the torture and slaying of a teenager who was forced to drink hydrochloric acid during a robbery of his home. It was the state’s first execution in 60 years.
Source: pewforum.org

In Poland, a Jewish Revival Thrives — Minus Jews
In Krakow, a new generation of non-Jewish Poles is rediscovering a culture that was nearly annihilated by the Holocaust.
Source: pewforum.org

How U.S. Voters React to Politicians’ Infidelity
Republicans are less likely than Democrats to support a candidate who was unfaithful, poll shows.
Source: pewforum.org

TIME Poll: Faith of the Candidates
According a new TIME poll, only 15% of registered voters believe that Hillary Clinton is “strongly religious,” compared to 22% for John Edwards and 24% for Barack Obama.
Source: pewforum.org

Surgeon General Sees 4-Year Term as Compromised
Former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona told a Congressional panel Tuesday that top Bush administration officials repeatedly tried to weaken or suppress important public health reports — including information about stem cells, emergency contraception and sex education — because of political considerations.
Source: pewforum.org

A Sacred Connection to the Sun
Joy Harjo’s Native American heritage taught her that the sun is a relative to be honored. The Muskogee Creek Nation poet believes that in doing so, we connect with nature and the sacredness of life.

Joy Harjo’s Native American heritage taught her that the sun is a relative to be honored. The Muskogee Creek Nation poet believes that in doing so, we connect with nature and the sacredness of life.

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Source: www.npr.org

Tags: Islam, christianity, Buddist, Hindu