In Focus: Mormonism in Modern America
Thanks in part to a Republican presidential hopeful, a TV documentary and Hollywood movies, the Mormon church is in the spotlight. Two senior authorities discuss the church’s role in American society and political life.
Presidential Politics and Mormon Faith
Surveys show strong public misgivings about the religion and some 30% of the public say they are less likely to support a Mormon presidential candidate.
Global Schism: Is the Anglican Divide the First Stage in a Wider Christian Split?
At the Pew Forum’s biannual Faith Angle Conference in Key West, Prof. Philip Jenkins argued that the current fracture in the Episcopal church over attitudes toward homosexuality may be the first battle in a much larger war and that churches worldwide may face a North-South schism.
God at Graduation
Spring is the season for school graduations, and graduation ceremonies play a featured role in the national debate over the place of religion in public education. Is a clergyman’s benediction at a public school event a violation of the separation of church and state? Can students lead a prayer at their school commencement?
Closeness to Troops Boosts Support for War — but Not By Much
Those with close contacts to servicemembers in Iraq or Afghanistan tend to be more supportive of the Iraq war but their differences with those who are not closely connected are relatively modest.
Are Americans Ready to Elect a Female President?
When evaluating Sen. Hillary Clinton’s 2008 prospects, one question remains inescapable: Are American voters ready to pick a female president? A review of exit polls in statewide elections suggests that, at least for Democratic candidates, being a woman is not an obstacle.
Public Chows Down on Pet Food Recall
The recall of more than 100 brands of pet food due to possible contamination was the second most closely followed news story last week. Only events in Iraq attracted more public interest.
Religion in the Public Schools
Nearly a half-century after the Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling striking down school-sponsored prayer, Americans continue to fight over the place of religion in public schools. Indeed, the classroom has become one of the most important battlegrounds in the broader conflict over religion’s role in public life.
Religion and International Diplomacy: A Ten-Year Progress Report
Experts discuss the successes and shortcomings of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. Are U.S. national interests advanced by the act, and should they be?
A Typology of Information and Communication Technology Users
The advent of Web 2.0 invites users to participate in the commons of cyberspace. Yet little is known about which segments of the population are inclined to make robust use of the new technologies and which aren’t. Using data from a new survey, the Pew Internet & American Life project has developed a typology of people’s relationship to information and communications technology.
