The Religious Makeup of Congress
Although a majority of the members of the new, 111th Congress are Protestants, Congress — like the nation as a whole — is much more religiously diverse than it was 50 years ago.
Many Americans Say Other Faiths Can Lead to Eternal Life
Most American Christians, including evangelicals, have more than just other Christian denominations in mind when they say there are many paths to salvation. Also, roughly one-third of Americans believe that whether one achieves eternal life is determined by what a person believes, with nearly as many saying eternal life depends on one’s actions.
After Bush, Islam’s Real Challenge
Scholar Vali Nasr argues that the 2003 invasion of Iraq has fundamentally shifted the region’s balance of power and that the most important conflicts of the Middle East now revolve around the Shia/Sunni sectarian divide.
How the Media Covered Religion
Religion played a much more significant role in press treatment of Obama than of McCain during the 2008 campaign, but much of the coverage related to false yet persistent rumors that Obama is a Muslim.
Gay Marriage at the Ballot Box
Prior to Massachusetts becoming the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2003, only three states had passed constitutional amendments prohibiting the practice. With amendments in California, Arizona and Florida passing this November, the number of states now stands at 29. A graphic charts the recent history of voter-approved state bans on gay marriage.
Voting Religiously
President-elect Barack Obama made a concerted effort to reach out to people of faith during the 2008 presidential campaign, and early exit polls show that this outreach may have paid off on Election Day.
In Brief: Pleasant Grove City v. Summum
May a locality that allows one religious group to erect a monument in a city park deny that privilege to another religious sect? On Nov. 12, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case of Pleasant Grove City v. Summum.
Will Obama Win the White Catholic Vote?
White Catholics have traditionally been swing voters but their recent apparent shift from support for McCain to Obama was both sharp and swift. What explains it?
The Free Exercise Clause and the Legislative and Executive Branches
Courts have long grappled with questions of religious freedom, but other government bodies also help ensure protection of this cherished liberty.
Brutalism v. Church: A Congregation Sues D.C. Over Historic Landmarking
To the city of Washington DC, it’s a classic example of Brutalist architecture; to church members, it’s a costly concrete block that obstructs their ability to practice their Christian Science faith.
