---
title: "Religion Weekly Update, Nov. 4, 2026"
description: "Religion & Public Life A weekly digest of the Center’s latest research on religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world · Subscribe ↗ Media mentions The puzzling signs of religion among young adults Nov. 3 – Deseret News In the news Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeats Mike Rogers in Michigan to become first Muslim […]"
date: "2026-11-04"
authors:
  - name: "Rebecca Leppert"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/newsletter/religion-weekly/religion-weekly-update-nov-4-2026/"
---

# Religion Weekly Update, Nov. 4, 2026

---

November 4, 2026

## Religion & Public Life

*A weekly digest of the Center's latest research on religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world · [**Subscribe ↗**](https://pewresearch.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=434f5d1199912232d416897e4&id=3e953b9b70)*

---

[      ](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/10/26/7-facts-about-hindus-around-the-world/)

## [Celebrating Diwali](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/10/26/7-facts-about-hindus-around-the-world/)

This weekend, Hindus and others around the world will celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights. Diwali is one of the most popular religious holidays in India. In [a 2019-2020 Pew Research Center survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/10/26/7-facts-about-hindus-around-the-world/), more than nine-in-ten Indian Hindus (95%) said they celebrate the festival, as did large majorities of the country’s Jains (98%), Sikhs (90%) and Buddhists (79%).

Celebrating Diwali often involves performing ritual prayers, lighting oil lamps called *diyas*, and enjoying traditional sweets while spending time with loved ones.

In the United States, Hindus make up roughly 1% of the population, according to the according to [the 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study](https://www.pewresearch.org/religious-landscape-study/religious-tradition/hindu/).

#### Media mentions

[The puzzling signs of religion among young adults](https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/11/03/how-many-young-adults-attend-church/)
Nov. 3 - Deseret News

#### In the news

[Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeats Mike Rogers in Michigan to become first Muslim U.S. senator](https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/results/2026/11/03/michigan-senate-el-sayed-rogers-live-updates/)
Nov. 4 - The Washington Post *

[Voters deliver abortion rights victories in Missouri, Nevada and Virginia](https://religionnews.com/2026/11/04/voters-deliver-abortion-rights-victories-in-missouri-nevada-and-virginia/)
Nov. 4 - Religion News Service

[Idaho voters reject abortion rights initiative Prop 1](https://idahocapitalsun.com/2026/11/04/idaho-voters-reject-abortion-rights-initiative-prop-1/)
Nov. 4 - Idaho Capital Sun

[Libya’s top religious authority rules against Muslims wearing Nike clothes](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5djv0p0re2no)
Nov. 3 - BBC News *

[Supreme Court justices seem likely to side with Colorado Catholic schools seeking public money](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/11/03/us/politics/supreme-court-colorado-catholic-schools-discrimination.html)
Nov. 3 - The New York Times *

[Satanic Temple holiday event at Iowa Capitol can go ahead, judge orders](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/11/03/satanic-temple-holiday-event-iowa-capitol-can-go-ahead-judge-orders/)
Nov. 3 - The Washington Post *

[Sister June Carpenter, one of the few remaining Shakers, dies in Maine. She was 88](https://apnews.com/article/shakers-celibate-religious-community-maine-a2244e1780a23e7c889e611a7b59bfb9)
Nov. 3 - The Associated Press

[This Jewish ex-cop will represent an Islamist party in Israel’s newly elected parliament](https://apnews.com/article/israel-election-raam-segalovitz-abbas-d62c5c982880985c7c0f5c0a1f6543c3)
Oct. 31 - The Associated Press

[Pope Leo’s history-making U.S. ballot models ‘faithful citizenship’](https://www.osvnews.com/washington-letter-pope-leos-history-making-us-ballot-models-faithful-citizenship/)
Nov. 2 - OSV News

[In Afghanistan, musicians defy music ban to keep traditions alive](https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-music-ban-1aa6e4e91bc532cec1ba4351efdeb1ba)
Oct. 30 - The Associated Press