Religion & Government (Page 7)

short readsOct 5, 2015

California legalizes assisted suicide amid growing support for such laws

Two-thirds of Americans say doctors should be allowed by law to assist patients who are terminally ill and living in severe pain to commit suicide.
short readsAug 5, 2015

5 questions about the contraception mandate

The Obama administration has issued its final regulations governing how the Affordable Care Act’s mandate to provide contraception coverage applies to religiously affiliated nonprofits and businesses. But the announcement has done little to quell the objections of some religious groups. As the debate over the mandate continues, here are five questions and answers about the controversy.
short readsJul 13, 2015

Some major U.S. religious groups differ from their members on the death penalty

Many large religious groups have taken positions in opposition to the death penalty even though that stance is sometimes at odds with the opinions of their adherents.
reportJul 1, 2015

Chapter 4: Evolution and Perceptions of Scientific Consensus

This chapter looks at public views about human evolution and perceptions of scientific consensus about evolution and the creation of the universe. Consistent with past Pew Research surveys and other public surveys, religious groups play a central role in beliefs about these topics. Numerous other factors also influence public views about evolution, however, including politics, […]
short readsJun 26, 2015

How the Supreme Court’s decision for gay marriage could affect religious institutions

Some legal scholars and others are trying to determine how a ruling granting same-sex couples a constitutional right to wed might affect religious institutions.
short readsMar 30, 2015

Americans split over whether businesses must serve same-sex couples

A new Indiana religious freedom law has sparked national debate. Some say it strengthens protection of religious liberty, while others say it could provide legal cover for businesses to discriminate. The U.S. public is divided over these types of issues.
short readsFeb 26, 2015

Q&A: How Pew Research measures global restrictions on religion

We sat down with researcher Peter Henne to learn more about the complex process of measuring global religious restrictions.
reportFeb 26, 2015

Latest Trends in Religious Restrictions and Hostilities

Social hostilities toward religion declined in 2013, while government restrictions on religious beliefs and practices remained level. Harassment of Jews, however, reached a seven-year high.
short readsJan 5, 2015

Religious affiliations of members of Congress mirror regional trends

A regional comparison of members of Congress with the general public shows that, when it comes to religious affiliation, voters frequently choose representatives who share their faith.
reportJan 5, 2015

History of Clergy in Congress

Seven ordained ministers hold seats in the new Congress – one more than the number in the very first U.S. Congress (1789-1791).[1. Figures for the number of clergy serving in the first Congress come from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.] But because Congress was a much smaller body in the late 18th century than […]