Religions

reportMar 6, 2014

U.S. Catholics View Pope Francis as a Change for the Better

One year into his pontificate, Pope Francis remains immensely popular among American Catholics and is widely seen as a force for positive change within the Roman Catholic Church. More than 80% of U.S. Catholics say they have a favorable view of the pontiff.
reportMar 6, 2014

Media Coverage of Pope Francis’ First Year

One year into Francis’ papacy, an analysis by the Pew Research Center finds that the former Jesuit archbishop – who was named Time’s Person of the Year – ranked among the top global newsmakers in major U.S.-based digital news outlets.
short readsFeb 27, 2014

Strong support for Israel in U.S. cuts across religious lines

The American Israel Public Affairs Council meets in Washington starting Sunday to lobby on issues affecting that country, and it can look to American Christians as a source of support for Israel.
short readsFeb 7, 2014

Sochi Olympics shine spotlight on Russia’s Muslim population

Security has been among the main storylines leading up to the Winter Olympics, set to begin in Sochi, Russia. Sochi is not far from the city of Volgograd, the target of several recent suicide bombings, and according to The Associated Press, up to 100,000 security personnel have been deployed to guard against potential terrorist acts. […]
short readsJan 14, 2014

Q&A with author of U. Mich. study on preferred dress for women in Muslim countries

University of Michigan researcher Mansoor Moaddel explains the methods behind the survey and how the findings differ (or don’t) by gender, religion, age and education.
short readsDec 25, 2013

Most Americans believe in Jesus’ virgin birth

Most U.S. adults believe Jesus was born of a virgin, including one-third of Americans with no specific religious affiliation.
featureDec 3, 2013

Infographic: Survey of Jewish Americans

Highlights from the Pew Research Survey on Jewish American attitudes on Jewish identity, marriage patterns, child rearing, attitudes towards Israel, and Jewish religious beliefs and practices.
short readsNov 26, 2013

Study: Muslim job candidates may face discrimination in Republican states

Job candidates who posted their Muslim identity on Facebook received fewer interview calls than those whose posts suggested they were Christian. The contrast was particularly notable in Republican-leaning states.
short readsNov 25, 2013

No clear ‘Pope Francis effect’ among U.S. Catholics

The pope’s popularity hasn’t yet produced a Catholic resurgence in the U.S. in terms of the share of Americans who identify as Catholic, or the share of those who report attending Mass weekly.
reportNov 21, 2013

Religious Groups’ Views on End-of-Life Issues

Religious leaders, scholars and ethicists from 16 major American religious groups explain how their faith traditions’ teachings address physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia and other end-of-life questions.