Today, meditation is practiced by 17% of U.S. adults, up 10% from 20 years ago. But is this popular practice actually helpful or is it just a corporatized interpretation of an ancient spiritual technique meant to distract us? And was it ever helpful to us, even before western civilization got its hands on it? Find out on this week’s podcast.
Read More(ANALYSIS) It was a striking exchange, not least because it touched on one of Christianity’s most fundamental teachings. Forgiveness is not an optional extra in the Christian faith, nor is it simply a virtue reserved for particularly compassionate people. It lies at the very heart of the relationship between humanity and God.
Read More(ANALYSIS) I admit it. I listen to sports talk radio. However, I do not have sports betting apps on my smartphone. Ditto for my desk computer.
Read More(ANALYSIS) What does the future of faith look like? That’s a question I get asked all the time by folks who are interested in what’s just over the horizon when it comes to American religion.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Pope Leo XIV travels to Latin America on Nov. 6, 2026, with a packed itinerary that will bring him through Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. It is Leo’s first trip to the region since his elevation to the papacy — and a homecoming for a pope who spent two decades in Peru and holds Peruvian citizenship.
Read More(ANALYSIS) I am not here to judge those taking mind-altering medication. Rather, my point is that biology and theology now overlap in ways that make spiritual disconnection especially difficult to identify and understand. A parishioner who feels nothing while kneeling at the altar rail might be undergoing an enormous test of faith.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Most surveys are not particularly good at digging into the reasons why people aren’t reproducing anymore. However, we have a great new addition to the discourse about fertility because Pew has posted their American Trends Panel 147 on the Association of Religion Data Archives. The first line of the summary tells the whole story.
Read More(ANALYSIS) As both parties begin positioning themselves for the 2028 presidential election, faith could become one of the defining factors in determining which candidates connect with voters. The lesson from the midterms is that religious voters should no longer be viewed as a single political constituency.
Read More(ANALYSIS) No doubt about it, artificial intelligence agents are great at providing answers to basic questions that shape ordinary life.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Americans increasingly turn to religion for guidance on what to eat amid rising food costs, nutrition concerns and conflicting advice. Drawing on research into four religious alternative food movements, one researcher explores how faith shapes eating habits and inspires efforts to transform the American food system.
Read More(ANALYSIS) A new conservative Presbyterian denomination has broken from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church over whether men experiencing same-sex attraction may be ordained, even if celibate. The dispute coincides with renewed Catholic debate over clergy suitability, following a Notre Dame report supporting restrictions on candidates with deep-seated homosexual tendencies.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The Muslim population of England and Wales is roughly 6.5 percent. Inside the prison system, that number shoots up to 18 percent. A huge slice of the prison demographic shifts toward Mecca the second the iron gates slam shut. The disparity is striking. What explains it?
Read More(ANALYSIS) Entrepreneur Peter Thiel casts America as a modern Rome, a restraining power standing between authoritarian control and civilizational collapse. But his vision raises a deeper theological danger: The force claiming to restrain evil may become evil itself. How can faith discern the difference before it’s too late?
Read MoreIt’s a big news story — at the denominational and local levels — when one of America’s biggest, richest, most powerful and most strategic United Methodist congregations votes to remove the word “United” from its name. Imagine this: What if a dozen members of the Highland Park flock, next to Southern Methodist University, released a manifesto explaining why 90% of the voters in the Dallas pews backed that decision?
Read MoreReligion will play a role in Tuesday’s midterm election, from mobilizing participation to seeking precinct integrity to influencing voter decisions. Here are five faith-related questions to watch.
Read More(ANALYSIS) A 2025 Vantage Point Counseling Services study found that 28% of adults say they have had an intimate AI interaction or relationship. The same study said 54% of Americans mentioned AI friends, colleagues or confidants.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Lula’s victory this past Sunday is just one more example of how race intersects all facets of Brazilian society, including religion. Experts said these durable divisions will mark Brazil’s political and religious landscape for the foreseeable future.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Israel’s election on Tuesday could mark a turning point for a country battered by war, political turmoil and growing international isolation. If the opposition manages to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the consequences could extend far beyond a change of leadership.
Read MoreThis week, Religion Unplugged’s culture writers Joseph Holmes and Jillian Cheney sat down before Halloween to explore how Gen Z thinking is changing the horror genre.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Movie studios have struggled through the pandemic and the streaming era, both of which have tanked box office receipts, leaving the field open for movies from offbeat production studios. In addition to The Daily Wire, there has been a whole ream of Christian movies attempting to shift the stereotype of bible movies to something more prestigious — or at least profitable.
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