Ahead of the Trend
Scholar: America is still reacting to the religious right, in more ways than one
By Jack Jenkins — January 13, 2022
(RNS) — The shadow of the religious right is long, and may be hindering the ability of modern-day Christian conservatives to stifle radicalism.
Violence isn’t the only way Christian nationalism endangers democracy
By Samuel L. Perry — January 5, 2022
(RNS) — The threat of voter suppression is perhaps more destructive because its influence is more subtle and its effects more consequential.
Does religion make people more likely to welcome refugees? It’s complicated.
By Carol Kuruvilla — December 6, 2021
(RNS) — A new study investigates how religion shapes Europeans’ attitudes toward migrants.
‘Sinning in the Rain’: New study finds crimes go up when it rains on Sundays
By Bob Smietana — December 2, 2021
(RNS) — A new study shows rain can interrupt church-going and may lead to more of certain kinds of crime.
Why the minichurch is the latest trend in American religion
By Bob Smietana — November 16, 2021
(RNS) — While megachurches often make headlines, most of the congregations in the United States are relatively small.
Some churches got mega PPP loans. A few got tiny ones.
By Bob Smietana — November 8, 2021
(RNS) — While some congregations got multi-million-dollar PPP loans, some got tiny loans by accident. Two churches got loans for $666.
How religious is your average 22-year-old? A new golden age of survey data opens a door
By Ryan Burge — November 5, 2021
(RNS) — A decade ago, we couldn’t answer many questions on American faith habits with accuracy.
Is God good for America? Depends whom you ask.
By Ryan Burge — October 14, 2021
(RNS) — Most Americans see religion as good for society. Those on the extremes disagree.
Study: Religion soothed evangelicals at start of COVID. Politics put them at risk.
By Bob Smietana — September 17, 2021
(RNS) — From the start, religion has divided how Americans respond to COVID.
Abortion just isn’t the motivating issue for evangelicals it once was
By Ryan Burge — August 9, 2021
(RNS) — Studies show white evangelicals, by and large, do not have a hard-line approach to abortion — other issues like immigration and race are taking priority over advocating for the unborn.
Curmudgeons or not, atheists like those of other faiths more than Christians do, study finds
By Bob Smietana — July 2, 2021
(RNS) — A new study found that, while Christians look down on atheists, atheists have positive views of religious folks.
‘Denomination matters’ in Black-focused faith-based health programs, scholars say
By Adelle M. Banks — June 28, 2021
(RNS) — ‘Faith-based health initiatives need to appropriately integrate the faith practices and norms of Black church members with denomination in mind,’ Duke scholars say.
Who are the Southern Baptists and why is their 2021 annual meeting so divided?
By Ryan Burge — June 15, 2021
(RNS) — Skirmishes over race and gender pit conservatives against ultraconservatives.
Pagan politics are not as uniform (or liberal) as you think
By Heather Greene — May 26, 2021
(RNS) — One of the few formal surveys of this understudied religious population found pagans' political leanings to be hard to pin down.
Republicans and Democrats switch sides on religion vs. science
By Carol Kuruvilla — May 25, 2021
(RNS) — Mistrust of the scientific community is affecting the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. But research suggests the religion and science debate wasn’t always this divisive.