CANTERBURY, England (RNS) New figures from the 2011 National Census show that the number of people who identify as Christians in England and Wales has fallen by 4 million over the last 10 years, from 37.3 million to 33 million last year. By Trevor Grundy.

LONDON (RNS) As Britain waits for Queen Elizabeth II to appoint a new archbishop of Canterbury, there's renewed attention on her title of "Defender of the Faith." By Trevor Grundy.

(RNS) Attempts to favor one faith -- historically Protestant Christianity -- over others in the public square are doomed to fail in the new religious America of the 21st century. But that won't stop many in the majority from trying. By Charles C. Haynes.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (RNS) In 2009, when he was an associate pastor at Abundant Life Christian Center, Henry Clarke finally faced the puzzle that was his life. He took a test he found online. While the results were a revelation, it was still a devastating diagnosis. By Kathleen Polinquin.

(RNS/ENInews) Leading church historian Diarmaid MacCulloch believes Christianity faces a "bright future" worldwide, but predicts the Roman Catholic church will undergo a major schism over its moral and social teaching. By Jonathan Luxmoore.

WASHINGTON (RNS) A character on a National Geographic Channel documentary series about a rural Hutterite colony defended his community and the production company after Hutterite bishops criticized the show and its producer. By Chris Lisee.
 

(RNS) Members of a Hutterite colony in Montana that's the focus of a new National Geographic reality show say the series is a ``distorted and exploitative'' depiction of their life that is not what the producers promised. By Chris Lisee.

(RNS) New York Times columnist Ross Douthat doesn't mince words in his new book "Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics."  In an interview with Religion News Service, Douthat explains his definition of heresy, why he thinks Mitt Romney and President Obama are both heretics, and why more Americans should argue about religion. By Daniel Burke.

(RNS) Americans believe Christianity is a force for good on poverty and even women's rights, but has a negative impact on sexuality and America's image abroad, according to a new poll. By Annalisa Musarra. 250 words.

LONDON (RNS) New research indicates that Christianity is rapidly losing followers in Great Britain at such a pace that unbelievers will become a majority in 20 years. By Al Webb.

WASHINGTON (RNS) "I regret any comments I have ever made which may have cast any doubt on the personal faith of our president, Mr. Obama," evangelist Franklin Graham said.  "I apologize to him and to any I have offended for not better articulating my reason for not supporting him in this election."  By Adelle M. Banks.

DES PERES, Mo. (RNS) In a time when disdain for other faiths is commonplace, even blessed in some religious circles, how does a Bible study instructor contrast the teachings and doctrines of another tradition and his own without seeming intolerant? Tim Townsend reports.

(RNS) "It is Christianity to be gentle, merciful, and forgiving, and to keep those qualities quiet in our own hearts, and never make a boast of them, or of our prayers or of our love of God, but always to show that we love Him by humbly trying to do right in everything." -- Charles Dickens, The Life of Our Lord

"It's part of the American character to go out and help people," said Clifford Putney, assistant professor of American religious history at Bentley University. "We go (out) saying we have all these great ideas and (people abroad) would be better off following them."