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The article discusses the role of Hindu cleric Rajan Zed in offering prayers to open legislative sessions for U.S. federal and state legislatures. Topics include efforts to correct portrayals of Hindus and Hinduism in the U.S., the views of the organization Hindu American Foundation (HAF), and claims that Hinduism is pluralistic in nature and not adequately represented only by Zed and his organization Universal Society of Hinduism.

The article discusses the central position of the Patriarch Abraham within the religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, asking whether or not the figure could serve as a unifying position between the three conflicting faiths. Topics addressed include the history of religious diversity in the United States, the various implications of the term Abrahamic religions, and assertions for and against the proposition.

The article presents an examination into the worldview of people who are "spiritual but not religious" (SBNR) in 21st-century U.S. society. Introductory comments are given describing the growth and size of this religious demographic in the nation. Comments are then given describing common experiences, philosophies and desires held by SBNR people. Suggestions are then offered for Christian churches seeking to reach out to the SBNR population.

The article presents an interview with the U.S. Muslim interfaith activist Eboo Patel regarding his leadership in the Interfaith Youth Core program (IFYC). Subjects discussed include the circumstances and inspirations which led to the founding of his interfaith youth movement, the nature of young adult religious life, and the primary themes and goals of the IFYC.

The article presents discussion of the New Calvinist movement within U.S. Protestantism in the beginning of the 21st century. Details are given introducing the popular resurgence of Calvinistic Reform theology in many church cultures. The movement's focus on the five central points of Reform soteriology, particularly predestination and God's sovereignty, is highlighted. Criticism is then given noting that the broader Reform tradition holds more nuance than the popular movement suggests.

The article presents discussion of trends in Christian church practices in the United States between 2006-2007. Details are given outlining the methodology of the study and four prominent results are highlighted, including the increasing use of technology in services, the increased practice of informal worship, the prevalence of older clergy, and increased ethnic diversity in congregations.

The article focuses on the cultural and political dynamics of minority religious groups in the United States. Details are given highlighting the discrimination shared by Jews, Muslims, Hindus and other religious minorities in American society and questions are raised regarding the conflicts between their respective advocacy groups. The conflicts between the organizations are criticized and suggestions are offered for more cooperative action to fight religious discrimination against all groups.

The article discusses Christian Democrats. The article profiles John Arthur Eaves, a Democrat running for the position of governor of Mississippi. Eaves is being advised by the two-person consulting firm Common Good Strategies (CGS), consisting of Mara Vanderslice and Eric Sapp. The firm encourages politicians to discuss their religious faith. Vanderslice served as director of religious outreach for John Kerry's 2004 U.S. presidential campaign.

Analyzes the social implications of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001. Political issues associated with the terrorist attack; Religious aspects of terrorism; Response of the public to the terrorist attack; Economic impact of the attack.

Presents news briefs on religion in the United States as of July 1999. Postponement of the dismissal of four congregations of the American Baptist Churches that welcome gays and lesbians while adjudication is in progress; Approval by the United States House on a religious liberty bill; Decision of the Full Gospel AME Zion Church in Temple Hills, Maryland to break from AME Zion organization; Decline on the confidence in marriage.

The article presents discussion of the popular and spiritual conditions of mainline Protestantism in the United States at the beginning of the 21st century, utilizing the paradigm of the dark night of the soul, originally used by the Christian mystic St. John of the Cross. The author suggests that the popular and political decline of mainline Protestantism is not a sign of failure, but an experience given by God for Christians to re-discover their relationship with Him.

Deals with the Congregations Project, a study on racially-mixed churches in the United States. Racial profile of Rodney Woo, pastor of the Wilcrest Baptist Church in Houston, Texas; Funding; Purpose.

The article discusses research on social stigma affecting religiously unaffiliated people in Canada and in the U.S., noting the book "None of the Above: Having No Religion in Canada and the U.S.," by Joel Thiessen and Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme.

The article discusses a report by the polling organization Gallup finding that half of U.S. residents are church members, noting a decline in religious membership and differing rates by religious denomination.

The article discusses results of General Social Survey (GSS) data showing that the percentage of people claiming no religious affiliation has risen in the U.S., while Roman Catholic and evangelical percentages have fallen.

The article discusses the views of sociologists on whether religious intensity in the U.S. is declining, noting articles in the November 2018 issue of the journal "Sociological Science" by David Voas and Mark Chaves and by Sean Bock and Landon Schnabel. The notion of exception in relation to the process of secularization in other developed nations is addressed.

The article discusses the study "The Socio-economic Contribution of Religion to American Society: An Empirical Analysis" by scholar Brian Grim that measured the contribution of religion to the U.S. economy. Topics include Grim's views on the importance of charitable work by religious organizations, the role of religion in motivating charity, and the views of scholar William A. Galston on the study.

The article discusses research on U.S. megachurches. Topics include the impact of dual-income households and increased workforce participation by women on the growth of megachurches, the income levels of megachurch attendees, and the relation of megachurches to loosening social bonds. The thought of sociologist Georg Simmel is addressed. The political influence of some megachurches is noted.

The article discusses the January 2016 Faith Communities Today report "American Congregations 2015: Thriving and Surviving" by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, which discusses the status of small churches in the U.S. Topics include the importance of openness to organizational change in small churches, the success of Old Bergen Church in Jersey City, New Jersey, and the views of parishioners of First Church in Sterling, Massachusetts and its pastor, Robin Bartlett.

The article discusses the results of the 2014 U.S. religious landscape study by the organization Pew Research Center. Topics include the growth in nonreligious affiliation among U.S. adults, the constant levels of religious observance and church attendance, and the lack of association between spirituality and religious affiliation. The article describes changes in attitudes toward gay and lesbian people and LGBT rights by religious people, as well as views on abortion.

The article discusses spiritual communities and spiritual leadership in the context of religiously unaffiliated people in the U.S. Topics include the work of writers Casper ter Kuile and Angela Thurston on communities among young adults, recommendations related to social conditions in the U.S., and the notion of care of souls as a possible career path.

The article reports the results of the fall 2014 survey "American Perceptions of Denominations" by the organization LifeWay Research, which measured U.S. public opinion on Christian denominations. Topics include opinions regarding the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the views of those who are not religiously affiliated about churches, and marriages between people of different denominations.

The article discusses the May 12, 2015 report "America's Changing Religious Landscape" by the organization Pew Research Center, which reported on U.S. religious demographics. Topics include the growth in the percentage of people with no religious affiliation, the relation of religion to political stances taken by churches, and declines in the percentage of adults identifying as Evangelical or Roman Catholic.

A chart is presented that shows the median ages of U.S. religious groups including Unitarian-Universalists, Hispanic Protestants, and Muslims.

The article reports on the apology expressed by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary head Paige Patterson in the U.S. in June 2014 for accepting a Muslim student into his educational program. Topics discussed include the volunteer work done by such Muslim student in Israel, an Islamic chaplaincy program offered in Connecticut, and the courses offered by Southern Baptist seminaries in prisons. Also mentioned is the issue of accepting transgender people.

An interview with sociologist Vern Bengtson is presented. He addresses the transmission of religious beliefs from parents to children in relation to family cohesion. He discusses religious socialization among children in U.S. Mormon, Jewish, and Evangelical groups. Bengtson notes religious differences and similarities between generations.

The article discusses research showing that evangelical Protestant denominations in the U.S. have been losing members from 2005 to 2013, citing the 2010 U.S. Religious Census of denominational statistics and the periodical "Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches." It is said that U.S. confidence in organized religion has dramatically declined during the 21st century. The report "A Decade of Change in American Congregations 2000-2010" by the group Faith Communities Today is noted.

The article presents news briefs regarding religion and public life, focusing primarily on Christianity and politics in the United States as of April 3, 2013. The life and work of the U.S. political activist S. Brian Willson is mentioned. A quote by New Testament scholar N. T. Wright about hypocrisy in Christian churches is given. A satirical cartoon regarding U.S. firearms sales is also included.

The article presents news briefs regarding religion and society as of March 20, 2013. The practices of an atheist church in Islington, England are described. A satirical cartoon about God answering prayer is included. Results from a study by the Public Religion Research Institute are also cited, noting that Americans mostly don't consider religious differences as an obstacle to marriage.

The article presents news briefs regarding religion, politics and public life as of April 4, 2012, primarily regarding Christianity in the United States. Accounts of religious profiling by police forces in New York City are discussed. A political cartoon regarding the U.S. Afghan War is given. A survey regarding the financial stewardship advice given in the Bible is also mentioned.

The article presents discussion regarding trends in denominational schism in U.S. Protestant Christianity in the 21st century. Details are given highlighting specific cases of such divisions within the Presbyterian Church and the Anglican Church. Accounts are provided outlining the controversial issues which have split the groups, mainly in regard to gender and sexuality issues. Commentary is then offered relating to the broader sociological trends seen in the movements.

The article presents news briefs regarding religion, politics and public life, focusing mostly on Christianity in the United States as of February 8, 2012. The public religiosity of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow is mentioned. The views of Mormons toward U.S. presidential primary candidate Mitt Romney are discussed. A political cartoon regarding large political action committees (superPACs) is also included.

The article presents news briefs regarding religion, politics, and public life primarily in the Untied States as of January 25, 2012. A statistic regarding urban and sub-urban poverty in the Chicago, Illinois area is given. A political cartoon is given discussing the Christian diaspora caused by the U.S. led Iraq War. A chart mapping the Christian population between 1910 and 2010 is also given.

The article presents news briefs regarding religion, politics and public life, primarily in the United States, as of November 2011. A quote from U.S. Founding Father Benjamin Franklin is given regarding anti-immigration sentiment. A survey is cited describing the extent to which people think religion should influence politics between 1991 and 2008. A letter sent to U.S. President George W. Bush by Catholic Cardinal Pio Laghi against the Iraq War is also mentioned.

The article presents news briefs regarding religion, politics and public life, primarily in the United States, as of July 12, 2011. The feet washing ministry of Trinity Episcopal Church in New Haven, Connecticut is discussed. A diagram mapping religious views of abortion is included. The opening of a theme park based on the Genesis account of Noah's Ark in Kentucky is also mentioned.

The article presents news briefs regarding religion, politics and public life in the United States as of June 2011. A graph is presented mapping domestic revenue from "sin taxes" in various states. A quote is given from U.S. Representative Walter B. Jones, calling for the recall of troops from the Afghan War. A survey of college students is also cited, suggesting 70 percent of freshmen do not see a conflict between religion and science.

A series of news briefs are presented regarding religion, politics and public life as of April 19, 2011. A research study by scholar Elaine Howard Ecklund is mentioned, surveying opinions regarding the role of religion in U.S. universities. Theological controversy surrounding the eschatology of pastor Rob Bell is discussed. A chart surveying opinions of the role of government intervention in childhood obesity is also given.

The article discusses the place of the Mormon Church within mainstream religious life and culture in the United States in the 21st century. Details are given highlighting several instances where Mormons have become more prominent in popular culture in recent years, citing television shows and collegiate sports events which have featured the religious sect. Questions are then raised regarding the religious community's response to such changes.

The article presents reflections on Islamophobia in the United States, Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East, and the dynamics between the religious-cultural divide. Anecdotes from the author's own experiences in speaking with both progressive and more conservative Muslims are shared, highlighting the diversity of Islamic thought worldwide and suggesting that the conflict is more cultural than religious in nature.

The article presents discussion and analysis regarding declining trends in church attendance within several mainstream Protestant denominations between 2001 and 2008. Statistics are offered citing fewer members and regular attendees within the Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Church, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Comments are given describing characteristics of typical 21st century churchgoers as well.

The article presents an interview with the president of the United Church of Christ (UCC) American Congregationalist denomination Geoffrey Black. Black describes his first year as the leader of the mainline denomination and his plans for the future. Subjects addressed include his models for running ministries, his views on declining membership trends in the U.S., and the denominations' stances on controversial issues of race and sexuality.

The article presents news briefs regarding religion, politics and public life in the U.S. as of June 15, 2010. Details are given describing the website ChurchRater.com, which anonymously evaluates church services throughout the U.S. A political cartoon mocking libertarianism is presented. A car accident involving a person from Northampton, Massachusetts legally named Lord Jesus Christ is also mentioned.

Several letters to the editor are presented that respond to the article "In the Realm of the Nones" by Teri McDowell Ott in the January 6, 2016 issue and the editorial "Trump Call" in the same issue.

The article presents news briefs regarding issues of religion and public life as of December 2009. Statistics concerning conversion from Roman Catholicism to mainline Protestantism are cited, highlighting the central issue of members wanting more open-minded doctrinal teaching. The use of minimally invasive autopsies by U.S. cities to accommodate religious objections by Orthodox Jews is mentioned. The use of religious-themed banners by sports fans in For Oglethorpe, Georgia is also discussed.

The article presents a profile of the religious conditions of the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. in the 21st century. Details are given calling the region the "none zone" where common views of spirituality are not associated with denominational religious affiliation. The region's non-traditional and individualistic religious character is described as an example of a growing trend of 21st century religious thought.

The article presents news briefs related to the interests of mainline Christianity in the U.S. African-American pastor Leah Daughtry was appointed the chief of staff to Howard Dean, chair of the Democratic National Committee. Professor Randy Pausch discussed his lifelong ambition to work for Disneyland. The American Petroleum Institute released statistics relating to the amount of untapped oil in the U.S.

Presents news related to Christianity as of November 2004. Solicitation of signatures by two United Methodists for a petition to subject U.S. President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney to be subjected to church discipline; Statement released and signed by faculty members at the University of Chicago Divinity School condemning the Bush administration's Iraq policies and criticizing his use of religious rhetoric to defend the war; Response of J. Nelson Kraybill, president of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, to the debate over the under God phrase in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Deals with the changes in the communion rites of Catholic churches across the U.S. in 2003. Reason for such changes; Description of the changes; Remarks from several church leaders.