Topic: Religion

The War on Christmas Is Losing in Texas: Teachers Can Now Say 'Merry Christmas'

AP

Worried that government can't be proactive? Good news out of Texas. The state's legislature has sent Governor Perry its "Merry Christmas" bill, authorizing schools to refer to the holiday in non-generic terms. Perry is expected to sign it.

By Philip Bump

Mar 29, 2013

What the Data Says About How America Celebrates Easter

This Sunday is Easter. If you live in Mississippi, you're probably going to church. If you're Mormon, you're most likely to know what the holiday represents. If you're evangelical, you're most likely to think you'll live to see the next resurrection.

Comments | 1,054 Views

By Robert Kessler

Mar 26, 2013

Fears of Creeping Sharia at the Tennessee Capitol Go Down the Drain

Tennessee lawmakers were relived to learn on Monday that a new sink in the state capitol, pictured above, is for the custodial staff to wash their mops and not, in fact, a special bath for Muslims to wash their feet before prayer.

Comments | 871 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Feb 21, 2013

Tim Tebow Betrays the Christian Right

He gained a few unexpected fans in the gay community today, but the notoriously God-fearing quarterback scared off the very supporters who saw him as a Christian celebrity — they're calling his about-face on an anti-gay marriage pastor "disastrous."

Comments | 14,016 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Dec 7, 2012

Trimming the Times

A Cult and a Murder, the Fire that Still Burns, and Bountygate

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Comments | 1,924 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Oct 21, 2012

First Native American Saint Opens New Chapter of Catholic History

On Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI canonized Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American Saint, and six others in front of some 80,000 people at Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City.

Comments | 1,449 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Sep 28, 2012

Vatican Says Papyrus Mentioning Jesus' Wife is 'Fake'

The Vatican is speaking out on the discovery of a fragment of papyrus containing a reference to Jesus' "wife" in Coptic. Its blunt verdict? Don't get so excited everyone, it's not real.

Comments | 923 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Sep 19, 2012

Jesus' Wife Papyrus Might Be Just Some 'Crazy Thing'

Dan Brown's theories aren't the only ones coming under fire in the wake of a discovery of an early Christian text in which Jesus uses the words  "my wife" — now the woman who made that finding is getting some raised eyebrows.

Comments | 627 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Aug 24, 2012

Rick Warren Cancels 'Presidential Forum' That No One Was Attending

If you ask megachurch pastor Rick Warren, the reason he's canceling his "civil forum" it's because of all of this nasty political rancor, which is a nice way of glossing over the fact that it's really hard to have a presidential forum when neither Barack Obama nor Mitt Romney were going to show up.

Comments | 748 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Jul 26, 2012

Poll Watch

Business Owners Are Not Fans of Obama

Business owners are not keen on the job Obama is doing,  and "bubble state" Missouri goes for Romney. Here's our guide to today's polls and why they matter.

Comments | 1,632 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Jul 23, 2012

Trimming the Times

Spying at the Olympics, The Virgin Mary in Jersey, and 'Uncle Vanya'

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Comments | 750 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Jul 19, 2012

Judge Settles Tennessee Mosque Fight, Orders It Opened

In a fight that was never really about and means more than paperwork, permits, and inspections, a federal judge has ruled that Muslims in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, should be allowed to worship there to celebrate Ramadan tonight. 

Comments | 1,012 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Jul 12, 2012

German Circumcision Ban Unites Muslims and Jews

A regional German court's ban on circumcision has been met with agreement by Jewish and Muslim organizations united in denouncing it.

Comments | 483 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jul 10, 2012

Episcopal Church to Offer a New Blessing for Gay Marriage

The Episcopal Church has approved a new liturgy that allows priests and bishops to provide official blessings for same-sex marriages.

Comments | 3,038 Views

By Adam Martin

Jul 6, 2012

Divorce, Scientology Style

The New York Times brings up an issue underreported so far in the drama surrounding Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' divorce: It is really hard to get un-hitched in Scientology.

Comments | 7,086 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

May 21, 2012

Notre Dame Sues Over Obama's Contraception Rules

Notre Dame isn't the first religious university to sue the Obama administration over the U.S. requirement that employer insurance cover birth control, but Notre Dame is the most prominent, so the lawsuit it filed on Monday is the one that's going to get all the attention.

Comments | 1,086 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

May 11, 2012

When Monks Get Punked

If a group of Korean Jogye monks wanted to party, gamble some, throw back some drinks, and smoke some cigarettes with us, we'd probably be down and wouldn't secretly videotape the whole thing. Then again, we aren't members of Korea's buddhist community or a rival, disgruntled monk. 

 

Comments | 1,035 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

May 9, 2012

Archaeologists Claim They're One Step Closer to Proving the Bible True

A bundle of new discoveries on a rocky hill in Israel may upend the community of Biblical historians struggling to understand Judah in the time of King David.

Comments | 6,897 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

May 1, 2012

Today in Research

Baby Drug Addicts; Religion Does Not Breed Compassion

Discovered: Baby drug addicts, atheists can love their neighbors, too, these brand new lizard species are already dying, and humans are evolving. 

Comments | 3,028 Views

By Ray Gustini

Apr 9, 2012

What the Tweet?

Big Hats, Eye Candy, and Doomsday Dates

After a day of staring at Twitter, we're sharing our favorite tweets that made no sense

Comments | 446 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 21, 2012

New York City Sports, Now with Even More Jesus

New York City's professional sports won't be lacking in the bible-thumping department. The Twitterverse is already taking notice of the "holy" pairing of last month's sensation, New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin, with this afternoon's sensation, New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow.

Comments | 841 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Mar 12, 2012

Creationists May Find Working with Scientists Difficult

If you're particularly passionate about your religious beliefs, it may be a good idea to keep them to yourself when you're at work -- especially if you're a creationist who works with a bunch of scientists.

Comments | 1,552 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Feb 29, 2012

Cartoon

One Point Santorum and the Taliban Can Agree On

Cartoonist Nick Anderson points out a similarity between the two. 

Comments | 2,585 Views

By Seth Abramovitch

Feb 18, 2012

Who's Leaking the Vatican's Secrets?

As 22 archbishops are elevated to the elite rank of cardinal, someone is leaking embarrassing Vatican documents.

Comments | 9,223 Views

By Jen Doll

Feb 17, 2012

Religious Groups Continue to Equate Birth Control with Abortion

When it comes to matters of birth control, it often seems like we're living in another time.

Comments | 3,048 Views

By Seth Abramovitch

Feb 12, 2012

Nicky Minaj Brought a Pope-Alike to the Grammys

Nicky Minaj's bizarre arrival with the Pope on her arm got the Grammys off to a weird start. Then things got heavy when LL Cool J delivered a prayer for Whitney Houston.

Comments | 4,421 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Feb 8, 2012

People Are Mad at the Wrong Half of 'Doing God's Work with Other People's Money'

It's no surprise that 35 Republican members of Congress are mad that an atheist group got the Air Force to take out the "God" part in an agency's motto. What's shocking is the implication that they think bragging about "other people's money" is perfectly fine.

Comments | 4,813 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Jan 4, 2012

Only in Sweden Would File-Sharing Become an Official Religion

It took two years and two failed attempts for members of the Missionary Church of Kopimism to earn the official designation as a state-recognized religion in Sweden, but they finally did it.

Comments | 1,491 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Dec 2, 2011

Evangelicals Hope Gingrich Will Repent for All His Sins

Evangelical Republicans can either vote for someone who believes and lives the values they share, or they can vote for someone who might actually win. 

Comments | 1,785 Views

By John Hudson

Nov 18, 2011

The Mormon Church's $6 Million Ad Campaign Also Welcomes Trolls

Today's New York Times spotlights a $6.1 million ad campaign by the Mormon Church aimed at bringing new converts to the faith. One group of followers they may not have expected to attract? Hordes of Internet trolls.

Comments | 31,246 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Nov 2, 2011

French Magazine Is Firebombed After Mocking the Prophet Muhammad

The office of French magazine Charlie Hebdo was destroyed after the satirical paper put a drawing of Muhammad on the cover and jokingly named him its "editor-in-chief."

Comments | 1,724 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Oct 20, 2011

Don't Stop Believing in the End of the World

Despite his May 21 end-of-the-world prediction being completely and totally wrong, Christian radio host Harold Camping has some reasons to believe that on October 21 -- tomorrow! -- the world is really, really going to end this time.

Comments | 862 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Oct 18, 2011

Spatwatch

How Susan Sarandon Got Both Jews and Catholics Angry at Her

Players: Susan Sarandon, actress and liberal activist; The Catholic League of America, a Catholic advocacy group run by Bill Donohue (famous for its boycotts on Kathy Griffin, The Golden Compass and John Edwards campaign staffers) and The Anti Defamation League of America, a Jewish advocacy group

Comments | 3,576 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Oct 17, 2011

Why Perry's Backers Won't Lay Off Romney's Mormonism

A core Perry supporter says he must juxtapose "traditional Christianity to the false God of Mormonism"

Comments | 3,571 Views

By Erik Hayden

Sep 27, 2011

Obama Stays Cool While Being Heckled as the 'Antichrist'

At a Los Angeles event, he's heckled by a loud, bearded young man

Comments | 2,750 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Sep 26, 2011

Spatwatch

Churches Battle Over Billboards (Oh, and Gay People)

"My first thought was, 'Wow, nine billboards! That's quite an investment,' " says a reverend in the rivalry

Comments | 7,481 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Sep 26, 2011

Roger Ailes Muslim 'Worshipper' Fixation

The Fox News head takes issue with the AP's characterization of people praying in mosques

Comments | 2,048 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Sep 8, 2011

Chart of the Day

Americans Like Religious Freedom, Except When It Comes to Muslims

The most powerful predictor of mistrusting Muslims: trusting Fox News

Comments | 2,458 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Aug 31, 2011

Chart of the Day

A Breakdown of Gay Marriage Support by Religion

While Americans as a whole are evenly divided, differences crop up along religious lines

Comments | 26,776 Views

By John Hudson

Aug 25, 2011

The Right Isn't Happy About Bill Keller's Religious 'Inquisition'

Is the press not properly vetting our politicians' faith?

Comments | 6,487 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Aug 25, 2011

Spatwatch

Friday Night High School Football Now Prayer-Free

A showdown over public prayer plays out on a high school football field

Comments | 4,187 Views

By Erik Hayden

Aug 15, 2011

Harvard Values Harvard Diplomas; Interpreting Adam and Eve

Also: Two more law schools embrace military recruiters after DADT repeal

Comments | 3,503 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Aug 12, 2011

Rick Perry's Good Christian Message Is Being Packaged by an Atheist

The elaborate campaign rollout will be heavy on prayer

Comments | 6,003 Views

By John Hudson

Aug 4, 2011

Atheists, Christians Agree: Jesus Wouldn't Launch Nukes

The Air Force will stop using the bible to train nuclear missile crews

Comments | 2,879 Views

By Erik Hayden

Aug 3, 2011

Mormon Church Distances Itself From Romney, Huntsman Campaigns

The Wall Street Journal outlines the preemptive steps the church has taken

Comments | 1,569 Views

By John Hudson

Aug 2, 2011

U.S. Muslims Say They're Patriotic and Optimistic About Future

Even as they report discrimination, a new Gallup poll find Muslims are "thriving"

Comments | 901 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Jul 29, 2011

Spatwatch

Atheists Object to '9/11 Cross'

The American Atheists don't want the "9/11 Cross" at the memorial

Comments | 38,201 Views

By Erik Hayden

Jul 25, 2011

Less Than Half of America Knows Romney Is Mormon

And only 38 percent know that Obama is Christian

Comments | 565 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jun 17, 2011

Southern Baptists Are Getting a Wee Bit Liberal

The Southern Baptist Convention calls for a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants

Comments | 1,550 Views

By Caitlin Dickson

Jun 13, 2011

Spatwatch

Russell Crowe Tweets His Way Into the Circumcision Debate

Russell Crowe's questionable tweets on circumcision launch a multi-pronged Twitter spat

Comments | 3,786 Views

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