Society
Religion
The United States is a more secular society than many, and the percentage of people who don’t identify with organized religion is rising. Some of the impacts from that shift might be obvious, such as declining membership in congregations or decreased support for religious organizations and institutions. But some of the consequences are less obvious. How do we change as peo...
The 21st century is throwing a lot at us. How do ancient texts and traditions ground us, and what do they have to tell us about living a good life in today’s world?
From “The Office” to being cheerleader for spirituality, comedic actor, writer, and producer Rainn Wilson is on a mission to show the world how embracing spirituality can help us navigate increasingly challenging times. NBC’s Jenna Bush Hager sits down with Wilson to discuss his new book and travel show. (Book signing to follow.)
The “On Being” podcast is acclaimed for its “mind- and heart-expanding” exploration of “theology, ethics, science, the soul, and what it means to be a human” (The New York Times). In this live taping, Krista Tippett turns that lens on the singularly delightful Kate Bowler, author of Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved. This preternaturally wise theol...
For too long, minority groups have been overlooked in art and media. They have been underrepresented and misrepresented, resulting in negative biases and stereotypes. The tide is starting to shift, and yet, as many aspects of inclusion and representation push forward, attention to religious diversity lags behind. Accurately portraying the full spectrum of American religiou...
In the U.S., there are twice as many Buddhists as Episcopalians and an equal number of Muslims as Lutherans — and the median age of Muslims and Buddhists is 20 years younger than their Christian counterparts. Meanwhile, the group known as the religious nones now makes up one-third of the population. What will this new religious diversity mean for our country, from classroo...
Throughout life, we are hounded by limitless desire. We search for fulfillment by striving for more money, power, pleasure, or prestige. But even for the most fortunate, it’s never enough. In truth, this is Mother Nature’s plan: She wants us to struggle and strive; she cares little if we are happy. There is a way out, however. It’s not to have more, but to want less. This...
Most Americans see religious freedom as an important right. Yet how that freedom is defined and applied isn’t consistent, and efforts to safeguard the religious freedom of some may be discriminatory for others.
How do you deal with the unprecedented?
What are the best tools for dealing with fear, particularly in an uncertain period?
In the United States, the number of people attending church is declining. So where are people going to find meaning and community?
Writers Tara Westover and Sarah Smarsh say the damaging stereotypes of people living in rural America need to be stamped out.
How can such deeply faithful citizens support a president whose behaviors and values don’t exactly match up to traditional Christian mores?
No amount of determination can stop bad things from happening, says Kate Bowler, a scholar of Christianity and stage IV cancer patient.
The Pew Trust’s 2014 study of Evangelicals notes that roughly 25 percent of adults in the United States identify with evangelical Protestantism, the largest Christian following in the country. Three-quarters are white, though the share of non-whites who identify as evangelical is growing. On average, evangelical Protestants have somewhat lower levels of education compared...
Jesus and Buddha, separated by 3,000 miles and 400 hundred years, both speak to central questions of meaning. How similar — and how different — are their perspectives and how do the teachings, rituals, and histories of each tradition complement or contradict each other? Take the one-hour version of this popular Princeton course and explore how Jesus and Buddha understood t...
The dramatic rise in suicides, violence, and addiction signal a society disconnected from meaning and a social fabric fraying at its seams. With participation in organized religion on the decline, and fewer traditional places to do the work of fellowship and ritual, what other places are people turning to to define their values and explore the big questions? To probe what...
A church in Denver that is at once ancient and of the future. A home-based experiment in Jewish life in Brooklyn. A Washington, DC, sacred space for artists and activists. Meet a group of leaders reimagining spiritual community for the 21st century.
For many Americans, faith is the animating force behind their beliefs and actions, yet that aspect of identity is often deeply misunderstood or goes ignored. Faith communities are locally embedded and incredibly networked — there are about three times as many congregations as there are schools, colleges, and universities combined in the United States. America’s long tradit...
University Chaplain, New York University; Executive Director, Islamic Center at NYU