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  Ethicists criticize treatment of brain-dead patients

  The cases of two young women—a California teen and a pregnant Texas mother—have generated sympathy for their families, but also have left some doctors and bioethicists upset about their treatment.

  01/17/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Do absentee fathers create atheists?

  A once-popular book that links atheism with shoddy fathering is getting a second life with a new publisher, thanks, in part, to the rise of nonbelief in the United States.

  01/17/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  American evangelicals work to end sex trafficking in Thailand

  Dozens of American groups, many of them evangelical Christians, have entered Thailand in recent years to fight the sex trade, which by some estimates generates 7 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

  01/10/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Faith Digest: Anglicans lose ‘devil’ from baptism ritual

  The Church of England has been accused of watering down its baptism service by introducing an alternative liturgy in which parents and godparents need not repent of their sins or reject the devil.

  01/10/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Survey: Evolution views driven by religion more than education

  As evolution remains a contentious issue for many public schools, a new survey suggests that views on the question are driven by Americans’ religious affiliation more than their level of education.

  01/03/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Divine devices or digital distractions?

  Want to Tweet that particularly provocative quote from Sunday’s sermon? Go ahead. Pastors increasingly are encouraging digital devices in worship services, which they say expands their congregation’s community.

  01/03/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Study: Minorities less likely to be involved in church

  Even in multiracial congregations, the experiences of all racial groups are not equal, a Baylor University study shows.

  01/02/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Americans prefer in-person preaching to video

  Most Americans still prefer a real-live preacher to a video sermon, according to a survey from LifeWay Research.   

  01/02/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Despite hesitancy, seminaries branch out in online degrees

  Theological education increasingly has left brick-and-mortar schools and headed back to congregations and family homes as more seminarians study online.

  01/02/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  2013 in Review: Pope Francis dominates the headlines

  The election of Pope Francis was the biggest religion story of 2013. But shifts in gay marriage, church-state relations and the Boston Marathon bombings all received front-page treatment.

  12/31/2013 - By John Rutledge

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  2013 marked shifts in views on social issues

  The past year passed milestones in American public opinion. Here is a sampling reported by the Pew Research Center.

  12/30/2013 - By John Rutledge

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  Nearly three-fourths of Americans believe in Virgin Birth

  Nearly three-fourths of American adults—including a significant number who claim no religion—believe Jesus was born of a virgin.

  12/20/2013 - By John Rutledge