For some fans, Dolly Parton was more than a musical idol – she was a spiritual icon
The legendary singer took on a saint-like aura for some fans.
August 27, 2026
11
Ethics
Why French officials placed a Muslim war memorial in the intellectual heart of Paris in the 20th cen
The Grand Mosque of Paris has stood for a century as a memorial to Muslim soldiers and a nuanced symbol of French colonialism.
August 26, 2026
26
Many Americans are moving away from congregations, but not necessarily from religion – movies, plays
To understand what religion looks like in 21st-century America, researchers may need to ask different questions.
August 24, 2026
34
Most Westerners know Buddhism through meditation, but everyday Buddhist life looks quite different i
Thai Buddhism involves daily rituals and collective acts of worship, unlike the individual-focused emphasis on meditation…
August 24, 2026
32
Christian nationalists’ professed support for religious pluralism is often drowned out by perception
Two political scientists explain why Christian nationalist beliefs endure.
August 20, 2026
39
Birmingham church bombing wasn’t an isolated act of terrorism – there were dozens of attacks on Blac
More than 100 Black churches across the South were targeted from the 1950s-70s. Another wave of violence followed in the…
August 19, 2026
33
A Hindu soldier and a Muslim poet show how religious identities overlapped in 19th-century India
A scholar of India explores how two 19th-century memoirs portray a land where different religious identities coexist.
August 18, 2026
43
A little-remembered Gilded Age millionaire helped make milk safe for American kids through his ‘reta
HIs achievements as a philanthropist are not widely known today because he did not create a grantmaking foundation that…
August 11, 2026
93
Emerging anti-immigration sentiment in Japan obscures a surprising history of strategic engagement w
A false rumor started in the early 20th century that the Japanese emperor would convert to Islam. It helped Japan build…
August 11, 2026
82
The moral paradox of extreme wealth: Why people oppose it yet are reluctant to take steps to reduce
Extreme inequality is commonplace, so why do people accept it?
August 7, 2026
64
The financial dilemma that wound up helping US churches thrive
American churches could not rely on the state for financial support. Private philanthropy helped them survive – and shaped…
August 4, 2026
114
Why Arbaeen – the Shiite Muslim pilgrimage of mourning – has a deep significance that brings million
Each year, millions of Shiite Muslims walk to Karbala to honor Husayn, the prophet’s grandson, whose death continues to…
July 31, 2026
76
The Catholic principle guiding popes through tech upheavals, from the Industrial Revolution to AI
Pope Leo is one of many popes to respond to technological change by drawing on a Catholic principle called ‘subsidiarity.’
July 31, 2026
73
The enduring legacy of Kashmir’s poet-saints who built bridges between faiths
Kashmir’s history as a center of learning and the arts for Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims offers another way of understanding…
July 30, 2026
78
What is Falun Gong and why does the Chinese Communist Party want to suppress it?
An anthropologist who conducted fieldwork among Falun Gong practitioners explains the movement’s beliefs and why its followers…
July 27, 2026
60
The US has acknowledged Bears Ears and Grand Staircase as sacred for over a century, but keeps strip
Native religions are tied to living landscapes, not points on a map. A scholar of Indigenous studies explains why reducing…
July 23, 2026
147
Why are some animals considered ‘pests’? It comes down to culture and convenience
Calling an animal a ‘pest’ can sometimes cause more harm to people than the animal itself.
July 22, 2026
131
‘Sanctuary people’ redefine what it means to protect immigrants in uncertain times
Many faith groups supporting immigrants root their mission in the idea of ‘accompaniment,’ which springs from Catholic…
July 21, 2026
63
Embryo personhood, once on the margins of abortion debates, is moving closer to the center
In vitro fertilization has become a bigger part of reproductive rights debates as a once-fringe movement to recognize embryos…
July 17, 2026
76
Mindfulness is often presented as a path to calm, but its Buddhist roots explain why it can also bri
Mindfulness can improve health and well-being, but it may not work for everyone. Buddhist teachings suggest that how it…
July 16, 2026
80