religion news stories on Newser

Thinking, Religion Don't Mix: Study

Kevin Spak — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:09:05 CDT

People prone to analytical thinking are less prone to religious faith, a new study has concluded. Scientists have long believed that analytical thinking can override one's intuitive responses, and studies have shown that religion is rooted in intuitive thought. So Canadian researcher Will Gervais set out to see if analytical...

Which Country Believes in God Most?

Kevin Spak — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:23:53 CDT

If religion were a contest, the Philippines would be winning. A whopping 94% of people in the Philippines believe in God, making it the most faithful country on the planet, or at least, among the 30 countries included in a new University of Chicago study. But almost all the nations...

Get Ready for Outrage Over Mormon Jokes

Matt Cantor — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:57:42 CDT

Mitt Romney is set to be the first Mormon to become a major presidential nominee—so it's inevitable that we'll be hearing a lot about his religion. And as conservatives coalesce around his candidacy, they'll want to make his Mormonism off-limits for attacks. That means that soon, "everyone who has...

Religious Folk More Often Politically ... Liberal?

Neal Colgrass — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 15:29:05 CDT

Is the term "Christian liberal" about to enter our political lexicon? So says a British report, which finds that 55% of religious people say they're political lefties, compared to 40% who identify conservative, reports the Guardian . And 41% of the faithful say they value equality over freedom, compared to 36%...

Heretic Nation: At Last Our Candidates Fit

Mark Russell — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 14:01:41 CDT

In the 20th century, most US presidents and presidential candidates were Baptists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians—in other words, Protestants. But in the 2012 presidential race? With a Mormon, a traditionalist Catholic, and a nondenominational Christian with ties to liberation theology, "we finally have a presidential field whose diversity mirrors the diversity...

17 Men Nailed to Crosses in Philippines

Matt Cantor — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:12:02 CDT

At least 17 men were nailed to crosses to mark Good Friday in front of thousands in Philippine villages today. Under the watch of villagers posing as Roman centurions, the men were crucified for a few minutes as part of a religious reenactment that occurs yearly, the AP reports. Those...

The Most Religious State in America Is...

Kevin Spak — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:42:33 CDT

Don't tell Hester Prynne, but it's the Deep South that is the most religious region in the country, while New England is the most godless, according to a new Gallup Poll . The poll asked respondents whether religion was an important part of their daily life, and whether they regularly attended...

Tennessee Bill Encourages Critiques of Evolution

Matt Cantor — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:32:57 CDT

A bill in Tennessee's legislature would protect teachers who encourage debate in the classroom about evolution—a measure that opponents say is just a guise to teach creationism or intelligent design, reports the Tennessean . Top science groups and the ACLU have come out against the bill, which the state Senate...

'I Hate Religion, Love Jesus' Video Poem Goes Viral

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:13:45 CDT

“Religion puts you in shackles, but Jesus sets you free. Religion makes you blind, but Jesus lets you see.” If you're one of the 20 million who have seen Jeff Bethke's viral video, "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus," you've already heard these words. The 22-year-old Tacoma native posted...