Religion and how it is applied to social problems is attracting widespread attention as well as foundation funds. As reported in the Los Angeles Times (Oct. 8), applied religion is “a hot field of inquiry,” though it was considered dying if not dead by academic specialists until recently. The interest is found in three general areas. Major […]

The portrayal of witchcraft and magic in the popular media is more realistic today, and suggests a greater acceptance of these alternative religions. That is the main conclusion of the fall issue of PanGaia, a Neopagan magazine.  From the best-selling Harry Potter books to popular TV shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, Xena, and Sabrina the […]

The homeschooling movement is experiencing sharp divisions over the influence of conservative Christians in its ranks. While homeschooling is growing among believers and non-believers as well as gaining academic credibility, a battle is being fought over the role of the Christian rightist Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) in the loosely-based movement, according to the Charisma […]

An influx of immigration to rural and small-town America is finding congregations ill-prepared to minister to such newcomers, according to the current issue of  Visions, a newsletter on religion and demography. The Census 2000 released in late August found that counties with rapidly growing Spanish-speaking populations were primarily in rural, small-town and outer suburban regions. Most […]

The growing body of scientific work that demonstrates the benefits of religious belief and behavior to adult health and well-being is now being channeled into practical programs that can be applied to congregational life. Past research has shown that prayer, close social ties, altruistic behavior, and a sense of purpose are among the religious factors […]

The long time conflict between liberals and conservatives in mainline denominations seems to be entering a more political phase judging by a recent New York conference RW attended. The late October meeting was organized by Union Theological Seminary and the Institute of Democratic Studies (IDS) to counter the recent victories of conservatives in such mainline bodies as […]

One of the most influential movements of ideas in recent American religious life has been the return to accepting the primacy of natural law as the single most important force to stop the secularization of society. Prof. Wilfred M.McClay of the University of Tennessee presents (in the Wilson Quarterly, Summer, 2000) a highly sophisticated case, building […]