religion

The great Christian revivals of the 19th century, known as the second and third "Great Awakenings," were prompted by nationwide economic panics. In the wake of the current recession, churchgoing in America has increased yet again, suggesting that bad times are good for religion.

As he lay dying of cancer in his St. Petersburg, Fla., apartment almost nine years ago, Paul Cicarelli solicited a promise from his daughter. He asked her to continue his campaign to get the late host of a religious television show named a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.

When married couples with young children move to another town or city, they typically look for neighborhoods with good public schools nearby. Barack and Michelle Obama are an exception because the electorate assigned them their new home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington.

It was the kind of quote that is catnip for politicos and scribes inside the Washington Beltway.
"What Americans would have found absolutely intolerable only a few years ago, a majority now not only tolerates but celebrates," proclaimed Paul M. Weyrich, chairman of the Free Congress Foundation.
Then came the statement that set pundits to chattering for weeks.

As we enter the New Year it's worth noting how the nation's churches are incorporating changes to make them more relevant to their members. A Duke University survey back in 1998 established benchmarks for congregational life spanning all denominations. A new survey reveals some surprising changes.

After waves of headlines about faith and politics, President-elect Barack Obama was the clear choice as the top Religion Newsmaker of 2008.

Merry Christmas.
No, honest, as in "the 12 days of" you know what between Dec. 25 and Jan. 5.

At a minimum, the function of any government is to provide physical security for its citizens. During the current economic crisis, the government has taken on the task of protecting much more -- banks, businesses, homes and jobs, among other things.

When pollsters ask Americans the Eternal Question they almost always say, "I believe in God."
Ask young Americans about faith and the response is something like, "I believe in God and stuff." Finding the doctrinal meaning of "and stuff" is tricky.

Our mail this time of year is filled with Christmas greetings expressing the wish for world peace. Alas, peace is not the kind of gift that fits in Santa's sleigh. After all these centuries of human conflict, peace appears as elusive as ever.