Religion in America

One measure of the decline of church strength and authority is church membership and attendance. And by that measure, US secularity is rising to surprising heights.

Like most new church planting pastors, when someone chooses to leave, no matter the reason, my heart and soul aches: I question my pastoral abilities, grieve the loss of relationships and always have an urge to do something to get them back.

I found full nourishment in Islam for ideas I initially encountered in other traditions. I am a Muslim whose first faith hero was Dorothy Day.

While I agree in good measure with President Obama's statement and feel that our community is honored to have a heritage month of its own, I fear that such a month may reduce the religion-state separation that enabled the Jewish community to thrive in the first place.

"In this electoral year tensions are particularly high. Polarities are strong. Many people think that the future of our country ... is at stake," Miroslav Volf says. "Honoring everyone contains the promise of possibility."

We are now living through the biggest "Mormon moment" of them all, and the coming months will teach us a lot about America and its ability to fully embrace its religious minorities.

This conflict is really about the role that faith will play in America. It is about whether or not we will accept Muslim Americans as true Americans or as second-class citizens. It is a test of our character, and we dare not fail it.

The "God-given vision" started out simply enough: build a 7-foot-tall cross on a mountain and invite people to meditate there with the Creator. Now, 2...

Alienating fellow American citizens based simply on their beliefs, as some candidates have done, is not only un-American -- it's bad politics.

Pastors and priests seeking to fill their pews with young churchgoers have a tough task ahead. Many younger Millennials have already moved away from the religion in which they were raised, mostly joining the growing ranks of the religiously unaffiliated.

SAN JOSE -- Turbans are not usually seen as a part of traditional American attire, but they are articles of faith and an integral part of the dress of...

David Barton, an evangelical Christian activist and author, thinks the real Thomas Jefferson is in hiding. In his new book, "The Jefferson Lies," ...

The U.S. religious landscape is shifting, and no one may be more thankful than GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney. The spread of Latter-day Saints across the nation has paved the way for a Romney run.

I believe that emerging church movements will only take root and have a meaningful impact on the world if helpful aspects of our historic church traditions and resources are leveraged in ways that inspire and support them.

There is still a significant interest in, and pursuit of, a life following the path lived out and described by Jesus. We younger adults are starving for the very community we're wary of.

America, which has been a safe heaven for persecuted believers since the Mayflower, keeps up with its heritage by welcoming Muslim believers as well. It should not give into the fear-mongering of a handful of anti-Islamic propagandists.

The Huffington Post recently launched a year-long series on religion called Faith Shift. We have our own ideas on stories to cover, but to get the fullest picture of religion in America, we need your help. What should we write about next?

By David Gibson Religion News Service (RNS) Even before Mitt Romney swept the first three primaries in April, effectively ending Rick Santorum's p...

What happens when leaders lose touch with their followers? The Catholic community has been struggling with this challenge for years. The Jewish community may be following in its footsteps.

Political leaders will continue to milk audiences, manufacturing untruths that, while inaccurate, serve as the driving force toward political victories. Setting the desire for political victories aside, this dazzling Godly rhetoric is ultimately diverting.

This week, The Huffington Post begins a year-long series, called "Faith Shift," to explore and examine America's changing religious landscape.

The Associated Press FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – One vote remains before lawmakers allow the Amish to forgo a longstanding traffic safety measure in th...

Millions and millions of Americans experience themselves as having a personal relationship with God that is as vivid and intimate as a child's imaginary friend. Why has this way of imagining God become so popular?

As we all know, the American mainline is in free-fall. I myself am a sometimes angry and confused veteran of church conflict. Yet I remain.