"Dr. King liked jazz," says Rev. Michael Haynes of Twelfth Baptist Church in Boston, "I think music is just a wonderful opportunity to bring humans together. And what it did in the civil rights movement - it was the means through which they got inspiration and challenge." Rev. Haynes invited his ...

As one of the surviving leaders of the civil rights movement, Lewis wants to make sure the role of faith in changing the nation is never forgotten.

The pros and cons of gay marriage are frequent topics of discussion and conflict. The topics are especially sensitive when it comes to same sex couples having children. According to the Census Bureau, of the country's nearly half a million same-sex couples, nearly a quarter -- 28 percent -- are raising children.

Many of the best known Christmas traditions were actually adapted from pagan practices and given new Christian meanings.

In response to multiple attacks on foreigners, the UN, the Red Cross, Oxfam, and Care International have pulled their staffs out of Iraq. Yet other humanitarian aid workers remain, risking their lives to help the needy. Their work is difficult, not only because of the violence, but because many Iraqis are suspicious of them, wondering whether aid workers are really occupiers.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that under their constitution, same-sex couples are legally able to marry. Opponents of gay marriage want an amendment to the constitution defining marriage as being between a man and a woman. Correspondent Kim Lawton explored the implications of the ruling with Scott Keeter, associate director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.

There's a movement under way among many Catholic women and women scholars to revise the reputation of Mary Magdalene. For centuries, she was reviled as a prostitute. But now, with the discovery of ancient text, several recent movies and novels are portraying her as an important figure in early ...

There are more than eight million illegal immigrants in this country. And while there is a lot of discussion about controlling U.S. borders and enforcing the laws, there are also those who say these immigrants are often exploited, and denied basic rights. Are they a drain on the economy -- or poor people deserving compassion?

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington celebrated its 10th anniversary with a tribute to survivors of the Nazi persecution of the Jews. They honored the survivors, their families, and those who rescued them at the end of World War II.

The consecration of Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson caused international debate over the role of gays in the church. Some Episcopalians are celebrating what they see as the church's openness and diversity, while others are lamenting what they believe is departure from Christian teaching. We visit one parish that is wrestling vigorously over what to think and how to respond.

This weekend, Hindus around the world celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights. For some Hindus, Diwali coincides with a special worship service for the powerful goddess Kali, who represents opposites such as life and death, creation and destruction. We spoke about Kali with Kamanashish Chakraborty, ...

The story of a group of American soldiers, all conscientious objectors and Seventh Day Adventists, who volunteered to expose themselves to deadly viruses and bacteria, rather than go to war. Over a 20-year period, beginning in the 1950s, the army used them to test vaccines against biological weapons. Most of them recall the experience without regret.

  BOB ABERNETHY: Now, a profile — and some religion history. It concerns the early Christian movement, and documents discovered nearly 60 years ago that reveal an early Christianity many find surprisingly diverse. This is also the personal story of … More →

RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY profiles Peter Steinfels — Catholic, THE NEW YORK TIMES religion columnist, and author of the book A PEOPLE ADRIFT. Steinfels discusses the challenges facing the U.S. Catholic Church, from the sex abuse scandal to ordination of women, which he fears may send the ...

RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY previews upcoming U.S Supreme Court cases. At issue are recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in schools, state funding for religious education, and the case of Death Row inmate Delma Banks.

For the first time in 40 years, the “Greatest Story Ever Told” is being retold in a new round of films with religious themes. The first is THE GOSPEL OF JOHN. Visual Bible International, a faith-based media company, has produced a verbatim adaptation from the GOOD NEWS BIBLE — an ...

We talk with Rabbi Alan Lew of Congregation Beth Shalom in San Francisco, who has written about the High Holidays in his new book This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared.

After the 1967 war between Israel and the Arab states around it, the internationally approved “Green Line” defined the border between Israel and the Palestinian Arab territories. Now, the Israelis want to wall themselves off from the Palestinians. But in … More →

He insists he is a monk, not a politician. But as this renowned Vietnamese Buddhist leader toured the U.S. he spoke not only of Buddhist practices but also of American policies in the Middle East.

Several faith leaders reflect on the lingering spiritual impact of the September 11 attacks on New Yorkers — and themselves.