2007 DECEMBER
December 26, 2007

Theologian Discusses Relevance of the Bible in Modern Society
In the second of two conversations on the role of the Bible in modern society, Ray Suarez talks to Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

  

December 25, 2007

Harvard Theologian Discusses "Scandalous" New Take on Jesus
Harvard professor and pastor Peter Gomes recently published a book re-evaluating Jesus's life and teachings. The NewsHour talks to Gomes about his different take on the founder of Christianity.

  

December 24, 2007

Religion Becoming Political Tool and Hot Topic in Presidential Race
From Mitt Romney's Mormonism to Mike Huckabee's Baptist roots, religion has become a popular topic throughout the busy 2008 presidential election race. Ray Suarez sits down with political and religious scholars to compare this season to those of the past.

  

December 24, 2007

Palestinians Protest Settlement Plans as Stormy Peace Talks Continue
A second round of negotiations between Palestinian and Israeli officials was overshadowed Monday by Palestinian threats not to address substantive issues until Israel agrees to stop settlement construction around Jerusalem.

December 17, 2007

In Iowa, GOP Candidates Tout Conservative Values
In the second of a series of reports on the tightening presidential race in Iowa as the state's Jan. 3 caucus grows closer, Ray Suarez looks at how Republican candidates are focusing their efforts on courting conservative voters in the state.

  

December 6, 2007

In Speech, Romney Attempts to Define Lines Between Religion, Politics
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney confronted the issue of his Mormon faith in a speech Thursday, saying that as president he would "serve no religion." Newsweek editor Jon Meacham offers analysis of the role religion plays in politics.

  

December 3, 2007

Sudanese President Pardons British Teacher
A British teacher who was jailed in Sudan for allowing her students to name their class teddy bear "Muhammad" left the country on Monday after she was pardoned by the Sudanese president and released from jail.

NOVEMBER
November 30, 2007

Sudanese Protest British Teacher's Sentence
A day after a British teacher was convicted of insulting Islam in a Sudanese court by letting her young students name a teddy bear "Muhammad" as part of a lesson, thousands of protesters called for more severe punishment - including her execution.

November 7, 2007

Candidate Endorsements Start Shaping Conservatives' Role in '08 Race
Christian conservative leader Pat Robertson endorsed former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani Wednesday, while Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., endorsed the bid of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Two religious leaders assess the role of the conservative movement in the 2008 election.

  

November 5, 2007

Among Sea of Glittery Crosses, Christianity Makes Its Mark in South Korea
As dusk turns to dark in this capital city, the skyline glitters with more than the urban lights of office towers and apartment blocks. From the hills that define Seoul's neighborhoods it is easy to spot lighted electric crosses. They are among the most visible reminders of just how deeply Christianity shapes South Korea.

OCTOBER
October 30, 2007

Sorting out the Future for Chinese-Controlled Tibet
An Independent Television News report on life in Tibet, a country controlled by China for more than 50 years.

October 17, 2007

Dalai Lama Awarded Congressional Gold Medal Despite Chinese Protests
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama received the Congressional Gold Medal Wednesday - the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow - despite opposition from China's government. Experts examine the Dalai Lama's iconic legacy and assess China's reaction.

  

October 4, 2007

Mother Teresa's Struggles with Faith
A recent book shed light on Mother Teresa's struggles with her personal faith. Richard Rodriguez presents an essay on the religious icon and how she wrestled with her beliefs.

SEPTEMBER
September 24, 2007

Myanmar Government, President Bush React to Protesters
Buddhist monks, who have protested Myanmar's military government during the past week, have drawn support of thousands of civilian protesters and the attention of Myanmar and American officials.

September 18, 2007

Exploring Generation Next
Generation Next is a term for the 42 million 16-to-25 year olds who watched the Twin Towers collapse, experienced the shootings at Virginia Tech University, grew up online and statistically speaking are better educated than any other generation in history.

September 5, 2007

New Freedoms for Civil Society Heighten Political Tensions in Pakistan
Journalists, artists and judicial activists have found voices in new freedoms in Pakistani culture, but clashes also have arisen. Margaret Warner reports from Pakistan on cultural tensions between the traditional and more modern ideologies.

  

September 4, 2007

Latest Suicide Bombings Highlight Terrorist Threat in Pakistan
Two suicide bombers killed at least 25 people in Pakistan Tuesday. Margaret Warner reports from Islamabad on the suspected extremist element in the country in the midst of its political uncertainty.

  

AUGUST
August 29, 2007

Hostage Release Highlights Negotiations with Taliban
The Taliban released 12 South Korean hostages in Afghanistan on Wednesday, and another seven may be freed Thursday. A political scientist and a former CIA official discuss the challenges of negotiating with the Taliban.

  

August 28, 2007

Former Islamist Gul Becomes Turkey's President
Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was sworn in Tuesday as the country's 11th president and the first with a background in political Islam. Two experts outline the concerns some have that the government will become less secular under his regime.

  

August 27, 2007

Reporter's Notebook: Damaged Mosque Belies Tensions in Pakistan
In the first of a series of conversations based on their reporting from Pakistan, senior correspondent Margaret Warner and producer Simon Marks discuss their interviews with deposed premier Nawaz Sharif and information minister Tariq Azim Khan as well as their visit to the Red Mosque, damaged in a recent siege.

  

August 24, 2007

Muslims in India Encounter Intolerance, Scattered Violence
With the strength of the Hindu nationalist political movement polarizing religious communities in India over the last two decades, the Muslim minority has faced socioeconomic marginalization and at times been targeted by violent attacks.

August 20, 2007

Presidential Favorite Falls Short of Victory in Turkey
The man presumed to become Turkey's next president, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, failed to secure the two-thirds of parliamentary votes Monday needed to skip another round of presidential voting next week.

August 14, 2007

Author Uncovers Stories of Arabs Helping Jews During Holocaust
There have been few books written about the Holocaust's impact in the Arab world. Margaret Warner speaks with author Robert Satloff about how Arabs saved some Jews during the Holocaust.

  

JULY
July 26, 2007

Kidnappings Reflect Continuing Rise of Taliban
A South Korean envoy headed to Afghanistan Wednesday, hoping to win the release of 22 South Korean hostages taken by the Taliban last week. One hostage was killed Tuesday. Experts talk about the status of the fighters.

  

July 5, 2007

Students and Security Forces Clash at Pakistan Mosque
At least 19 people have been killed since Tuesday at a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, where clerics and their followers have clashed with security forces. A journalist and a political scientist discuss the developments.

  

JUNE
June 27, 2007

U.S. Works to Improve Image in Muslim World
A new survey has found that opinions of the U.S. among people in the Muslim world has gotten worse over the past five years. Middle East policy analysts discuss U.S. efforts to bolster Muslim views of America.

  

June 27, 2007

Global Discontent with U.S. Increasing; U.S. Works to Bolster Image
A survey of people in 47 countries has found that in the past five years, more people have become discontent with the U.S. Meanwhile, the U.S. has launched efforts to improve its image in the Muslim world.

  

June 18, 2007

Churches Providing Sanctuary for Illegal Immigrants
Churches and other faith-based groups in Chicago are providing housing and other resources for illegal immigrants in defiance of federal laws. The NewsHour reports on how these churches are part of a larger sanctuary movement in America.

  

June 1, 2007

Cultural Conservatives Give Top GOP Candidates Tepid Reviews
Evangelicals and other social conservatives have yet to throw their support behind one presidential candidate, and many are finding themselves dissatisfied with their party's earlier front-runners.

MAY
May 18, 2007

Islamic Community in Minnesota Faces Growing Pains
Almost 50,000 of the growing immigrant population in Minneapolis and St. Paul are Somali Muslims, who have been arriving steadily since civil war wracked their home country in 1991. The NewsHour presents a report on the Muslim community's efforts at integration.

  

May 15, 2007

Falwell Blazed Trail in American Politics, Religious Right
The Rev. Jerry Falwell, the founder of the Moral Majority who helped galvanize Christian conservatives to elect President Reagan, died Tuesday at age 73. Analysts examine his impact on politics and faith in America.

  

May 15, 2007

Television Evangelist, Conservative Activist Jerry Falwell Dies at 73
The Rev. Jerry Falwell, who founded the Moral Majority and used it to create a political force from the ranks of conservative Christians, died Tuesday in his office at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

APRIL
April 30, 2007

French Muslims Struggle to Achieve Success
In the days leading up to France's presidential run-off election, Margaret Warner reports on the changes taking place in the country, including its growing Muslim population, and how they may impact the upcoming vote.

  

April 13, 2007

PBS Special Looks at Life for Young Muslims in America
A new 11-part PBS series, "America at a Crossroads," premiered over the weekend. The NewsHour provides an excerpt of an upcoming episode that looks at what life is like for young Muslims in America.

  

April 9, 2007

Sadr's Ties to Maliki Government Complicate Political Picture
Thousands of Iraqis heeded Muqtada al-Sadr's call to protest the U.S. occupation on Monday, highlighting the rift between the Shiite leader and U.S. forces that has further complicated relations between Washington and Iraqi leader Nouri al-Maliki.

MARCH
March 23, 2007

Religion and Politics Interact Throughout Europe
Religion has played an important role in politics throughout Europe, from France to Turkey, over the past decades. Ray Suarez details his recent travels to Europe, where he was discussing the role of religion in public life.

  

March 20, 2007

Templeton Prize Winner Taylor Talks About Spirituality in Modern Society
The Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, which recognizes efforts to create a bridge between the fields of science and religion, is the world's largest annual award. This year's winner, Charles Taylor, speaks with Ray Suarez.

  

March 19, 2007

Justices Weigh Free Speech for Students
The Supreme Court heard a case about free speech Monday after a Juneau, Alaska high school student was suspended for displaying a sign, "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" at an off-campus school activity. National Law Journal's Marcia Coyle discusses the case.

  

March 15, 2007

Hamas, Fatah Reach Deal on Unity Government
After months of negotiations, Palestinian rival factions Hamas and Fatah on Thursday finalized a unity government in an effort to end violence between the groups and lead the Palestinians out of yearlong international isolation.

FEBRUARY
February 28, 2007

Evangelical Movement Spreads Throughout South Korea
The Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea claims to be the largest church in the world, and the country is second only to the U.S. in its number of missionaries. NewsHour reports on the spreading evangelical movement in the country.

  

February 20, 2007

Anglican Leaders Demand U.S. Church End Gay Unions
Leaders of the Anglican Church have demanded that the U.S. Episcopal Church stop blessing same-sex unions and consecrating gay bishops. Two American Anglican leaders review the decision and discuss how it impacts the Episcopal Church.

  

JANUARY
January 26, 2007

Somalia's Islamist Groups
While several Islamic groups have tried to take a stand in the lawless climate that has marked Somalia in the past 15 years, few have managed to gain a foothold in the country and only one major group -- the Union of Islamic Courts -- has garnered broad support from the country's mostly moderate Muslims.

January 8, 2007

Second Clergyman Resigns over Communist Ties
After Warsaw-based Archbishop Stanislaw Wielgus resigned over the weekend, a second Roman Catholic clergyman stepped down Monday after allegations of a collaboration with Polish communist secret police. A professor and a reporter discuss the resignations.

  

January 3, 2007

Judy Woodruff Discusses the Generation Next Project
Jim Lehrer discusses with Judy Woodruff some of the Generation Next team's findings and published trends about 16-25 year olds.

  

January 3, 2007

Young People Express Views on Religion, Politics
Forty-four percent of young American adults agree that religion is a very important part of their lives, according to a study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. Judy Woodruff reports on Generation Next's changing attitudes toward faith and politics.

  

January 1, 2007

Ethiopian Backed Troops Take Last Major City from Somali Islamists
After two weeks of clashes, troops of Somalia's fledgling U.N.-organized government swept into the southern city of Kismayo with the help of Ethiopian firepower Monday, taking back the final major city controlled by Islamic militias.

January 1, 2007

Saddam's Execution Provokes Political Debate
The execution of Saddam Hussein over the weekend provoked a strong reaction from both his supporters and detractors. Two regional experts assess where the hanging of the former dictator leaves Iraqi politics and society.