>>> COMING UP -- POPE FRANCIS'S TRIP TO MEXICO, INCLUDING A DRAMATIC STOP AT THE U.S. BORDER.

KIM LAWTON REPORTS THE VISIT WAS A POWERFUL DEMONSTRATION OF FRANCIS' CONCERN FOR IMMIGRANTS.

>>> AND WE LOOK AT HOW THE DEATH OF SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA MAY AFFECT SOME KEY UPCOMING CASES.

>>> PLUS, DAN LOTHIAN ON NON-BELIEVERS ENROLLED IN THEOLOGICAL SCHOOLS.

>> WELCOME, I'M BOB ABERNETHY.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

POPE FRANCIS IS BACK AT THE VATICAN AFTER A BUSY TRIP TO MEXICO, WHERE HE ADDRESSED SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEMS.

HE BEGAN THE VISIT STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH, PARTICULARLY CATHOLIC DEVOTION TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE.

HE SPENT TIME IN PRIVATE PRAYER AT THE SHRINE DEDICATED TO THE VISION OF MARY THAT CATHOLICS BELIEVE APPEARED TO PEASANT JUAN DIEGO IN 1531.

THROUGHOUT THE TRIP, FRANCIS EMPHASIZED THE POOR AND MARGINALIZED.

AT A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, HE PRESCRIBED WHAT HE CALLED, "KINDNESS THERAPY."

IN SEVERAL SPEECHES, FRANCIS SPOKE OUT AGAINST CORRUPTION AND ELITISM.

HE PUSHED MEXICAN BISHOPS TO DENOUNCE DRUG VIOLENCE MORE FORCEFULLY.

DURING A VISIT TO AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN AMONG THE HARDEST HIT BY THE DRUG WARS FRANCIS TOLD YOUNG PEOPLE THEY ARE THE HOPE FOR MEXICO'S FUTURE.

AND IN A VISIT TO MEXICO'S INDIGENOUS SOUTH HE CRITICIZED THE EXPLOITATION OF NATIVE CULTURES.

>>> THE POPE'S TRIP ENDED WITH A HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED STOP IN CIUDAD JUAREZ, ACROSS THE BORDER FROM EL PASO.

MANY PEOPLE SAW THAT STOP AS A POWERFUL DEMONSTRATION OF FRANCIS' CONCERN FOR IMMIGRANTS.

KIM LAWTON HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: IT WAS A DRAMATIC MOMENT -- POPE FRANCIS STANDING ON A PLATFORM AT THE BORDER BETWEEN THE U.S. AND MEXICO, SILENTLY PRAYING AT A MAKESHIFT MEMORIAL BUILT TO HONOR THE THOUSANDS WHO HAVE DIED TRYING TO CROSS THE BORDER.

HE BLESSED THE MEMORIAL, AND THEN HE BLESSED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WATCHING FROM THE AMERICAN SIDE OF THE FENCE, AMONG THEM FAMILIES WHO ARE SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE U.S. DURING A MASS IN A NEARBY FAIRGROUND, FRANCIS APPEALED TO PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER TO SHOW COMPASSION AND MERCY IN WHAT HE CALLED "THE HUMAN TRAGEDY" OF FORCED MIGRATION.

HE SAID TOO MANY PEOPLE IN CENTRAL AMERICA ARE VICTIMS OF POVERTY, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND VIOLENCE FROM GANGS AND DRUG DEALERS.

HE ADDED, "THIS CRISIS WHICH CAN BE MEASURED IN NUMBERS AND STATISTICS, WE WANT INSTEAD TO MEASURE WITH NAMES, STORIES, FAMILIES."

FRANCIS, WHO IS THE SON OF ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS IN ARGENTINA, CITED THE BIBLICAL PROPHET JONAH, SAYING "TO WEEP OVER INJUSTICE, TO CRY OVER CORRUPTION -- THESE ARE TEARS THAT LEAD TO TRANSFORMATION."

IT WAS A MESSAGE ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECEIVED BOTH IN JUAREZ AND ACROSS THE BORDER IN EL PASO, WHERE PEOPLE HAD ALSO GATHERED.

BUT THE VISIT ALSO GENERATED SOME POLITICAL CRITICISM ON THIS SIDE OF THE BORDER.

GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DONALD TRUMP TOLD A FOX BUSINESS NETWORK PROGRAM HE THOUGHT FRANCIS WAS MANIPULATED BY MEXICO.

TRUMP SAID HE DIDN'T THINK THE POPE UNDERSTANDS WHAT HE CALLED "THE DANGER OF THE OPEN BORDER THAT WE HAVE WITH MEXICO."

ON THE PLANE HEADED BACK TO ROME, FRANCIS WAS SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT TRUMP'S PLAN TO BUILD A WALL BETWEEN THE U.S. AND MEXICO.

THE POPE RESPONDED, "A PERSON WHO THINKS ONLY ABOUT BUILDING WALLS AND NOT BUILDING BRIDGES IS NOT CHRISTIAN."

MEANWHILE, MANY U.S.

ADVOCATES OF COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM HOPE FRANCIS' WORDS AND ACTIONS WILL BRING A NEW MORAL AUTHORITY TO THEIR CAUSE.

>> IT IS HUGELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE VOICE OF POPE FRANCIS.

>> Reporter: JEANNE ATKINSON IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CATHOLIC LEGAL IMMIGRATION NETWORK, OR CLINIC, AN ORGANIZATION FOUNDED BY THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS TO PROTECT THE DIGNITY AND RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS.

>> HE IS PUTTING A LINE AND PUTTING A FACE ON THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE.

HE'S VERY MUCH, I THINK, TELLING US WE ARE IMMIGRANTS.

THESE ARE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT'S NOT "THEY" AND "THEM."

>> Reporter: THE PLIGHT OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES HAS EMERGED AS A KEY PRIORITY FOR THIS POPE.

IN JULY 2013, FRANCIS' FIRST OFFICIAL TRIP OUTSIDE OF ROME WAS TO LAMPEDUSA, AN ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF ITALY.

THERE HE REMEMBERED THE THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS WHO DROWNED TRYING TO CROSS THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA FROM NORTH AFRICA.

LAST MONTH, DURING HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE VATICAN DIPLOMATIC CORPS, FRANCIS SPECIFICALLY HIGHLIGHTED THE MIGRANT CRISIS IN EUROPE, URGING "RESPECT FOR THE DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON, HOWEVER MUCH THEY MAY PROVE A DIFFICULT BURDEN TO BEAR."

FRANCIS IS NOT THE FIRST POPE TO SPEAK ABOUT IMMIGRATION, AND THERE IS LONG-ESTABLISHED CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING ON THE ISSUE.

>> THE STORY OF MIGRATION IS ROOTED IN OUR HISTORY AS CATHOLICS.

I MEAN, IT'S EVERYTHING FROM THE JEWISH PEOPLE'S EXILE IN EXODUS TO THE HOLY FAMILY'S FLIGHT TO EGYPT.

IN THE FIRST FIVE BOOKS OF HEBREW SCRIPTURE, TAKING CARE OF THE ALIEN, THE STRANGER, WAS MENTIONED 36 TIMES.

SO THIS IS WHO WE ARE AS AMERICAN CATHOLICS.

WE ARE AN IMMIGRANT PEOPLE AND AN IMMIGRANT CHURCH.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO TEACHING PRINCIPLES OUTLINED IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CATECHISM, PROSPEROUS NATIONS ARE OBLIGATED, "TO THE EXTENT THEY ARE ABLE, TO WELCOME THE FOREIGNER IN SEARCH OF THE SECURITY AND MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD WHICH HE CANNOT FIND IN HIS COUNTRY OF ORIGIN."

>> THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SAYS PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT NOT TO MIGRATE, SO THEY SHOULD HAVE WHAT THEY NEED AT HOME SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE.

IF THEY DO HAVE TO LEAVE, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO MIGRATE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> Reporter: CATHOLIC TEACHING DOES RECOGNIZE THAT SOVEREIGN NATIONS HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONTROL THEIR BORDERS IN PURSUIT OF THE COMMON GOOD.

BUT THAT ENFORCEMENT MUST NOT VIOLATE INDIVIDUALS' DIGNITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

ATKINSON ARGUES THAT MANY MIGRANTS HAVE COME TO THE US FLEEING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND EXTREME POVERTY.

SHE BELIEVES THE U.S. POLICY OF DETAINING AND DEPORTING MIGRANTS WHO DON'T HAVE A LEGAL STATUS OFTEN DOES VIOLATE HUMAN DIGNITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT DIVIDES FAMILIES.

>> IN THE LAST SIX YEARS, SEVEN YEARS, THIS COUNTRY'S DEPORTED WELL MORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE.

THOSE PEOPLE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS.

THEY ARE PARENTS OF U.S. CITIZENS.

THEY ARE CHILDREN OF PERMANENT RESIDENTS.

IT'S PULLING FAMILIES APART, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT IS WRONG.

>> Reporter: ATKINSON SAYS SHE HAS BEEN CONCERNED BY THE RECENT RISE OF ANTI-IMMIGRANT SENTIMENTS IN SOME PARTS OF THE U.S. >> THE RHETORIC BREAKS MY HEART.

I THINK AS A COUNTRY WE SEE OURSELVES ROOTED IN IDEALS AND THEY'RE IDEALS ON JUSTICE AND DUE PROCESS AND LIBERTY, NOT ETHNICITY, RELIGION, RACE.

>> Reporter: SHE HOPES IMAGES OF THE POPE STANDING AT THE BORDER IN SOLIDARITY WITH IMMIGRANTS WILL TRANSFORM HEARTS AND MINDS HERE IN THE U.S. >> THAT'S A STATEMENT.

I MEAN, HE'S TALKING ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE, THAT IT'S NOT THE UGLY RHETORIC THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THIS VOCAL MINORITY.

IT'S NOT THE FEAR-MONGERING AND THE HATRED, BUT THAT AMERICANS ARE A PEOPLE WHO DO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF OTHER PEOPLE, THE VALUE THAT IMMIGRANTS BRING TO OUR SOCIETY.

AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE, CATHOLIC AND NON-CATHOLIC TO HEAR.

>> Reporter: I'M KIM LAWTON REPORTING.

>> ALSO AT THAT PRESS CONFERENCE ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE, FRANCIS IMPLIED CONTRACEPTIVES MIGHT BE ACCEPTABLE TO PREVENT WOMEN FROM GETTING PREGNANT IN AREAS WHERE THE ZIKA VIRUS IS THREATENING BABIES.

THE POPE FIRMLY REJECTED ABORTION AS AN OPTION, CALLING IT AN "ABSOLUTE EVIL."

BUT HE NOTED THAT IN THE 1960s, POPE PAUL VI ALLOWED NUNS IN THE CONGO TO USE CONTRACEPTIVES TO AVOID GETTING PREGNANT DUE TO RAPE.

>>> FRANCIS BEGAN HIS TRIP A WEEK AGO WITH AN HISTORIC MEETING IN CUBA WITH RUSSIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCH KIRILL.

THE PATRIARCH STAYED ON IN CUBA WHERE HE WAS HONORED BY PRESIDENT RAUL CASTRO AND MET PRIVATELY WITH FIDEL CASTRO.

THEN KIRILL TRAVELED TO ANTARCTICA, WHERE HE LED SERVICES IN A RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH AT A RUSSIAN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH STATION.

HE ALSO SAW SOME OF THE WILDLIFE.

A SPOKESMAN SAID THE TRIP SHOWED THE GLOBAL REACH OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH.

>>> DURING A VATICAN-SPONSORED COURSE FOR NEW BISHOPS LAST YEAR A PSYCHOLOGIST TOLD CLERGY THAT THE DECISION TO REPORT SUSPECTED SEXUAL ABUSE SHOULD BE UP TO VICTIMS AND FAMILIES.

IN RESPONSE, THE PONTIFICAL COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORS RELEASED THIS WEEK A STRONGLY-WORDED STATEMENT.

IT SAID CATHOLIC BISHOPS HAVE A MORAL AND ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT SUSPECTED CHILD SEX ABUSE TO THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES.

>>> HUMANITARIAN GROUPS ARE URGING THAT LEADERS FOLLOW THROUGH WITH A SYRIAN CEASEFIRE SO THAT AID CAN BE DELIVERED.

MEANWHILE, SOME HAVE BLAMED RUSSIA FOR AIR STRIKES THAT HIT FIVE MEDICAL CENTERS AND TWO SCHOOLS IN NORTHERN SYRIA, KILLING AT LEAST 50 CIVILIANS.

RUSSIA HAS DENIED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE AIR STRIKES.

A DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS CLINIC WAS AMONG THE FACILITIES HIT.

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CLINIC HAS LEFT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 WITHOUT ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE.

A HOSPITAL SUPPORTED BY THE EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN GROUP WORLD VISION WAS ALSO DAMAGED.

A RECENT REPORT SAID FIVE YEARS OF CIVIL WAR IN SYRIA HAVE LED TO THE DEATH OF ALMOST 500,000 PEOPLE.

>>> THE EL NINO WEATHER PHENOMENON HAS CAUSED DROUGHT AND FLOODING ACROSS AFRICA, SPARKING WARNINGS OF FAMINE.

ETHIOPIA HAS BEEN HARDEST HIT WITH MORE THAN 400,000 CHILDREN UNDER FIVE IN THE COUNTRY EXPECTED TO SUFFER FROM SEVERE MALNUTRITION THIS YEAR.

ANOTHER MILLION WILL NEED TREATMENT FOR MODERATE MALNUTRITION.

CHARITIES SUCH AS "SAVE THE CHILDREN" SAY EMERGENCY FOOD AID WILL RUN OUT IN APRIL UNLESS DONORS PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $245 MILLION.

THE UNITED NATIONS ALSO WARNED THAT HUNGER IN NEIGHBORING SOUTH SUDAN COULD REACH UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS.

>>> THIS WEEK, THE NATION HAS BEEN REMEMBERING SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA, WHO DIED UNEXPECTEDLY LAST SATURDAY WHILE ON A HUNTING TRIP IN TEXAS.

WE WANTED TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SCALIA'S LEGACY AND THE IMPACT HIS DEATH MAY HAVE ON SOME KEY UPCOMING CASES.

WITH ME ARE MANAGING EDITOR KIM LAWTON AND OUR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT, TIM O'BRIEN.

TIM, THANKS AND KIM, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

TIM, WHAT WAS HIS EFFECT ON THE COURT?

>> OH, IT WAS ENORMOUS.

HE WAS A DEEP THINKER AND A GREAT WRITER, AND HE HAD AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON THE THINKING OF HIS FELLOW JUSTICES AND THE THINKING OF THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW THE LAW AND FOLLOW THE COURT.

NOW MANY OF THE CASES THAT COME BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT ARE NOT CONTROVERSIAL.

THEY'RE NOT IDEOLOGICAL.

BUT THE ISSUES THAT SPLIT THE COUNTRY, THE SOCIALLY DIVISIVE, POLITICALLY CONTENTIOUS ISSUES, THEY SPLIT THE COURT FIVE TO FOUR, AND HE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

HIS VOTE WILL BE LOST.

FOR CONSERVATIVES, THAT'S A BIG LOSS.

>> WELL, ON ABORTION HE WAS AN OPPONENT OF ABORTION, NOT HE SAID BECAUSE OF HIS CATHOLIC FAITH PER SE, BUT BECAUSE WHEN HE LOOKED AT THE CONSTITUTION HE DIDN'T SEE A RIGHT TO ABORTION THERE.

AND WE'VE GOT THIS BIG ABORTION CASE COMING UP NEXT WEEK.

>> MARCH 2, AND HE WON'T BE THERE.

HE SAID THE SUPREME COURT, THE CONSTITUTION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ABORTION AND THAT SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE STATES.

HE WAS A VERY STRONG INFLUENCE ON RELIGION CASES.

HE FAVORED MORE GOVERNMENT ACCOMMODATION OF RELIGION.

THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WOULD SPLIT THE COURT FIVE TO FOUR.

>> AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CASES ALONG THOSE LINES THIS TERM STILL COMING UP AS WELL.

>> SURE, THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR CHALLENGING THE CONTRACEPTION MANDATE IN OBAMACARE.

>> AND EVANGELICAL GROUPS ARE ALSO PART OF THAT.

>> WANTING AID TO CHURCHES.

AGAIN, THEY'RE FIVE TO FOUR.

THOSE CASES, I THINK, MIGHT HAVE GONE IN FAVOR OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, MIGHT HAVE GONE IN FAVOR OF LITTLE SISTERS.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSE, FIVE TO FOUR.

NOW IT WOULD BE FOUR TO FOUR, MEANING THE LOWER COURT WILL BE AFFIRMED BY AN EQUALLY DIVIDED COURT OR MORE LIKELY, THE CASE WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR RE-ARGUMENT WHEN THEY HAVE FULL NINE JUSTICES AND WHO KNOWS WHEN THAT WILL BE.

>> THE WHOLE POLITICS AROUND THIS HAS ALSO BECOME VERY INTERESTING.

FAITH-BASED GROUPS ARE RIGHT THERE ALONG WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.

I MEAN, ALREADY I'M HEARING ABOUT HOW THERE IS LOBBYING GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES AND STRATEGIZING, INCLUDING MANY OF THE RELIGIOUS GROUPS.

HOW BIG OF A FACTOR DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE JUST IN TERMS OF THE COURT BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD?

>> WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.

IT WILL PLAY OUT IN THE ELECTION.

REPUBLICANS HOLD FAST AND SAY THEY WILL BLOCK ANY NOMINATION, WON'T HOLD HEARINGS UNTIL JANUARY.

THAT MEANS NOT ONLY THIS TERM OF THE COURT WILL THE COURT ESSENTIALLY BE CRIPPLED ON THE BIG ISSUES, BUT ALSO THE 2017 TERM OF THE COURT WILL ALSO BE CRIPPLED.

SO THESE ISSUES WILL BE OUT THERE WAITING FOR RESOLUTION, IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME.

STILL MANY CONSERVATIVES SAY IT'S WORTH IT BECAUSE THE STAKES IN THIS NOMINATION ARE SO HIGH AND THIS SINGLE APPOINTMENT COULD SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE DIRECTION OF THE COURT.

>> TIM O'BRIEN, MANY THANKS.

I THINK WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE OFTEN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> KIM, MANY THANKS TO YOU.

>>> YOU MIGHT ASSUME THAT STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SEMINARIES ARE ALL VERY RELIGIOUS.

BUT CORRESPONDENT DAN LOTHIAN REPORTS ON DIVINITY SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE STUDYING THERE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT CURRICULUM IS THE BASIS FOR LIVING A GOOD LIFE.

♪♪ >> Reporter: SLAVA VAKARCHUK IS UKRAINE'S BIGGEST ROCK STAR.

HE'S THE FRONT MAN OF THE POPULAR BAND OKEAN ELZY.

♪♪ RAISED IN THE ORTHODOX TRADITION, THE SELF-DESCRIBED CHRISTIAN JUMPED ONTO THE STAGE AS A TEENAGER, AND ALL THESE YEARS LATER VAKARCHUK HAS BECOME AN INSTITUTION, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF HIS MUSIC, BUT HIS SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVISM.

THESE DAYS HIS SURROUNDINGS ARE A BIT QUIETER ON THE CAMPUS OF YALE UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE'S A cé WORLD FELLOW TAKING CLASSES AT THE DIVINITY SCHOOL.

YES, A ROCK STAR IN SEMINARY.

>> I'M JUST AN INQUISITIVE PERSON.

YOU KNOW?

I LIKE STUDYING.

I LIKE LEARNING NEW THINGS.

I NEVER HAD ANYTHING FROM -- YOU KNOW, FROM THE THEOLOGIANS OR TAKING CLASSING IN THEOLOGY OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

I WAS VERY CURIOUS, AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> Reporter: AND IT SEEMS VAKARCHUK ISN'T THE ONLY ONE "HAPPY TO BE HERE."

HE'S PART OF A GROWING TREND AT DIVINITY SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE STUDENTS ARE ENROLLING IN SIMILAR PROGRAMS SIMPLY TO STUDY THEOLOGY WITH NO INTENTION OF EVER BECOMING ORDAINED AS CLERGY.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO TO YALE UNIVERSITY OR THE OTHER UNIVERSITIES TO STUDY HISTORY IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BECOME A HISTORIAN OR TEACH HISTORY SCHOOL.

SOMETIMES YOU WANT TO KNOW HISTORY BECAUSE KNOWING HISTORY ENRICHES YOU, BROADENS UP YOUR MIND, HORIZONS, AND MAKES YOU A WISER PERSON.

THE SAME THING WITH THEOLOGY.

>> Reporter: AND THIS DESIRE TO BROADEN THE MIND IS ALSO ATTRACTING OTHER STUDENTS FROM FAR-AWAY PLACES WITH SURPRISING BELIEF SYSTEMS.

>> ONE OF THE STUDENTS, FOR INSTANCE, TOLD US THAT SHE HAD THE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

SHE HERSELF IS AN ATHEIST FROM INDIA.

>> Reporter: SHE'S AN ATHEIST FROM INDIA -- >> WHO CAME AS A YALE STUDENT AND WHO TOOK OUR CLASS.

WE WELCOME ATHEISTS.

WE WELCOME THEISTS.

WE WELCOME RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WHO AREN'T THEIST.

EVERYBODY'S WELCOMED.

INDEED, WE TRY TO HAVE A VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF FOLKS.

WHAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW, OR DIDN'T SEE, OR DIDN'T EXPERIENCE BEFORE IS THAT SHE WOULD HAVE PERMISSION TO THINK IN ACADEMIC TERMS ABOUT THE GREAT QUESTION OF LIFE.

FOR HER, THAT WAS A REVELATION.

>> Reporter: PROFESSOR MIROSLAV VOLF, A PROMINENT THEOLOGIAN AND HEAD OF THE YALE CENTER FOR FAITH AND CULTURE, IS TEACHING SEVERAL COURSES AT YALE THAT GIVE STUDENTS PERMISSION TO THINK IN AN ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT ABOUT THE GREAT QUESTIONS OF LIFE.

"CHRIST AND THE GOOD LIFE" AND "A LIFE WORTH LIVING" ARE DRAWING STUDENTS WITH DIVERSE INTERESTS THAT ALL HAVE SIMILAR INTENTIONS.

>> WHAT MOTIVATED THESE COURSES IS THE SENSE THAT IN CULTURE TODAY WE TEND TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT HOW TO SUCCEED IN ONE OR THE OTHER ENDEAVOR THAT WE UNDERTAKE, BUT WE TEND TO SPEND VERY LITTLE TIME THINKING ABOUT HOW WE SUCCEED AS A HUMAN BEING.

>> Reporter: TEACHING HOW TO SUCCEED AS A HUMAN BEING ALSO INCLUDES EXPLORING HISTORICAL, PHILOSOPHICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL LESSONS.

THE COURSE HAS DEEPENED STUDENT TAYLOR BOLTON'S UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE.

>> I ALSO BELIEVE THAT NOTHING IS COMPLETELY ACADEMIC.

NOTHING IS COMPLETELY SOCIAL, AND THERE'S A SPIRITUAL COMPONENT, I THINK TO EVERYTHING.

>> Reporter: AND THE SPIRITUAL COMPONENT SEEMS TO BE AN ELEMENT STUDENTS ARE SEEKING TO EXPLORE IN A DEEPER WAY.

THE STUDY OF RELIGION OFFERS A DIFFERENT BUT WELCOME FOUNDATION.

>> IT'S NOT THAT I NEED TO BE CONVERTED OR NOR THAT I NEED TO GET A JOB AFTER THAT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO GO DEEPER.

THIS IS IT.

>> Reporter: WHETHER IT'S A ROCK STAR OR A BUSINESS MAJOR, THE ELEMENTS OF SPIRITUALITY ARE BEING STUDIED AS THE BASIS FOR LIVING A GOOD LIFE.

AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY, GREGORY EPSTEIN, WHO IS THE HUMANIST CHAPLAIN AND DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS AN AGNOSTIC AND ATHEIST, FIGURED OUT A LONG TIME AGO THAT THERE WAS MORE TO RELIGION THAN RELIGION.

HE'S BEEN RECRUITING OTHERS, INCLUDING NON-BELIEVERS, TO THE DIVINITY SCHOOL.

>> A LOT OF WHAT RELIGION IS ABOUT ON THE DAY-TO-DAY LEVEL FOR PEOPLE IS EXPLORING WHAT'S MOST MEANINGFUL TO PEOPLE, EXPLORING COMMUNITY AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO COME TOGETHER WITH A COMMUNITY TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

THAT WAS THE TOPIC I WANTED TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE LEARNING ABOUT.

>> Reporter: AND COMING TOGETHER IS EXACTLY WHAT HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL STUDENT CHRISTOPHER RAICHE IS HOPING TO ACHIEVE.

HE FOUNDED A GROUP CALLED WHITE PEOPLE AGAINST RACISM TO FIGHT SOCIAL INJUSTICE.

ALTHOUGH HE DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS "NOT VERY THEISTIC," HE USES THE FUNDAMENTALS OF RELIGION TO TRY TO CHANGE SOME OF THE ATTITUDES THAT PERPETUATE RACISM.

>> THE WAYS THAT RELIGIONS HAVE DEVELOPED PRACTICES, LITURGIES AND METHODS FOR CULTIVATING THE HEART FOR OPENING US UP TO THE CURIOUS QUALITY OF BEING HERE AS A HUMAN AND HOW TO LIVE BEAUTIFULLY, HOW TO LIVE DEEPLY, THAT IS JUST TO ME THE REAL TREASURE.

I'M JUST SEEING AND APPRECIATING HOW THAT IS LIVED SO DEEPLY BY SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT FAITHS.

>> Reporter: RAICHE'S GROUP MEETS AT THE HUMANIST HUB, AN OFF-CAMPUS PLACE EPSTEIN CREATED TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

THEY MEET ON SUNDAYS.

THEY READ POEMS, SING SONGS AND LISTEN TO GUEST SPEAKERS.

IN FACT, IT EVEN FEELS A LITTLE LIKE, WELL, CHURCH.

BUT IT ISN'T.

>> I'M FINDING MORE AND MORE THAT NONRELIGIOUS PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AROUND AND SAYING, WAIT A SECOND.

I'M NOT RELIGIOUS, BUT I DO MISS THE IDEA OF COMMUNITY THAT I WOULD GET IF I WERE RELIGIOUS.

I WISH I COULD FIND SOME KIND OF NONRELIGIOUS ALTERNATIVE TO THAT KIND OF COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: AS RAICHE SEES IT, THE HUMANIST HUB IS ONE COMPELLING ANSWER.

>> IT'S ALL AIMING TOWARD HOW TO BE A MORE INTIMATE PARTICIPANT IN CIVIC LIFE AND IN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD, DOING IT THROUGH ECONOMICS, SCIENCE, ART, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE RELIGIOUSLY UNAFFILIATED, INCLUDING ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTICS, IS ON THE RISE -- NOW ABOUT A FIFTH OF THE U.S. POPULATION.

SOME ARE TURNED OFF BY TOO MUCH POLITICS AND TOO MANY RULES IN ORGANIZED RELIGION.

OTHERS SAY FAITH AND FACTS DON'T ADD UP.

BUT THOSE NUMBERS DON'T MEAN NON-BELIEVERS CAN'T FIND VALUE IN RELIGION, ITS TRADITIONS AND EVEN THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS.

THIS IS A TOPIC AUTHOR TOM KRATTENMAKER EXPLORES IN HIS NEW BOOK "CONFESSIONS OF A SECULAR JESUS FOLLOWER."

>> I'VE BEEN SENSING AND HEARING FROM OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PART OF ORGANIZED RELIGION ANYMORE, BUT WHO REALLY ADMIRE JESUS.

THEY'RE NOT QUITE SURE IF JESUS IS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

THEY'RE NOT QUITE SURE IF IT'S LEGIT FOR THEM TO ENGAGE WITH JESUS AS A NONRELIGIOUS PERSON.

I WANTED TO MAKE JESUS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE LIKE THAT, INCLUDING ME.

I WANTED TO ARTICULATE WHAT IT IS ABOUT JESUS THAT APPEALS TO ME AND MAKES ME INSPIRED BY JESUS.

>> Reporter: AND WHAT EXACTLY DOES JESUS OFFER NON-BELIEVERS, BESIDES SALVATION?

>> THERE'S ETHICAL INSTRUCTION.

THERE'S INSPIRATION.

THERE ARE THESE VERY RICH STORIES THAT HELP US REORIENT THE WAY WE SEE THE WORLD AND THE WAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES.

IT'S AMAZING THAT THESE STORIES FROM 2,000 YEARS AGO ARE SO SALIENT AND HELPFUL TODAY.

>> Reporter: THOSE SENTIMENTS ARE ECHOED BY VOLF BACK IN THE CLASSROOM AT YALE.

AND WHILE ALL VIEWS ARE WELCOMED AND RESPECTED, HE DOES NOT WAVER ON HIS OWN BELIEFS.

>> FROM THE GET-GO IN THE CLASS IT'S CLEAR THAT I AM A CHRISTIAN.

I BELIEVE THAT CHRISTIAN FAITH IS TRUE.

I WOULD BE HAPPY IF A PERSON WOULD EMBRACE THIS, BUT MY GOAL IS NOT TO EVANGELIZE THEM, TO TURN THEM INTO CHRISTIANS.

MY GOAL AS A TEACHER IS TO REFEREE THEIR OWN SEARCH, WHERE THEY TAKE SERIOUSLY THE QUESTION OF TRUTH.

>> Reporter: AND STUDENTS LIKE VAKARCHUK, CURIOUS ABOUT THEOLOGY, AND OTHER BELIEVERS SEEKING TO ENRICH THEIR LIVES AS THEY LAUNCH INTO SECULAR CAREERS, SAY DIVINITY SCHOOL WILL HAVE A LASTING INFLUENCE.

FOR "RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY," I'M DAN LOTHIAN IN BOSTON.

>>> FINALLY, TIBETAN BUDDHISTS ARE CELEBRATING WHAT THEY CALL A MONTH OF MIRACLES.

APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MONKS AND OTHER BUDDHIST FOLLOWERS GATHERED IN INDIA WITH THE KARMAPA LAMA, ONE OF THE TOP LEADERS IN TIBETAN BUDDHISM.

THEY OFFERED PRAYERS FOR WORLD PEACE.

>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR NOW.

I'M BOB ABERNETHY.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK AND WATCH US ANYTIME ON THE PBS APP FOR iPHONES AND iPADS.

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JOIN US AT PBS.ORG AS WE LEAVE YOU, CHRISTIAN ARTIST TOBYMAC, SINGING HIS HIT SINGLE "FEEL IT."

HE WON A GRAMMY AWARD THIS PAST WEEK FOR BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM.

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