Should a pastor offer people any counseling on sex other than to maintain abstinence outside of marriage? Does saying anything about safe sex seem to condone behavior the Bible forbids? It’s a real issue in the deep South, especially in black churches, and especially regarding women. More →

January 11, 2002

All over the world and in almost every culture, the tradition of displaying scenes from the birth of Jesus has become a cherished part of the holiday season. There is even a group dedicated to keeping this Christmas tradition alive. More →

December 21, 2001

  LUCKY SEVERSON: On our calendar this week … the festival of Diwali, a word meaning “row of light.” Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs around the world observe this holiday. For Hindus and Jains, Diwali marks the beginning of the new … More →

November 9, 2001

When a person has a religious experience, what happens within the brain? What kind of changes take place? In one experiment, brain scans examine the parts of the brain that are activated during prayer. In another, mystical and religious experiences are simulated by using bursts of electrical impulses. These experiments have created no small amount of controversy. More →

November 9, 2001

BOB ABERNETHY: Mr. Hackett is with us now. Welcome. There have been a lot of estimates all over the place about the extent of the need within Afghanistan. What’s your estimate? KENNETH F. HACKETT (Executive Director, Catholic Relief Services): Our … More →

October 26, 2001

More than five weeks later, America remains deeply shaken by the events of September 11th, no more so than in New York. Correspondent Betty Rollin spoke with four religious New Yorkers of different faiths to see how they were affected. More →

October 19, 2001

As Congress worked on the antiterrorism bill, proponents argued that the FBI and police need new tools to keep up with modern technology, while others expressed concern about violating privacy and other rights. Lucky Severson reports on the new search for the right balance between national security and civil liberties. More →

October 12, 2001

As of early October 2005, 30,000 U.S. troops had been deployed to the Middle East and Central Asia, and among them were some of the country’s 2,800 military chaplains. How do chaplains help prepare U.S. forces for whatever lies ahead? In particular, how are they counseling American military personnel who are Muslim? More →

October 5, 2001

Two American aid workers in Afghanistan, 29-year-old Dayna Curry and 24-year-old Heather Mercer, were arrested by security officials and accused of preaching Christianity, which is strictly forbidden by the Taliban. More →

October 5, 2001

As the U.S. builds coalitions and deploys troops in response to last month’s attacks, an old moral question has resurfaced: In order to fight a great evil, how much evil do you have to condone? R & E discusses the implications with Nina Shea of the Center for Religious Freedom at Freedom House, Dr. Stephen Morrison of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Rev. Dr. John Wimberly, Jr. of D.C.’s Western Presbyterian Church. More →

October 5, 2001