Ahead of the Trend

Apr

2014

How can secular and religious individuals share the same public space? Humility, humility and humility

By David Briggs

Tags: atheism, Christianity, Czechoslovakia, dialogue, humility, philosophy, Pope Francis, religious freedom, secular, seekers, spirituality, Tomas Halik, Velvet Revolution

Lifting up the virtue of humility may seem anachronistic in an age that extols self-adulation. But for Tomas Halik, a Czech priest and philosopher who won the 2014 Templeton Prize, the willingness of religious and secular individuals to engage in dialogue and learn from one another is essential to a civil society. “We must learn to share public space,” Halik declares.

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Mar

2014

Holy self-worth: Studies find religion promotes healthy body image for young women

By David Briggs

Tags: beauty, Bible, body image, depression, dieting, eating disorders, Kate Moss, mental health, prayer, religion and health, self-esteem, thinness, weight loss, worship, young women

Forget looking like Kate Moss. A developing body of research suggests faith can provide a safe haven from a secular culture that encourages women to fit into a body type that comes naturally to only about one in 20 females. Worship, prayer and a strong sense of the importance of religion may help teens and 20-somethings with eating disorders overcome feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, one new study indicated.

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Mar

2014

The Lord is their shepherd: New study reveals who reads the Bible – and why

By David Briggs

Tags: Bible, Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture, education, income, King James Bible, millennials, personal devotion, prayer, Psalms, race, religion and politics, same-sex marriage

Favorite biblical book: The Psalms. Percentage of Americans who read the Bible on their own: About half. And far and away the No. 1 reason they pick up Scripture is for personal prayer and devotion. A major new study on American Bible reading offers insights into how, why and when Americans read Scripture outside of worship.

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Ahead of the Trend columns bringing you the latest news in religion research from throughout the world.

This will be a collegial effort, enlisting the cooperation of researchers, universities, journal editors, institutes and associations of scholars to increase the impact and awareness of important findings in religion research.

About The Author

David Briggs, a former national writer for The Associated Press who holds a master's degree from Yale Divinity School, is consistently honored among the Top 10 secular religion writers and reporters in North America.

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