Posts Tagged ‘Catholic’


A child reads a Bible at home. Photo by Josh Applegate/Unsplash/Creative Commons January 19, 2021 By Jesse Smith Produced in collaboration with the Religion News Service. (RNS) — American churches have long been concerned about retaining the young people who have grown up in their pews. Christian denominations’ websites and publications are filled with analyses of why young adults[ READ FULL COLUMN ]
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Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-California, speaks during the third day of the Democratic National Convention, on Aug. 19, 2020, at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) By Ryan Burge Produced in collaboration with the Religion News Service. (RNS) — One of the most important stories coming out of the[ READ FULL COLUMN ]
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It’s no coincidence that three Rust Belt states with large populations of Catholics helped put the Democrats back in the White House in January of 2021.
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Where have all the young adults gone? Not as far from religion as one might think, according to a new study finding large numbers of twentysomethings are combining a spiritual life with religious practice.
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A growing body of research is revealing the mental health benefits of having a close personal relationship with a caring divinity. In one of the latest national studies, the more participants reported feeling God’s love, presence and guidance, the more likely they were to agree they are a person of worth.
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No one factor tells the whole story of why attitudes toward homosexuality vary widely across national borders. But new research is helping to unravel why, despite the fact most world religions have proscriptions against homosexual practices, some nations are much more tolerant than others.
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Can religion help reduce violent crime? Two new studies suggest the answer is yes, both by creating a moral climate that fosters respect among neighbors and by helping to form individual consciences of young adults. Communities with high levels of active participation in congregations may be particularly effective in reducing assaults, rapes and murders in some poor areas that are most likely to suffer from violent crimes, the research indicates.
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Much of the conflict over issues of sexuality takes place at the national level. But individual congregations, not denominations, ultimately decide how gay and lesbian worshippers will be accepted in religious communities. New studies are providing insights into which congregations are more likely to be welcoming to gays and lesbians, and what this means for the future.
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