Pew Forum Weekly Update

Faith on the Hill: The Religious Affiliations of Members of Congress

A new Pew Forum report compares the religious affiliations of the new Congress, which will be sworn in on Jan. 6, with the religious affiliations of the U.S. population as a whole. The report also examines party-level differences in religious affiliation and looks at historical trends in the religious makeup of Congress. View the report »

More from the report:
Graphic: The Religious Makeup of Congress
Dalip Singh Saund: The First Sikh Member of Congress
Leadership of the 111th Congress Reflects Religious Diversity

Report: Many Americans Say Other Faiths Can Lead to Eternal Life

Following the release of the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, commentators wondered what survey respondents - particularly Christians - had in mind when they agreed that "many religions can lead to eternal life." A new Pew Forum analysis probes this question more deeply and finds that a majority of all American Christians (52%) think at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life. View the report »

Religion and Race: A Historical and Contemporary Perspective

Some of the nation's leading journalists gathered in Key West, Fla., earlier this month for the Pew Forum's biannual Faith Angle Conference on religion, politics and public life. Professor Eddie Glaude of Princeton University discussed religion and race in the context of the 2008 presidential campaign and the challenges president-elect Obama might face when he takes office in January. Read the transcript »

U.S. Commission Decries Lack of Religious Freedom in Iraq
The bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended that Iraq be designated as a "country of particular concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act, saying that the Iraqi government has tolerated "ongoing, severe abuses of religious freedom."

In a May 2008 Q&A, Pew Forum Senior Fellow Brian Grim explained that sectarian violence, ambiguous legal protection of religious freedom, and other factors have contributed to a deteriorating situation for Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq. Read the Q&A »

December 18, 2008 - The News & Observer
Diversity Arises in More Churches
Pew Forum Senior Fellow John Green says that as congregations become more diverse, their political activity may become more varied.

Read more Pew Forum in the News articles »

Dec. 18 - Religion News Service
Architect of Religious Right Passes Away

Dec. 18 - The Associated Press
For Inauguration Prayer, Obama Splits Ticket

Dec. 18 - Religion News Service
New Health Regulation Permits 'Conscience' Exceptions

Dec. 17 - The Wall Street Journal
Bush-Era Abortion Rules Face Possible Reversal

Dec. 17 - Bloomberg.com
Madoff Case Creates Worst Loss for Jewish Charities

Dec. 16 - Rountable on Religion & Social Welfare Policy
Bush Administration Makes Final Push for Religious Hiring Rights at HHS, Labor

Dec. 14 - The Washington Post
Woman Blinded by Spurned Man Invokes Islamic Retribution

Dec. 13 - The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Vatican Reinforces Ban on Harm to Embryos

Dec. 12 - The New York Times
Faith-based Views Veer Off a Straight Political Line

Dec. 12 - Chicago Tribune
Barack Obama: The First Jewish President?

Read more Religion News »