religion

Is atheism on the rise, or is religion? At times we hear polls claiming both, but new research shows it’s not that simple. 

Don’t settle for comfortable and familiar thoughts, reach for what you don’t know, says Harvard professor Stephen Greenblatt.

Rabbi Darren Levine explains how the psychology of happiness intersects with religious practice.

In 1936, a school girl named Phyllis wrote a letter to Albert Einstein to ask whether a person could believe in both science and religion. He was quick to reply.

Richard Dawkins responds to the Alt-Right, Trump’s policies, and discusses the evil potential of ideology.

Where are the four “horsewomen” of new atheism? Well, here are two of them, secular scholars Rebecca Goldstein and Susan Jacoby. 

A recent study reported that middle-aged adults who attended religious services were half as likely to die prematurely. Is religion truly a miracle drug?

Fr. Thomas Joseph White on the source of our religious inclinations.

Humans are a programmable species, and we live inside the most ancient operating system of all — ideology.

New research claims religious terrorism is on the rise, and it appears that it’s going to get worse before we see a decline in such horrendous acts. 

You have to be a little envious of those who have faith—they have a motivational force behind them that is near impossible to beat. What if there was a secular equivalent, wonders philosophy professor Sam Newlands.

Two sociologists examine how religious practice impacts African American and Latino marriages.

What does Robert Sapolsky—an “utter, complete, atheist”—think about the persistence of magical thinking in our modern world?

Physics finds no trace of God so far—but does it matter?

Research suggests that a religious edict from the Catholic Church shaped the evolution of the modern chicken.

Jesus was a revered figure and prophet in the Quran. But what exactly do Muslims believe about him?

A new study finds a connection between brain lesions and the ability of a person to consider other beliefs.

Many people will try to give you hope or sell it to you, says Richard M. Cohen, who was diagnosed with MS at 25, and has battled two bouts of cancer, but hope is an internal discovery.

Faith is absurd — let’s embrace the comedy in that.

A religious person without a sense of humor? That’s a dangerous combination.

It’s illegal, yet usually a subconscious act. So how can we scrub bias from the hiring process? 

Scientology is the true religion of America’s capitalist soul. “To me,” says Louis Theroux, “Scientology is selling spiritual hamburgers.”

Albert Einstein shared his thoughts on the meaning of life and his own spiritual views.

Although we know better intellectually, we treats celebrities as if they exist in a different realm. Is there an element of misplaced religion at work?

Scarcely noticed in the Eden story, there lurk fruitful scientific ideas about why biology generated morality. 

His Holiness Pope Francis wants to see the end of two things in this world: red sauces at diplomatic dinners, and arrogance.

Surveys reveal the least religious, most atheistic population centers in the world.

Researchers find the most common superstitions in the United States, breaking them down by gender, age and part of the country.

Researchers scan the brains of people having strong spiritual experiences.

Millions of Muslims marched to Karbala, Iraq even after suicide bombing and continued threats by ISIL. The Arbaeen pilgrimage continues to be a show of religious freedom.