Abortion rights and health care are rarely far from the headlines, but they are especially hot topics given the furor over the decision — later rescinded — by the Susan G. Komen foundation to end most of its grants to Planned Parenthood.
A new survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life explores the views of American Mormons as opposed to the usual focus on how Americans view Mormons. This approach makes the findings especially valuable, and they are an important addition to ReligionLink’s resources on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Faith has been central to American politics for years, but rarely more than it has in 2012 as a Republican primary field, featuring evangelical and Catholic and Mormon candidates, vies for voters who put a premium on religious values. That dynamic is not likely to change in the general election, whoever faces President Obama.
Sports, at the professional and amateur levels, are enormously popular, and yet athletics are also linked to scandal and controversy in today’s headlines. In the case of allegations of child abuse, the crisis in sports recalls the problem in organized religions, and also highlights the nexus between religion and sports.
Mormons are at the center of the national conversation about religion in large part because of the Republican presidential primary campaign. Mitt Romney, a lifelong Mormon, is a top contender for the GOP nomination, but evangelical Christian concerns about Mormonism may impede his prospects and could recast this “Mormon moment” in American culture.
The legitimacy of the death penalty has emerged as a hot topic in the national conversation. Oregon’s governor declared a moratorium on executions, the execution of convicted murderer Troy Davis in September sparked controversy, and in October the Supreme Court heard a case whose outcome could affect the use of the death penalty.
Faith-based activists still hoping to see Congress pass immigration reform are launching the DREAM Sabbath campaign to raise awareness about the issue in houses of worship across the United States during September and October.
The Sept. 11 terror attacks seemed to confirm suspicions of some that there is an inherent connection between religion and violence. The 9/11 plotters cited Islam as their inspiration – case closed. But that explanation was considered too simple then, and 10 years later the debate on this controversial topic continues.
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