Educated people who live in rich countries are far less likely to say belief in God is necessary for good morals, according to a massive new survey of 38,000 people in 34 countries. The survey, released Monday by the Pew Research Center, revealed a gaping "God gap" between relatively rich and poor countries.

IN times of great peril, man turns to his deity or the unknown for his survival. This is how religion evolved over the millennia: The primordial longing to be extricated from whatever difficulties he is faced with. This is, perhaps, also the evolution of prayer, starting as incantations to implore the gods for a “deus ex machina.” These are the miracles, inexplicable events attributable to those greater than him.

Three northern California churches are suing Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and other public health officials over a ban on singing and chanting in houses of worship during the coronavirus crisis.

It was only in the 19th century the West became aware of Buddhism as a religion in its own right – but the Buddha had been a Christian saint for centuries.

Filmmaker Mike Arthur’s new film “I, Pastafari” explores the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and its “millions” of adherents. Here, he writes about this wild new religion.

A survey released Thursday found that 30% of German Catholics are considering leaving the Church. The poll, conducted by the research institute INSA Consulere for the Catholic weekly newspaper Die Tagespost, reported that almost a third of respondents agreed with the statement “I am a member of the Church and can imagine leaving the Church soon.”

The virus has infiltrated Sunday services, church meetings and youth camps. More than 650 cases have been linked to reopened religious facilities. Weeks after President Trump demanded that America’s shuttered houses of worship be allowed to reopen, new outbreaks of the coronavirus are surging through churches across the country where services have resumed.

A fascinating question, and an intriguing study, come to us via University of Nevada Reno psychologist Daniel Jones and four co-authors. The team looked into the tension between the Golden Rule that is considered to be at the heart of most religions, and the savagery that millions of believers are so clearly capable of.

In appearing with Bible in hand at the time of crisis, Trump is signaling his position as defender of traditional, while 'othering' detractors. Russia's Putin and India's Modi have done similar.

No one accuses Donald Trump of subtlety. When the US president raised a Bible overhead on Monday evening outside St John’s Episcopal church in Washington DC, the sign was unmistakable: an appeal to his evangelical base for loyalty, as protests and riots roared across America. Not every Christian answered the call. The Rev Gini Gerbasi, an Episcopal priest, said police used teargas to drive her and others from St John’s before Trump’s appearance. “They turned holy ground into a battleground,” she told Religion News Service.

Why are we here? What is our purpose? Why are U.S. service members not allowed to grow beards? It is questions such as these, which tug at mankind’s innermost curiosities, that religions have endeavored to answer since the beginning of time. For some of those faiths, proper observance necessitates the growth of facial hair.

When it comes to organised religion, the US is looking less and less exceptional

The burning of a church in northern Mississippi this week is being investigated as arson because of a spray-painted message at the scene that seemed to criticize the church’s defiance of coronavirus restrictions.

Poll found 31% feel strongly that God is telling humanity to change with the same number feeling that somewhat

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Late last month, the Vatican announced the coronavirus pandemic had forced Pope Francis to postpone an annual fund raising campaign among Catholics worldwide to help him carry out his ministry.

“It has to be a true supernatural intervention,” Dr. Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy said

The coronavirus pandemic has brought out the best and worst aspects of religion. Faith has inspired countless acts of generosity and goodwill while helping believers get through an extraordinarily scary and difficult time. But some believers, from Christians to Hasidic Jews, have flouted social-distancing guidelines, insisting that God will protect their congregation. And as in previous pandemics, some have gone looking for scapegoats to explain why God would allow such immense suffering.

Young people likely to challenge Islam and see themselves as less religious than previous generations

People are struggling right now. They may be out of work. They may just be bored, at home, while trying to get through this pandemic. But not Kenneth Copeland. The televangelist who said in mid-March that God told him the pandemic would “be over much sooner than you think” (but still wants you to tithe even if you’ve lost your job) and who recently delivered a prayer that said COVID-19 is “finished,” offered a different message to his gullible followers yesterday.