Event Transcript
The Future of Evangelicals: A Conversation with Pastor Rick Warren
The evangelical Christian movement historically has been defined by its members' distinctive doctrinal standards and practices. Yet in recent years, many Americans have come to understand evangelicals more by their political, rather than religious, identity. The Pew Forum invited Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., to discuss how this political association has affected the evangelical movement.
Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., at the Pew Forum on Nov. 13.
Survey
Abortion Plays Small Role in Health Reform Opposition
While most Americans oppose government funding of abortion, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that concern about abortion funding plays only a small role in driving opposition to the health care reform legislation under consideration by Congress.
Survey
Modest Rise in Concern About Islamic Extremism
The public continues to express concern about the rise of Islamic extremism in the United States and abroad, but a survey taken shortly after the deadly Nov. 5 shootings at the Fort Hood Army base shows only a modest increase in these concerns since 2007.
Survey
Majority Continues To Support Civil Unions
A new poll report finds that a clear majority of Americans favor allowing civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. Over the past year, support for civil unions has grown significantly among those who oppose same-sex marriage while remaining stable among those who favor same-sex marriage. At the same time, opponents of same-sex marriage continue to outnumber supporters overall.
Legal Analysis
In Brief: Salazar v. Buono
On Oct. 7, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that has the potential to determine the fate of a cross on display in the Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, Calif., as well as similar displays across the country. The court's decision might also determine who may bring Establishment Clause lawsuits in federal court in the future.
Survey
Support for Abortion Slips
A new poll finds that fewer Americans express support for legal abortion than in previous years. The poll reveals that Americans are now evenly divided on the question and finds less support for legal abortion among most demographic and political groups.
Photo Credits
Feeding the needy: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Gay marriage ceremony: Martin Ruetschi/Keystone/Corbis
Religious symbols: Sébastien Désarmaux/Corbis
Praying hands: iStockPhoto
Mojave cross: Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2002
Abortion protest: Corbis
Gay marriage ceremony: Martin Ruetschi/Keystone/Corbis
Religious symbols: Sébastien Désarmaux/Corbis
Praying hands: iStockPhoto
Mojave cross: Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2002
Abortion protest: Corbis
Survey
Faith-Based Programs Still Popular, Less Visible
Volunteers prepare mini pumpkin pies for homeless and poor people at St. Anthony's dining room in San Francisco.
More than eight years after former President George W. Bush unveiled his faith-based initiative to make it easier for religious groups to receive government funding to provide social services, such as feeding the needy, the policy continues to draw broad public support. But as was the case when Bush first announced the initiative, many Americans express concerns about blurring the lines between church and state.
Research Package
Special Report: Religion and Science
On Nov. 24, 1859, Charles Darwin published his groundbreaking work On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, challenging religious beliefs of his day. Nearly 150 years later, the relationship between religion and science remains complex.
Demographic report
Mapping the Global Muslim Population
A new study of more than 200 countries finds that there are 1.57 billion Muslims of all ages living in the world today, representing 23% of an estimated 2009 world population of 6.8 billion. Read the report, which includes the most up-to-date and fully sourced estimates of the size and distribution of the worldwide Muslim population, including sectarian identity, and explore the interactive maps and tables.
Survey
Muslims Widely Seen As Facing Discrimination
Eight years after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Americans see Muslims as facing more discrimination inside the U.S. than any other major religious group. Nearly six-in-ten adults say that Muslims are subject to a lot of discrimination, far more than say the same about Jews, evangelical Christians, atheists or Mormons, according to a recent survey report.
Report
The “Zeal of the Convert”: Is It the Real Deal?
A common perception about individuals who switch religions is that they are very fervent about their new faith. A new Pew Forum analysis finds that people who have switched faiths (or joined a faith after being raised unaffiliated with a religion) are indeed slightly more religious than those who have remained in their childhood faith.
More Highlights
The Forum Multimedia Page
Video and audio of Pew Forum events are now conveniently archived in one location. The multimedia page contains full video transcripts and short highlight clips of recent events, as well as audio of Forum experts' radio appearances.
Dataset
Data Files From 2007 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey Now Available
Data files from the Pew Forum's 2007 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, which included interviews with a representative sample of more than 35,000 U.S. adults, are now available to scholars and researchers. The large sample makes it possible to analyze small groups – such as agnostics, Mormons, Jews and Jehovah’s Witnesses – and to perform state-level analyses.
Report
Religious Groups Weigh In on Health Care Reform
As the political battles over health care reform intensify, religious organizations are forcefully adding their voices to the debate. A new Pew Forum report provides information on two prominent coalitions of faith-based groups that have engaged their supporters to speak out on the proposals currently before the U.S. Congress.
Top Religion Headlines
November 20, 2009
Increasing numbers of radical Islamic Web sites are spreading al-Qaida's message in English
The Associated Press
The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life is one of seven projects that make up the Pew Research Center.
November 19, 2009
Abortion Plays Small Role in Health Reform Opposition
November 18, 2009
Europeans and Americans Share Concerns About IranÂ’s Nuclear Program
November 16, 2009
Teens and Distracted Driving
November 12, 2009
Battle of the Budget Bulge
November 11, 2009