Religion and Faith

Division of church and state
California Congressman Pete Stark recently made news by acknowledging he doesn't believe in God, making him the highest-ranking elected U.S. official to do so. Midmorning looks at religion in public life, and whether Americans feel belief in a higher power is a necessity for public office.
Ministry to all
Archbishop Harry Flynn has forbidden communion at a symposium on ministering to gay Roman Catholics. Midmorning discusses the challenge of ministering to homosexuals within the church.
The power to change the brain
Conventional wisdom has long held that our brains are hardwired for life, but new research and ancient Buddhist philosophy are coming together to show that we have the power to change the brain's structure and function.
Conservative group challenges the consensus on global warming
Minnesota legislators heard testimony from scientists, religious leaders and even a polar explorer at an unusual joint committee hearing on global warming. What they didn't hear were any voices urging them not to pass laws to curb greenhouse gases. So on March 8, the American Property Coalition held its own conference: "What science really says about global warming."
The Pope, the Witch, the U and the Church
It's unusual for a student production to get any coverage in the media. But a play at the University of Minnesota is attracting more attention than the theater department ever imagined. It's inspired newspaper editorials, blogs, protests from clergy and politicians, and thousands of concerned citizen e-mails.
A public hearing convened Tuesday by the Metropolitan Airports Commission made it clear that a proposed ordinance to revoke licenses of some airport cabbies is a delicate matter with many sides saying they're not being treated fairly.
Muslim cab drivers make their case in hearing
Metropolitan Airports Commission officials are holding a hearing in an effort to resolve a dispute that has pitted freedom of religious expression against service to airport customers.
Morality in the doctor's office
A study in a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine shows that 86 percent of physicians will tell their patients about treatment options, even if the physician is morally opposed to it. The New York Times editorial page had strong words for the other 14 percent.
Tippett reflects on the meaning of faith
After dozens of conversations on the connection individuals make between spirituality, religion and real life practices, Krista Tippett collects her observations in a new book.