Religion and Faith

Christianity is not the only world religion that embraces Jesus as a holy symbol. The figure of Jesus plays a central role in Islam.
Christianity is not the only world religion that embraces Jesus as a holy symbol. The figure of Jesus plays a central role in Islam.
What's it like for a teen who's been home schooled all of her life to plunge into high school life? One Duluth girl shares her reactions in a diary of her first months in school.
Since the November election, we've been talking with congregations around Minnesota about "moral values." Exit polls suggest that many Christians cast their ballots based on moral concerns, including strong opposition to gay marriage. That issue is deeply personal for six gay or lesbian members of a St. Paul congregation.
Before the Islamic revolution of 1979, Iran was the first country in the Middle East to bring together secular and sacred law. A legal code developed in 1927 did away with gruesome Islamic punishments such as stoning and lashing. Iranian-born NPR Producer Davar Ardalan's great-grandfather was the architect of Iran's legal code in the early 1920s. Ardalan and co-producer Rasool Nafisi look at Iran's long search for a lawful society in this American RadioWorks documentary.
Negotiations continue over whether and how Iran will abandon its alleged nuclear weapons program. But the country, which George W. Bush pegged as one of three in the "Axis of Evil," is also engaged in an internal political struggle between moderate reformists and conservative hardliners. Which side will win out in next May's elections, and what impact will the outcome have on Iran's relationship to the international community?
Since the November, 2004, election, much has been said about moral values. Many people say their beliefs influence how they vote. Church groups around the region talk to us about how they define moral values.
Five to seven of every 10 prisoners released will be back. A new faith-based program in Fergus Falls is trying to slow the revolving door.
Now in its second decade, Chanukah Lights showcases short stories that explore Chanukah traditions in everyday life. This year's collection includes writings by Allegra Goodman, Gloria De Vidas Kirchheimer, Laura Kraus Melmed, Ariel Dorfman and Leslea Newman.
In the weeks since the November election, we've checked in with congregations around Minnesota, asking them to reflect back on the presidential campaign and the role of "moral values." Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson met with four members of St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis.