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Kitty Ferguson's biography of Stephen Hawking is an important book for anyone interested in who and what we are—and where we're going.

I knew I had to talk to him. This longtime church elder would soon see my newsletter article, and he wasn't going to like it.

c. 2012 Religion News Service (RNS) The number of Muslim delegates attending the Democratic National Convention has quadrupled since 2004, according to a Muslim advocacy group. ...

c. 2012 Religion News Service...

Sister Simone Campbell, who led the summertime Nuns on the Bus tour for social justice, called the GOP budget plan “immoral” in a spirited speech at the Democratic National Convention....

"The more we read," writes James Fallows, "the more we see reminders that experiences or perceptions we thought were distinctive to us are in fact widespread, even banal." And here I thought I was the only one who ever noticed that! Fallows has in mind his admiration of the Book of Common Prayer.

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan has been a harsh critic of the Obama administration, but he is blessing Democrats and Republicans equally by giving the closing prayer at both parties’ conventions.  The Republicans invited him first, and his acceptance raised questions about whether Dolan, the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, was lending the authority of the Catholic hierarchy to the GOP. But then the Democrats shrewdly invited him to pray at their convention too. Dolan shrewdly accepted.

New today from the Century: A congregation disagrees in love, Dolan's equal opportunity praying, more.

Throughout this political season, the Bible has been used in our discourse. Should this be the case? When is the Bible helpful and when is it harmful in the public square?

At the International AIDS Conference, one thing was clear: even if a cure is found, the struggle against the virus will continue.

On the night the Democrats became the first major U.S....

The U.S....

In 1965, MLK asked religious leaders to come to Selma and march. Decades later, plans are taking shape in Montgomery to honor those who came.

I don't get that excited about the perennial calls for civility in politics. Treating others with respect is important, and I certainly have no problem with political discourse that's even friendly and good-humored. But it's not clear that the latter serves any purpose beyond itself—that it builds understanding or encourages useful moderation or enables compromise. Chatting may be generally preferable to yelling, but it's not really a solution to division and gridlock. I do, however, appreciate timely reminders that our neighbors include those we disagree with.

Leaders in mainline denominational churches crave creativity, vision and success. We like to learn from other disciplines. But is Steve Jobs the best person to teach us?

New today from the Century: The end of AIDS? Steve Jobs as a role model? More.

Garry Wills presents Ambrose as a forerunner of Desmond Tutu, who also opposed a government that intruded upon the church's claims.

c. 2012 Religion News Service...

c. 2012 Religion News Service...

Even though I grew up in a church manse, am the son of a minister and was raised by congregations of wonderful Christian believers, I had not heard the question until the summer after my j...