Ethics + Religion – The Conversation – Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and more

Hands type on a keyboard, as the words 'credit score' and a colored chart float above.

Hands type on a keyboard, as the words 'credit score' and a colored chart float above.

Moral metrics: Are corporate algorithms becoming our new moral authorities?

Beth DuFault, University of Portland

A girl in a red skirt looks up at a wall full of Chinese script in large characters, against a white background.

A girl in a red skirt looks up at a wall full of Chinese script in large characters, against a white background.

What an ancient Chinese philosopher can teach us about Americans’ obsession with college rankings

Stephen Chen, Wellesley College

The long history of silent meditation retreats and the individuals who helped shape them

Daniel M. Stuart, University of South Carolina

A brightly lit pagoda standing within a green-painted wall, surrounded by trees.

A brightly lit pagoda standing within a green-painted wall, surrounded by trees.

When US fights in the Middle East, American Muslim students often face discrimination

Amaarah DeCuir, American University

A group of people hold American flags and signs and stand near a collection of items spread on the ground.

A group of people hold American flags and signs and stand near a collection of items spread on the ground.

Violent acts in houses of worship are rare but deadly – here’s what the data shows

James Densley, Metropolitan State University and Jillian Peterson, Hamline University

A small group of men and women in winter coats escort children down a paved road, with lots of cars in the background.

A small group of men and women in winter coats escort children down a paved road, with lots of cars in the background.

Young Latinos – and their commitment to social justice – are shaping the future of the Catholic Church

Hosffman Ospino, Boston College and Timothy Matovina, University of Notre Dame

Someone holds up a candle that seems illuminated from within against the dark night sky.

Someone holds up a candle that seems illuminated from within against the dark night sky.

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Religion and immigration

Someone holds up a candle that seems illuminated from within against the dark night sky.

Someone holds up a candle that seems illuminated from within against the dark night sky.

Young Latinos – and their commitment to social justice – are shaping the future of the Catholic Church

Hosffman Ospino, Boston College and Timothy Matovina, University of Notre Dame

Why standing in solidarity with immigrants is an act of accompaniment in Catholic philosophy

Kristy Nabhan-Warren, University of Iowa

People wearing winter jackets, hats and gloves stand with posters saying, 'ICE out now,' and 'Justice for all those murdered by ICE,' among others.

People wearing winter jackets, hats and gloves stand with posters saying, 'ICE out now,' and 'Justice for all those murdered by ICE,' among others.

Why Christian clergy see risk as part of their moral calling

Laura E. Alexander, University of Nebraska Omaha

People kneel in the snow wearing winter hats and jackets as law enforcement officers stand and walk behind them.

People kneel in the snow wearing winter hats and jackets as law enforcement officers stand and walk behind them.

Clergy protests against ICE turned to a classic – and powerful – American playlist

David W. Stowe, Michigan State University

Three people bundled up in jackets, two of them wearing stoles over their shoulders, kneel outside.

Three people bundled up in jackets, two of them wearing stoles over their shoulders, kneel outside.

Minneapolis united when federal immigration operations surged – reflecting a long tradition of mutual aid

Daniel Cueto-Villalobos, University of Minnesota

People march together, with signs saying things like 'ICE Out.'

People march together, with signs saying things like 'ICE Out.'

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Ramadan and Eid

A young girl, with her head covered, sitting on a chair.

A young girl, with her head covered, sitting on a chair.

Why Ramadan is called Ramadan: 6 questions answered

Mohammad Hassan Khalil, Michigan State University

What Ramadan means to Muslims: 4 essential reads

Kalpana Jain, The Conversation

Calls for a ‘green’ Ramadan revive Islam’s long tradition of sustainability and care for the planet

Noorzehra Zaidi, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Men fill up water bottles from a jug.

Men fill up water bottles from a jug.

Why Muslim American nonprofits are taking steps to build trust with donors during Ramadan

Shariq Siddiqui, Indiana University

A woman wearing a headdress carries a box containing cartons of food, while a younger woman walks beside her.

A woman wearing a headdress carries a box containing cartons of food, while a younger woman walks beside her.

What is Eid al-Fitr and how do Muslims celebrate it? 6 questions answered

Ken Chitwood, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

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Ancient texts

The apocrypha, Christianity’s ‘hidden’ texts, may not be in the Bible – but they have shaped tradition for centuries

Christy Cobb, University of Denver

Two open books rest on a table next to a pile of three more books.

Two open books rest on a table next to a pile of three more books.

Thecla, the beast fighter: The saint who faced down lions and killer seals is one of many ‘leading ladies’ in early Christian texts

Christy Cobb, University of Denver

Colorful flower displays positioned on either side of a lit candle and a small statue of a golden arm with a finger pointing up.

Colorful flower displays positioned on either side of a lit candle and a small statue of a golden arm with a finger pointing up.

What the ancient Indian text Bhagavad Gita can teach about not putting too much of our identity and emotions into work

Robert J. Stephens, Clemson University

A colorful painting showing a carriage being drawn by two white horses, with the charioteer holding a conch shell and a warrior prince seated at the back, with a bow and arrows.

A colorful painting showing a carriage being drawn by two white horses, with the charioteer holding a conch shell and a warrior prince seated at the back, with a bow and arrows.

What is the ‘way of the warrior’? Students investigate the arts of war and peace in this course about virtue and the ethics of violence

Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo, Hamilton College

A brightly colored illustation of two men fighting with swords on a beach as a crowd of people look on.

A brightly colored illustation of two men fighting with swords on a beach as a crowd of people look on.

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AI and Religion

‘Simulation theory’ brings an AI twist out of ‘The Matrix’ to ideas mystics and religious scholars have voiced for centuries

Rizwan Virk, Arizona State University

People sit in a darkened room whose walls and ceilings seem to be screens with neon green strings of numbers flashing across them.

People sit in a darkened room whose walls and ceilings seem to be screens with neon green strings of numbers flashing across them.

Tool of faith or digital distraction? Catholic Church offers indulgences to faithful who fast from social media

Heidi A. Campbell, Texas A&M University

An elderly man in a white skullcap passes through a crowd of people holding up phones to take pictures of him.

An elderly man in a white skullcap passes through a crowd of people holding up phones to take pictures of him.

Logging off life but living on: How AI is redefining death, memory and immortality

Patrick van Esch, Coastal Carolina University and Yuanyuan (Gina) Cui, Coastal Carolina University

a couple from the back walking in a park, the woman and background in black and white, the man a silhouette enclsoing a color view of trees and sky

a couple from the back walking in a park, the woman and background in black and white, the man a silhouette enclsoing a color view of trees and sky

AI Jesus might ‘listen’ to your confession, but it can’t absolve your sins − a scholar of Catholicism explains

Joanne M. Pierce, College of the Holy Cross

A hologram of an AI Jesus behind a latticework screen.

A hologram of an AI Jesus behind a latticework screen.

AI and Religion

Read more about AI and Religion

Religious freedom

A historical painting shows a group of formally dressed men in long coats, breeches and white wigs gathered in discussion, with one seated at a table while others stand around having conversations.

A historical painting shows a group of formally dressed men in long coats, breeches and white wigs gathered in discussion, with one seated at a table while others stand around having conversations.

What James Madison can teach Americans about religious freedom today

Corey D. B. Walker, Wake Forest University

Baptists have helped shape debate about religious freedom for over 400 years – up to today’s 10 Commandments laws

Christopher Schelin, Starr King School for the Ministry

A person walks down a hallway in the distance, with posters in italicized script lining the walls.

A person walks down a hallway in the distance, with posters in italicized script lining the walls.

The 17th-century Pueblo leader who fought for independence from colonial rule – long before the American Revolution

Peter C. Mancall, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

A stone statue of a man with a necklace and head covering, with a blanket thrown over his shoulder, stands in a tall room as men around it clap.

A stone statue of a man with a necklace and head covering, with a blanket thrown over his shoulder, stands in a tall room as men around it clap.

Why one 16th-century theologian’s advice for a bitterly divided nation holds true today

Michael Bruening, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Three small green plaques, one of which has a black-and-white illustration of a man's face, hang on a gray wall.

Three small green plaques, one of which has a black-and-white illustration of a man's face, hang on a gray wall.

Conflict at the drugstore: When pharmacists’ and patients’ values collide

Elizabeth Chiarello, Washington University in St. Louis

A bearded man in a white coat stands at a pharmacy counter talking with a young woman in a gray shirt.

A bearded man in a white coat stands at a pharmacy counter talking with a young woman in a gray shirt.

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