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

a hand in a 'halt' pose pokes out from a door

a hand in a 'halt' pose pokes out from a door

Civility requires the willingness to engage – a dispute with a neighbor revealed how much motivation matters

Deborah Mower, University of Mississippi

Black and white sketches of two men shown side by side.

Black and white sketches of two men shown side by side.

From Augustine to Jefferson, the idea of separating church and state has deep religious and secular roots

Steven K. Green, Willamette University

Muslims were part of America’s story long before the republic began

Iqbal Akhtar, Florida International University

Men and women stand in separate rows, bowing their heads in prayer.

Men and women stand in separate rows, bowing their heads in prayer.

500 years ago, the first New Testament in English was published – and stirred up a hornet’s nest

Michael Bruening, Missouri University of Science and Technology

A page from an illuminated manuscript, with ornate letters and a small illustration of a man with a halo reading.

A page from an illuminated manuscript, with ornate letters and a small illustration of a man with a halo reading.

Texas approves mandatory Bible readings in public schools, reigniting a century-long debate

Charles J. Russo, University of Dayton

Two hands with painted nails reach toward a bookshelf full of black Bibles.

Two hands with painted nails reach toward a bookshelf full of black Bibles.

2026 isn’t the first time Christians have tried to claim the United States as their own

David Mislin, Temple University

A Christian cross set against the backdrop of the American flag.

A Christian cross set against the backdrop of the American flag.

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America 250

A black and white postage stamp with a small red illustration of a hand holding a flaming sword, and the words 'I have sworn...Hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.'

A black and white postage stamp with a small red illustration of a hand holding a flaming sword, and the words 'I have sworn...Hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.'

What Jefferson and Madison would have thought about ‘rededicating’ the US to God

Steven K. Green, Willamette University

For 2 centuries, Latter-day Saints have revered religious freedom – but their definition is evolving

Benjamin Park, Sam Houston State University and Nicholas Shrum, University of Virginia

A tall white building with dramatic spires stands amid trees on a day with bright blue sky.

A tall white building with dramatic spires stands amid trees on a day with bright blue sky.

How enslaved African Muslims resisted bondage through their faith and writing

Nareman Amin, Michigan State University and Leila Tarakji, Michigan State University

Two portraits displayed side by side. On the left is a man wearing a headdress and a white robe, with a Qur'an suspended around his neck. On the right is a signed black-and-white sketch depicting a man in a high-collared jacket.

Two portraits displayed side by side. On the left is a man wearing a headdress and a white robe, with a Qur'an suspended around his neck. On the right is a signed black-and-white sketch depicting a man in a high-collared jacket.

America’s musical founding father: ‘Liberty songs’ by a self-taught singer and tanner helped fuel the Revolution

David W. Stowe, Michigan State University

A faded illustration of seven men in formal coats sitting around a table, with a musical score surrounding the image.

A faded illustration of seven men in formal coats sitting around a table, with a musical score surrounding the image.

America’s founding promise of religious freedom has long coexisted with prejudice, even as many Christians have worked to confront it

David Mislin, Temple University

Several people view artwork displayed on screens outside a brick building.

Several people view artwork displayed on screens outside a brick building.

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War and peace

A man in ornate white robes and a tall gold-colored hat waves and holds a staff.

A man in ornate white robes and a tall gold-colored hat waves and holds a staff.

‘Just war’ has guided Catholic thinking on conflict for centuries – including criticism of Iran war

Valerie Morkevičius, Colgate University

Christian satellite TV has broadcast evangelical faith – and end-times prophecies – into Iran for decades

Febe Armanios, Middlebury College

An apartment building with three satellite dishes hanging out of windows, illuminated against the night sky.

An apartment building with three satellite dishes hanging out of windows, illuminated against the night sky.

Trump’s clash with the pope reenacts a 1,000-year-old question: What happens when sacred and secular power collide?

Joëlle Rollo-Koster, University of Rhode Island

A medieval-looking illustration of a man in a tall hat placing a crown on a kneeling man's head, set against a red backdrop.

A medieval-looking illustration of a man in a tall hat placing a crown on a kneeling man's head, set against a red backdrop.

Shiite grief over attacks on Iran’s sacred cities has deep historical roots

Mary Thurlkill, University of Mississippi

Several men, holding photos of Ayatollah Khamenei, raise their arms in protest.

Several men, holding photos of Ayatollah Khamenei, raise their arms in protest.

Iran’s ruling structure explained

Eric Lob, Florida International University

Hundreds of people gathered, holding green, white and red flags and carrying a large portrait.

Hundreds of people gathered, holding green, white and red flags and carrying a large portrait.

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Global religion

A shared mourning ritual helped an American soldier and an Iraqi interpreter find common ground

Steve S. Medeiros, University of Connecticut

People of different faith traditions participate in a prayer, with some standing quietly, heads bowed and arms folded.

People of different faith traditions participate in a prayer, with some standing quietly, heads bowed and arms folded.

Bonfires, Maypoles and a saint’s day: How Europe celebrates the longest day of the year

Thomas A. DuBois, University of Wisconsin-Madison

A half-circle of people stand around a fire at dusk as a few dozen people watch from a hill behind them.

A half-circle of people stand around a fire at dusk as a few dozen people watch from a hill behind them.

The sacred cloth at the center of the Hajj pilgrimage

Iqbal Akhtar, Florida International University

A large cube-like structure covered with a black cloth with minarets in the background.

A large cube-like structure covered with a black cloth with minarets in the background.

Trump administration pledges $100M in aid for Cuba, but only if Catholic or other faith-based groups distribute it

Dulce Suarez, Florida International University

A group of people eat a communal meal served by a nun.

A group of people eat a communal meal served by a nun.

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AI ethics

Why sophrosyne, an ancient Greek virtue, matters more than ever in the age of AI

Ross Channing Reed, Missouri University of Science and Technology

A yellow cartoon of a brain rests on one side of a perfectly balanced beam, set against a teal backdrop.

A yellow cartoon of a brain rests on one side of a perfectly balanced beam, set against a teal backdrop.

Is AI really ‘writing’? From a priestess to philosophers, ancient authors would have said ‘no’

Ryan Leack, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

A pale stone disk with a relief in the middle depicting four figures standing in a line, facing left.

A pale stone disk with a relief in the middle depicting four figures standing in a line, facing left.

AI is showing up in court cases – but only a human jury can grapple with the moral weight of assessing guilt

Sonali Chakravarti, Wesleyan University

An illustration of a blindfolded woman holding up the scales of justice, but all the images are made up of tiny 1s and 0s.

An illustration of a blindfolded woman holding up the scales of justice, but all the images are made up of tiny 1s and 0s.

AI’s fluency in other languages hides a Western worldview that can mislead users − a scholar of Indonesian society explains

Gareth Barkin, University of Puget Sound

An Asian woman reads on her tablet

An Asian woman reads on her tablet

AI ethics

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Ancient texts

A Tibetan painting depicts a wrathful, multi-armed deity rendered in blue and gold, surrounded by a circle of smaller attendant figures.

A Tibetan painting depicts a wrathful, multi-armed deity rendered in blue and gold, surrounded by a circle of smaller attendant figures.

‘The Tibetan Book of the Dead’ is actually not just about death

Jue Liang, Case Western Reserve University

What a Muslim folk trickster can teach us about the danger of holding a single worldview

Perin Gürel, University of Notre Dame

A man in a fake white beard and white turban leads a long line of children through a park.

A man in a fake white beard and white turban leads a long line of children through a park.

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.

How women are reinterpreting the menstrual taboos in Chinese Buddhism

Megan Bryson, University of Tennessee

Painting of women in a pond of blood with monks standing above them on land.

Painting of women in a pond of blood with monks standing above them on land.

An epic border: Finland’s poetic masterpiece, the Kalevala, has roots in 2 cultures and 2 countries

Thomas A. DuBois, University of Wisconsin-Madison

An illustration in shades of red, blue and green shows a line of men rowing a boat.

An illustration in shades of red, blue and green shows a line of men rowing a boat.

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