Religion and Spirituality

The belief that extraterrestrial life exists in the universe does not contradict faith in God, according to the Vatican’s head astronomer.

In the letter, Albert Einstein refers to religion as “childish superstition,” adding fuel to the debate over the scientist’s beliefs.

Northwestern University has withdrawn an offer to give Rev. Jeremiah Wright an honorary degree following controversy over past remarks.

Dozens of children taken from the Yearn for Zion ranch had previous broken or fractured bones, and some of the boys may have been sexually abused.

Child deaths in Wisconsin and Oregon rekindle the debate over spirituality, and whether parents are responsible for seeking medical care.

Saint Padre Pio’s preserved remains are on display in the Southern Italian town of San Giovanni Rotondo, commemorating the 40th anniversary of his death.

Reporting on polygamist sect the FLDS, the media has turned the spotlight on the female members' distinctive dress and coifed hair.

Pope Benedict XVI addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, stating that the international community must defend human rights abroad.

Pope Benedict XVI will make the first papal visit to America since Pope John Paul’s trip in 1995, to be greeted by packed stadiums, protests, and the president

The search continues for the missing 16-year-old girl who called police as the sect’s members face the difficult task of rejoining mainstream society.

After a 16-year-old girl called police about her marriage to a 50-year-old man, Texas authorities raided the compound of a polygamist Mormon sect.

On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the Pleasant Grove City v. Summum case, which highlights the issue of freedom of expression in public forums.

Some Muslims have reacted angrily to “Fitna,” a short film by Dutch filmmaker and politician Geert Wilders that argues that the Quran promotes violence. 

Pennsylvania’s Catholics could sway the state’s April 22 primary. The group has already shown strong support for Clinton.

In a five-minute audio message, Osama bin Laden took aim at Pope Benedict XVI for his role in the “new Crusade" against Islam.

Catholic church officials have ordered that St. Patrick’s Day celebrations start early this year so as not to conflict with Holy Week.

Extreme wealth, not recycling and taking illegal drugs are among the modern transgressions now viewed as mortal sins by the Holy See.

Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs has asked a team of scholars to update portions of the Hadith, Islam’s second-most sacred text after the Quran.

Schoolteacher Kamariah Ali was sentenced to two years in prison for apostasy after she renounced Islam to join a cult that worships a giant teapot.

Eleven-year-old Sanjani Shakiya, considered by many in Nepal to be the goddess Kumari, was retired from her position after traveling to America.

An Islamic scholar in Saudi Arabia says he found nothing in Islamic law to justify his country’s prohibition on women behind the wheel.

Riots followed the publication of Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad in 2005. An alleged plot to kill one of the cartoonist prompts 11 Danish newspapers to take action.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams’ call to recognize aspects of Islamic law in Britain’s legal system has met a hail of criticism.

On Feb. 7, the Turkish parliament passed a constitutional amendment allowing female university students to wear Islamic headscarves on public university campuses.

Celebrity spiritual adviser and founder of the transcendental meditation movement Maharishi Mahesh Yogi died Tuesday, aged 91, at his mansion in the Netherlands.

The Afghan Senate has issued a statement supporting the death sentence for an Afghan journalist. The condemned man distributed an article deemed “insulting to Islam.”

Like a handful of other Orthodox countries, Russia celebrates Christmas on Jan. 7. But for the former Soviet country, the festival stills bears signs of a Communist past.

The Catholic League is urging Christians to boycott the film “The Golden Compass,” claiming the movie promotes atheism among children.

Commentators evaluate the success of Mitt Romney’s Dec. 6 “Faith in America” speech, intended to boost the presidential candidate’s languishing campaign; journalists and the electorate of both political persuasions appear largely underwhelmed.