Religion and Spirituality

Since the mid-fourth century, Western Christians have celebrated Christmas on Dec. 25 to honor the birth date of Jesus Christ. The date is not supported by Biblical evidence, however, and the true origins of the celebration may lie in secular festivals centered around the winter solstice.

Since the mid-fourth century, Western Christians have celebrated Christmas on Dec. 25 to honor the birth date of Jesus Christ. The date is not supported by Biblical evidence, however, and the true origins of the celebration may lie in secular festivals centered around the winter solstice.

Many believe that the Shroud of Turin is Jesus Christ’s burial cloth and bears the image of his face and body, but skeptics call it a medieval forgery.

Passover is the Jewish spring holiday that celebrates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, where they were slaves. Modern Jews often use the occasion to honor various types of individual, political and social freedoms. Create a Passover celebration that’s all your own with the help of these six links.

As Christians prepare to celebrate one of the religion’s most important holidays, debate persists over evidence of Jesus Christ's resurrection.

A recent study found that intense prayer and meditation have a positive effect on mental ability, leading one researcher to suggest that it’s possible to reconcile science and religion.

In response to Anglicans dissatisfied with their Church, the Vatican has opened its doors, highlighting the differences between the two denominations.

On June 30, four women were found dead inside a car submerged in the Rideau Canal near Kingston, Ontario. Family members who mourned the deaths are now chief suspects.

Earlier this week French President Nicolas Sarkozy denounced the practice of Muslim women wearing burkas—long loose garments that hide the faces and bodies of the wearer.

The Michigan Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that judges may ask those testifying in court to remove niqabs, or Islamic facial veils, at their discretion. Where is the balance between religious rights and security?

Chefs across America are donating their skills to homeless shelters, transforming donated food into gourmet meals.

On June 7, 1099, Christian knights launched an assault to free Jerusalem from Egyptian control as part of the first Crusade.

This is the first slaying of an abortion provider since 1998, but clinics and doctors have experienced numerous violent incidents and threats over the years.

Daniel Hauser, who fled the state after a court ordered him to receive chemotherapy, is back home and scheduled to resume treatment today.

As the number of people unaffiliated with any religious group grows faster than any organized religion, nonbelievers are finding it easier to go public with their views on faith.

A 13-year-old Minnesota boy with cancer and his mother fled Monday, skipping a Tuesday court appearance and triggering a nationwide alert.

A family who wants to treat their teenage son's Hodgkin's disease with alternative treatments must get him chemotherapy.

The closure of factories, a prohibition on accepting unemployment benefits and lower prices for food are leading the tradition-steeped Amish to review their practices.

Pope Benedict has arrived in Israel for a long-anticipated visit. Opinions differ as to whether he is fostering peace or creating fresh conflict.

A teacher at a Pueblo County high school in Colorado infuriated parents when she tasked students with inventing a terrorist plot by a foreign power.

Colleen Hauser says a careful “traditional treatment” has greatly helped her son’s cancer, and that she will decline further chemotherapy treatment for him.

The trial of a Muslim gang leader accused of kidnapping and murdering a young Jewish man has revived racial and religious tensions in the suburbs of France, reminiscent of the infamous 2005 riots.

Al-Jazeera has broadcast video of a sermon by a U.S. military chaplain stationed in Afghanistan, which some have interpreted as an attempt to convert local Muslims to Christianity.

A Saudi court nullified the arranged marriage of an 8-year-old girl to a 58-year-old man. The case, which has been in the news for several months, had angered international rights groups and many Saudis alike.

Young adults generally make the decision to change churches or stop attending services before the age of 24, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center.

Mary Ann Glendon is declining Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal due to the university’s decision to name President Obama as its commencement speaker.

Kevin Roose took a semester off from Brown University to infiltrate Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University. His new book chronicles that experience.

As Christians prepare to celebrate one of the religion’s most important holidays, debate persists over evidence of Jesus Christ's resurrection.

Tonight Barack Obama is hosting what is believed to be the first Seder attended by a sitting president at the White House.

Notre Dame’s decision to invite President Obama as its commencement speaker has many debating whether Catholic universities should invite speakers who oppose the church’s stance on abortion rights and stem cells research.