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Top Features

Debating the Divine

Debating the Divine

This collection of essays aims to turn down the heat and turn up the light on the question of whether religion should be a force shaping our public policies and our common civic life.
Pursuing the Global Common Good

Pursuing the Global Common Good

When is war justified? Is the use of torture ever acceptable? These are some of the issues in a new book by policy experts and faith leaders, published by the Center for American Progress.

Other Religion & Values Features

June 23, 2009

Is the Religious Right Losing Its Grip?

Social conservatives stick to free market rhetoric despite their slipping influence in tough economic times, writes Lester Feder. By Lester Feder
May 19, 2009

Good Religion Gone Bad

The revelation that Donald Rumsfeld appended Bible verses to secret Iraq war memos is problematic on many levels, write Sally Steenland and Susan Thistlethwaite. By Sally Steenland, Rev. Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
May 14, 2009

Obama’s Notre Dame Dust-Up

President Obama will speak at Notre Dame’s commencement, despite protests, yet it’s the school, not the protesters, that’s in line with mainstream American Catholics, writes Susan Thistlethwaite. By Rev. Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
April 29, 2009

The Question of Conscience

A panel of experts joined CAP to discuss conscience or refusal clauses and how they currently do not protect patients’ consciences or rights to access care.
April 22, 2009

21 Ways Faith Groups Are Combating Global Warming

Faith groups across the country are taking action to reduce the effects of global warming and reduce their own emissions.
April 16, 2009

A Role for Faith in Tough Economic Times

Brookings Institution economist Rebecca Blank discusses the recession, failures of the market, populist anger, and the role of faith communities during this time of economic turmoil with Sally Steenland. By Sally Steenland
April 14, 2009

Four Things You Didn’t Know About God and Same-Sex Marriage

Christians who oppose same-sex marriage say it goes against the biblical conception of marriage and sexuality, but they're wrong.
April 2, 2009

Young Muslim-American Voices: Young Muslim-American Calls for Inclusion and Respect

Sally Steenland interviews Safiya Ghori-Ahmad, the Muslim Public Affairs Council’s government relations director, as part of a new series on Young Muslim-American Voices. By Sally Steenland
March 13, 2009

Matters of Conscience

Obama moves to reinstate the balance of conscience among doctors and patients rather than favor only one set of beliefs, observes Sally Steenland. By Sally Steenland
March 3, 2009

Expressing Faith Through Marriage Equality

Progressive religious leaders should be a strong voice in the fight for marriage equality, writes Sarah Dreier. Opportunities to do so abound this week. By Sarah Dreier
February 27, 2009

Weekly Round Up: February 23 - 27, 2009

Our experts analyzed Obama's budget, offered ideas for how to bring the electrical grid into the 21st century, and responded to Obama's call for a college education for all.
February 26, 2009

Conservative Virtues, Then and Now

Right-wing commentators argue Americans need the discipline of a recession, yet during the bubble they insisted greed was good, observes Sally Steenland. By Sally Steenland
February 26, 2009

Virtudes Conservadoras, Ayer y Ahora

Los comentaristas de la derecha sostienen que los estadounidenses necesitan la disciplina de una recesión e incluso durante la burbuja sostuvieron que la codicia era buena, como lo indica Sally Steenland. By Sally Steenland
February 24, 2009

Progressive Fundamentals: The Dignity of Work

Work is an essential component of human dignity, a fact that should not be ignored when considering how to move forward on economic recovery, writes Susan Thistlethwaite. By Rev. Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
February 23, 2009

One Congress Under God

The 111th Congress is one of the most religiously diverse yet, embodying the founding fathers’ vision for religious freedom in the country, writes Sarah Dreier. By Sarah Dreier
February 13, 2009

Science, Religion, and a Language for Public Policy

Experts at CAP event discuss the cultural history of Darwin's theory of evolution and its role in modern society.
February 12, 2009

Something Darwin Didn't Know

Darwin's commitment to weighing the facts, even when the topic was an emotional one, would serve competing advocates of science and religion well as the world celebrates the great naturalist's 200th birthday today and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his "On the Origin of Species." By Rick Weiss
February 10, 2009

The Role of Religion in Presidential Campaigns

E.J. Dionne and Shaun Casey discuss the changing shape of religion in presidential races, from Kennedy to Obama.
January 12, 2009

Faith-Based and Secular Groups Join Forces to Fight Big Coal in Virginia

Faith-based and environmental groups across Virginia have been joining forces to promote clean energy and stop new coal-fired power plants.
December 22, 2008

Jewish Groups Embrace Sustainable Agriculture

Jewish environmental organizations are bridging religious tradition with support for locally produced food, writes Lester Feder. By Lester Feder
December 16, 2008

Improving Health Care Through Faith Partnerships

Gary Gunderson discusses how Memphis is providing better care through health partnerships with local faith communities. By Gary R. Gunderson
November 24, 2008

A Growing Climate Partnership

Several environmental organizations are increasing their outreach to religious communities, writes Lester Feder. By Lester Feder
November 13, 2008

Creation Care

Growing numbers of younger evangelicals are turning to the earth in their quest to find God, writes Lester Feder. By Lester Feder
November 10, 2008

No Longer Red or Blue

Progressive religious voters played a large role in the 2008 election, proving that faith can transcend political divisions.
November 6, 2008

Red Faith Blue Faith

Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite and Sally Steenland examine the increasingly progressive preferences of religious voters. By Rev. Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, Sally Steenland
October 16, 2008

Fighting Poverty with Faith

Faith groups heed a moral call to alleviate poverty in the United States and abroad, write Sally Steenland and Chase Nordengren. By Sally Steenland, Chase Nordengren
October 9, 2008

Generation Gap Growing Among Religious Voters

The Young and the Faithful survey finds that young religious voters hold more progressive views than their older counterparts, writes Rev. Susan Thistlethwaite. By Rev. Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
October 7, 2008

Forgive Us Our Debts?

Liberty in America is often equated with economic freedom. Constrain one’s freedom to make a deal — even a bad deal — some argue, and liberty is diminished. By David M. Abromowitz
October 7, 2008

It’s a Moral Meltdown, Too

Religious leaders and communities have responded to the financial crisis with strong voices and offers of support, write Sally Steenland and Sarah Dreier. By Sally Steenland, Sarah Dreier
September 17, 2008

Black Ministers Rally Action on Climate Change

African Americans are disproportionately affected by global warming, and black churches are taking action, writes Lester Feder. By Lester Feder
August 28, 2008

A Moral Prescription

The faith community is an important supporter of progressive health reform proposals, writes Lindsay Barrett. By Lindsay Barrett
August 14, 2008

God on the Radio

The rejection of a Christian environmental organization from a religious broadcaster's convention points to continuing climate change denial in conservative evangelicals. By Lester Feder
July 24, 2008

Helping Hands

Churches address rising home foreclosures—even before the housing crisis hit their communities, writes Lindsay Barrett. By Lindsay Barrett
July 7, 2008

Torture Is a Moral Issue

People of faith in the United States have been working for years to eliminate harsh interrogation techniques and believe it violates theological principles. By Lindsay Barrett
June 25, 2008

Religion in the Public Square: The Role of Faith in Civic Life

Leading scholars discuss the proper role of religion in 21st-century American democracy at a CAP event.
April 24, 2008

Wide Range of Faith Communities Celebrate Earth Day

Faith communities all over the country embraced Earth Day this year, but their commitment to climate change extends far beyond a single day. By Sarah Dreier, Emily Perhamus
March 28, 2008

Spies in the Pews? Is Nothing Sacred?

By Rev. Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
January 8, 2008

The Founding Fathers' Religious Wisdom

By Nicholas Rathod
December 10, 2007

Standing Up for Human Rights

Bill Schulz reflects on the need to recover the American tradition of leading the world toward ending human rights abuses. By William F. Schulz
October 24, 2007

Crib Sheet on "Islamofascism"

During "Islamofascism Week" this week, Campus Progress takes a look at the misleading and harmful label. By Annika Carlson, Sarah Dreier
October 22, 2007

Crib Sheet: "Islamofascism"

By Annika Carlson, Sarah Dreier
October 16, 2007

Pursuing the Global Common Good: Authors Speak at CAP Event

Authors of a new book speak about living up to our highest moral responsibilities while strengthening our national security.
August 7, 2007

Europe Confronts Islam

Reluctance to embrace the Muslim community in Western Europe threatens to alienate people who are key to curbing future terrorist attacks. By Andrew Tillman
June 11, 2007

The Politics of Punk: Interview with The Thermals

Hutch Harris of The Thermals talks about the politics behind he and bassist Kathy Foster's album "The Body, The Blood, and The Machine."
June 11, 2007

And Justice for All: Embracing Sexual and Gender Diversity within the Faith Community

The faith community above all needs to set the example, writes Rev. Debra W. Haffner. By Rev. Debra W. Haffner
May 14, 2007

Pope's Message Mixed, Missed

By Denis McDonough, David Buckley
April 9, 2007

Dr. Obery Hendricks Addresses The Politics of Jesus

At a CAP book event, Dr. Obery Hendricks discusses Jesus’ identity as a political revolutionary who worked to overturn social injustice.
March 22, 2007

Tackling the Moral Questions

Is science invading God’s realm? Various denominations respond to the issue of embryonic stem cell research. By Dan Bennett
March 13, 2007

Who Would Jesus Deport?

Event discusses the moral imperative for comprehensive immigration reform moving religious communities to action.

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Where We Stand on Religion & Values

CAP works to identify and articulate the moral, ethical, and spiritual values underpinning policy issues, shape a progressive stance in which these values are clear, and increase public awareness and understanding of these values. We also work to safeguard the healthy separation of church and state that has allowed religion in our country to flourish. In all efforts, we work for a society and government that strengthen the common good and respect the basic dignity of people. See the Faith and Progressive Policy initiative for more information.