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Beliefs & Practices

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  • report

    Celebrating Christmas and the Holidays, Then and Now

    Nine-in-ten Americans say they celebrate Christmas, and three-quarters say they believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. But only about half see Christmas mostly as a religious holiday, while one-third view it as more of a cultural holiday.

  • short reads

    ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Holidays’?

    When asked about how stores should greet their customers over the holidays, 42% of Americans prefer “Merry Christmas,” 12% prefer “Happy Holidays” and 46% say it doesn’t matter.

  • feature

    Infographic: Survey of Jewish Americans

    Highlights from the Pew Research Survey on Jewish American attitudes on Jewish identity, marriage patterns, child rearing, attitudes towards Israel, and Jewish religious beliefs and practices.

  • short reads

    Muslim holiday of Ashura brings into focus Shia-Sunni differences

    Each year, millions of Shia pilgrims visit the shrine of one of their most revered figures – Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson. While Ashura is sacred for all Muslims, it is especially important to Shias, illustrating some of the differences between Shia and Sunni Muslims.

  • report

    Many Sunnis and Shias Worry About Religious Conflict

    This week Sunni and Shia Muslims ushered in the Islamic New Year and the beginning of the holy month of Muharram. For Shias, the month also is a time to mourn the events that sparked the centuries-old schism between Shia and Sunni Muslims. An analysis of polls conducted in 2011-2012 finds high levels of concern about sectarian tensions in several countries where Sunnis and Shias live side by side.

  • short reads

    5 facts about the hajj

    The annual Muslim hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca is underway, and more than a million pilgrims already have entered Saudi Arabia from abroad. These are five important facts about the hajj.

  • short reads

    A fifth of Mormons express doubts about some church teachings

    A top Mormon leader recently made headlines this week when he acknowledged that past actions by church leaders may have contributed to doubts about church teachings. About one-in-five (22%) church memberssay they find some of the church’s teachings hard to believe.