Ronald Nakasone is a senior lecturer in Buddhist art and culture at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif. His research interests include Buddhist aesthetics, art, and ethics, spirituality and aging.

Why do all the world’s religions emphasize giving thanks? What are the spiritual benefits of giving thanks? The physical benefits?

Rabbi Richard F. Address is founder and director of Jewish Sacred Aging, an organization aimed at helping the Jewish community navigate end-of-life issues. He previously served as director of the department of Jewish family concerns for the Union for Reform Judaism.

Kenneth Ferraro is a professor of sociology and psychological sciences at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. In 1998, he published the findings of a study that showed that religious participation is associated with higher body weight. His study of 3,600 people found that Southern Baptists are heaviest, with Jews, Muslims and Buddhists less likely to […]

Jewish Sacred Aging is an online forum offering resources to those dealing with aging-related issues. Rabbi Richard Address is founder and editor.

Steve McLeod, who is associate dean at Harding University Graduate School of Religion in Memphis, Tenn., wrote his dissertation on “Assimilating singles into a family-focused church.” He says issues worth examining are whether older singles want to participate in singles groups, and whether single adults in general prefer to stick with their lifelong religious affiliation […]

Paul Wink is a professor of psychology at Wellesley College in Wellesley , Mass. He researches adult development and aging and has studied the effects of religion and spirituality on life development and choices, including religious commitment and altruistic behavior.

Chris Hackler is director of the division of medical humanities and a bioethics professor at the University of Arkansas College of Medicine in Little Rock. He edited Health Care for an Aging Population and co-edited Advance Directives in Medicine.