Mata Amrtanandamayi Devi, also known as Ammachi or Amma, is called the “hugging saint.” Her main ashram is in New York City.

Stand Firm stands for “traditional Anglicanism in America” and tracks discussion and media coverage over religious debates including sexuality.

Read a Feb. 2, 2008, New York Times column by Peter Steinfels that analyzes the imbalance of exit polling questions on faith between Republican voters and Democratic voters.

An extensive survey, “American Evangelicals,” was released in April 2004 in connection with a May special section by U.S. News & World Report and a four-part series by the PBS program Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. The survey is a comprehensive snapshot of America’s evangelical community.

See a Jan. 16, 2008, analysis of poll data from the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press on religion and the electorate, with a focus on evangelicals and the GOP.

The Anglican Church in North America was initiated in June 2008 and formally recognized in April 2009 in response to what many in the denomination saw as the liberalizing and moving away from Scripture of Episcopal and Anglican churches in America and Canada. Members of the media should request Matthew Swab when calling for information.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) of America is an organization that works to promote Hinduism among transplanted Hindis and to educate others about the religion. Its president is Abhaya Asthana. It is based in Houston, Tex.

Read a June 23, 2011 Christianity Today article that features polls about the declining strength of the Evangelical community in politics.

The Vedic Foundation is a nonprofit that works “to re-establish the greatness of Hinduism.” The foundation, which is based in Austin, Texas, was a major plaintiff in the California textbook controversy.