The Institute on Religion & Democracy is a prominent lobby uniting conservatives across the mainline Protestant denominations to push for more traditional policies in American churches and for more conservative policies in American politics. The IRD is considered a major player in the battles over gay rights in churches.

Catherine A. Brekus is an American religious historian at the University of Chicago Divinity School. She is especially interested in early America and co-wrote a book titled American Christianities: A History of Dominance and Diversity.

Reports on a research study that showed that abstinence-only sex education had no impact on the sexual behavior of Texas public school students.

Mark Noll is emeritus professor of history at the University of Notre Dame and one of the most cited authorities today on evangelicalism in America — as well as on the relationship between evangelicals and Roman Catholics. He co-founded the Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals at Wheaton College, where he taught for many […]

Garry Wills teaches cultural history at Northwestern University in Illinois and is a prolific author of books about American history, government and religion.

Young children struggle with issues of beauty, too. Etan Boritzer’s book What is Beautiful? (Veronica Lane Books, 2002), aimed at children ages 4 to 10, explores religious and physical aspects of beauty by emphasizing “the inside stuff.”

Read an essay by Rebbetzin Feige Twerski, who is Jewish, about the relationship between beauty and God as expressed in the form of the human body.

Read an essay by beliefnet.com columnist Frederica Mathewes-Green about how cosmetic surgery can move people further away from the idea of being made in God’s image.