Read a Nov. 20, 2012, Religion News Service analysis about how the movie Lincoln has revived questions about that president’s faith. Via the Washington Post.

Read a Jan. 29, 2013, Huffington Post essay, “So We Are a Christian Nation?” in which the author explores the different Christian traditions present in American politics.

Read a Feb. 1, 2013, column at the Patheos website about the tension between Christian dominance and religious freedom in America.

Read a Feb. 7, 2013, CNN story, “Religion, readability and the presidency: a historic combination,” on the presidential tradition, from Washington to Obama, of invoking faith and the national purpose.

Read a Feb. 7, 2013, column from the journal Sightings on presidents’ use of religious references in their inaugural addresses.

President Obama delivered an address at the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 7, 2013. Read his full statement here.

This story, published on May 14, 2013, in the New York Times, explains how Vermont became the first state to pass a legislative measure allowing physicians to administer lethal drugs to terminally ill patients in May 2013.

David Greenberg is an associate professor of history, journalism and media studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Ronald Pagnucco is an associate professor of peace studies at College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn. His research interests include the connection between religion, politics and peace.