Topic: Culture & Society

On Nov. 4, will white Americans vote for a non-white presidential candidate? Findings from the latest Baylor Religion Survey reveal that while 84 percent of white Americans said they would vote for a member of a racial minority for President, the voting decision was influenced by several factors, including most interestingly religious affiliation, view of the Bible and racial composition of congregations.

On Nov. 4, American voters will cast their ballot in a presidential race that includes an African-American nominee for the first time. Undoubtedly, it is a watershed moment for racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States. But will whites support a non-white presidential candidate?

The latest work by spirituality teacher and activist Steven Morrison explores grief and loss in today’s contemporary society. "An Extra Year: Grief and Loss in the New Age," a memoir based on Morrison’s personal experience and work in contemporary spirituality, will be released November 15, 2008.

An Extra Year: Grief and Loss in the New Age by contemporary spirituality teacher and activist Steven Morrison takes a new look at the process of grieving in modern society. Based upon his own encounter with loss, An Extra Year delves into Morrison’s work in contemporary spirituality.

Prophet Yahweh says that on October 31, 2008, superhuman black men from other planets will appear in their spaceships and hover over his UFO Summoning School for three days as a sign that all Americans should vote for Obama as President.

According to Prophet Yahweh, "Sometime before Nov. 11, 2008, more than likely before the presidential elections, and possibly on October 31, 2008, at approximately 12 noon, spaceships will start appearing on my summons request, and hover over my school for all Las Vegans and media to see and film."

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Ian Halperin's latest film "His Highness Hollywood" infiltrates the world of Hollywood and The Church of Scientology by having Halperin pose undercover as a gay actor.

New York Times bestselling author and award winning filmmaker Ian Halperin is proud to release his newest film, His Highness Hollywood, onto DVD. In his latest "outing," Halperin poses as a gay actor to infiltrate The Church of Scientology and the world of Hollywood.

Everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask about the effect that gay marriage has on couples, friends and families.

A study conducted 13 months after same-sex marriage in Massachusetts became legal found that obtaining legal protections and making a public statement of commitment were the most often mentioned motivations for same-sex marriage. It also found that lack of family approval and difficulties planning and paying for the wedding were the most noted obstacles to marriage. The study, “Attractions and Obstacles While Considering Legally Recognized Same-Sex Marriage,” was conducted by Pamela J. Lannutti, PhD, associate professor of communication at Boston College and was published in the Journal of GLBT Family Studies.

With research consistently showing that clergy – not psychologists or other mental health experts – are the most common source of help sought in times of psychological distress, a new Baylor University study has found clergy often times deny or dismiss the existence of the mental illness.

In a recent Baylor study of 293 Christians who approached their local church for assistance in response to a personal or family member’s diagnosed mental illness, Baylor researchers found that more than 32 percent of these church members were told by their church pastor that they or their loved one did not really have a mental illness. The study found these church members were told the cause of their problem was solely spiritual in nature, such as a personal sin, lack of faith or demonic involvement. Baylor researchers also found that women were more likely than men to have their mental disorders dismissed by the church.

As water bottles continue to overload landfills while taxing limited resources, such as petroleum products for manufacturing and shipping, many are considering "Giving up the Bottle." Here are 5 simple steps you can take to move in that direction.

You run out the door to go to the soccer field - grab a water bottle. Your neighbor stops by to ask you to join her for a walk - grab another water bottle. You pack your lunch for work just before leaving, and you include - you guessed it - a water bottle. You sit down to read a book on the beach, and right there next to you again, a water bottle. It seems that the modern culture has become so addicted to the convenience of a bottle filled with water that most feel the need to have one in their hand at all times. But at what cost?

The U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health finds the majority of likely voters believe Barack Obama can best handle the country’s biggest health care issues, including the high cost of health insurance, and the millions of U.S. adults and children without insurance.

Health care – cost and coverage – has been a hot topic among presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 4 election.

Israel National Radio producer Ephraim Eliyahu presents a historical journey back to 15th century Spain to uncover the amazing history of the man they call "Columbus."

While Bible and Torah Codes divine the future using complex computer algorithms, and works like The Da Vinci Code and Holy Blood, Holy Grail derive pictorial ciphers to poke holes in the past, de-ciphering a rare triangular Kabbalistic signet now reveals the secret identity of the celebrated maritime adventurer best known to America. Israel National Radio producer Ephraim Eliyahu presents a historical journey back to 15th Century Spain to uncover the amazing history of the man they call "Columbus."

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This Kabbalistic siglum, in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, contains two secret names: Cristobal Colon, his "nom de plume," and Salvador Fernando Zarco, his birth name.

Although there are still people alive today who remember the aftermath of the crash of '29, to most Americans the Great Depression might as well be ancient history.

Political leaders, economic analysts and journalists are comparing the current financial meltdown to the Great Depression. “Worst Crisis Since the ’30s, With No End Yet in Sight” was a recent baleful headline from The Wall Street Journal. But while many senior citizens who lived during that time have personal memories of the Depression, for most Americans, the events that occurred between 1929 and the early 1940s seem long ago, and are difficult to imagine as a likely eventuality for the near future.