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Reformation Rebels: The surprising histories of Benedictine monks in exile
Reformation Rebels: The surprising histories of Benedictine monks in exile (31 August 2017) Sixteenth and seventeenth century Benedictine monks refused abstinence, died in duels, went off to war and spread illegal Catholic doctrine, a new study has revealed. The Monks in Motion project, led by Dr James Kelly of the Department of Theology and Religion , has brought together records of English and Welsh Benedictine monks exiled in Europe in a first-of-its-kind searchable database and uncovered some of their remarkable histories.

Genetic study suggests present-day Lebanese descend from biblical Canaanites
Researchers analysed DNA extracted from 4,000-year-old human remains to reveal that more than 90% of Lebanese ancestry is from ancient Canaanite populations. The fact that we can retrieve whole genomes from conditions not considered ideal for DNA preservation also shows how far the field have advanced technically Freddi Scheib Scientist have sequenced the entire genomes of 4,000-year-old Canaanite individuals who inhabited the Near East region during the Bronze Age, and compared these to other ancient and present-day populations.

Study into who is least afraid of death
A new study examines all robust, available data on how fearful we are of what happens once we shuffle off this mortal coil.  They find that atheists are among those least afraid of dying...and, perhaps not surprisingly, the very religious.  Religion has long been thought to be a solution to the problem of death.

Eighteenth Century monks’ favourite tipple
Two Eighteenth Century drinks recipes, discovered by researchers from Durham University's Department of Theology and Religion , have revealed that a brandy-based cocktail was a favourite drink amongst a community of English Catholic monks exiled in France. The recipes were discovered by Dr James Kelly , Research Fellow in Early Modern British and Irish Catholicism, during research work for the Monks in Motion project.

European region most sceptical in the world on vaccine safety
Europe named as the most sceptical region on vaccine safety in the world, according to the largest ever global survey of vaccine confidence. Researchers from Imperial College London and their collaborators surveyed nearly 66,000 people from 67 countries to explore their views on whether vaccines are important, safe, effective, and compatible with their religious beliefs.

"Thinking Arab revolutions" by Makram Abbès
The las issue of Astérion , published by ENS Editions , is about "Thinking Arab revolutions". Makram Abbès , of the ENS de Lyon, researcher at Triangle , coordinated this issue #14. The 2011 Arab Spring constitutes one of the major events of the start of the 21st century and the starting point for important changes to the human and social science discourses devoted to the Arab world and to Islam.

Is church a stairway to heaven?
Churches are good for the health of Christians but less therapeutic for atheists. This is a key finding of a recent study by Professor Alex Haslam of The University of Queensland School of Psychology and colleagues at Carleton University, Canada, and the University of Exeter, UK. “We looked at Christians' and atheists' self-esteem and self-reported physical health when immersed in a cathedral rather than in other environments,” Professor Haslam said.

Is church a stairway to heaven or hell?
Churches are good for the health of Christians but are less therapeutic for atheists. This is a key finding of a recent study by Professor Alex Haslam of The University of Queensland School of Psychology and colleagues at Carleton University, Canada, and the University of Exeter, UK. “We looked at Christians' and atheists' self-esteem and self-reported physical health when immersed in a cathedral rather than in other environments,” Professor Haslam said.

Faith-based health promotion program successful with older Latinas, study finds
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A culturally sensitive lifestyle intervention showed promise at motivating Latinas living in the U.S. to eat better and exercise more by connecting healthy-living behaviors with the lives of saints and prominent religious figures, new studies found.

Stanford expert offers approach to thwarting radicalization of Muslim immigrants in the U.S
Telling Muslims they are not welcome in the United States reinforces the narrative that the West is anti-Islam, a Stanford scholar says. Immigrants fare better when they receive opportunities to integrate their original cultural identities with their new ones. A more inclusive approach toward Muslims could help reduce the growth of homegrown radicalism, new Stanford research shows.

When performers are in the zone, it’s spiritual, researcher finds
Prima ballerinas Anna Pavlova and Margot Fonteyn reported entering altered states of consciousness and having “spiritual” experiences during performance, a University of Queensland researcher says. Master of Arts (Studies in Religion) graduate Lynda Flower said her research aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of “peak performance lived experiences” and the meaning people made of them.

American devotion to religion is waning, according to new study
Religion in the United States is declining and mirroring patterns found across the western world, according to new research from UCL and Duke University in the United States. The study published in the American Journal of Sociology shows a drop in the number of Americans who claim religious affiliations, attend church regularly and believe in God.

Religious upbringing associated with less altruism, study finds
Many families believe religion plays an essential role in childhood moral development. But children of religious parents may not be as altruistic as those parents think, according to a new international study from the University of Chicago published Nov. 5 in Current Biology. A team of developmental psychologists led by Prof. Jean Decety examined the perceptions and behavior of children in six countries.

Launch of Oxford centre for the study of religious relics
Religious relics are to become the subject of a new research initiative launching today at Keble College's Advanced Studies Centre (ASC).  Ancient Christian relics are objects that survive from ancient times, often associated with a saint's body or their belongings, and usually kept as objects of historical interest or spiritual devotion.

To increase testing for hepatitis B, promote it in the community, UCLA study shows
Los Angeles-area Korean Americans who heard presentations in their churches were more likely to get tested Reggie Kumar A study by UCLA researchers shows that going to churches to promote testing for chronic hepatitis B, which is associated with liver cancer and other liver diseases, can lead to improved testing rates among Korean Americans.

Islamist insurgency strongly influences where polio occurs
Islamist insurgency has had a strong effect on where polio cases occur since 2011, potentially as a reaction to the use of counterinsurgency strategies, according to new research led by UCL. In research published today in the open access journal Globalization and Health, lead author Dr Jonathan Kennedy (UCL Political Science) and colleagues from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Cambridge University (Professor Lawrence King) analysed cross-national data for the period 2003-14.

Rural children in India have better immunization rates
ANN ARBOR-Children in rural India have higher vaccination rates than those in cities, and Hindu kids are more likely to get their shots than Muslim youth, say University of Michigan researchers. Their study is believed to be the first that compares vaccination rates across religious groups in India. It's also significant because the findings that rural kids are better vaccinated are contrary to earlier studies.

Rural and Hindu children have the highest immunization rates
ANN ARBOR-Children in rural India have higher vaccination rates than those in cities, and Hindu kids are more likely to get their shots than Muslim youth, say University of Michigan researchers. Their study is believed to be the first that compares vaccination rates across religious groups in India. It's also significant because the findings that rural kids are better vaccinated are contrary to earlier studies.

'Openness matters more than your religion to potential romantic partners'
A study has revealed that non-believers assume that people who go to church or other places of worship are 'close minded', and they would find this personality trait more off-putting in a partner than their religious views.  In two studies researchers created a number of dating profiles for both religious and non-religious individuals and asked volunteers from a range of religious and non-religious backgrounds to rate them for attractiveness.

Human parasites found in medieval cesspit reveal links between Middle East and Europe
Analysis of a latrine in Jerusalem that dates back over 500 years finds human parasites common in northern Europe yet very rare in Middle East at the time, suggesting long-distance trade or pilgrimage routes and shedding light on prevalent infectious diseases of the age. Jerusalem's importance to Christians in medieval Europe made it a key destination for both pilgrimage and trade.