Five years of On Faith

Ted Haggard resigns over sexual allegations

Nov 2, 2006

The leader of the National Association of Evangelicals and pastor of New Life Church steps down after "sexual misconduct."

Pope Benedict XVI visits Turkey

Nov 28, 2006

After a controversial speech on Islam in September, Pope Benedict XVI visits Turkey, his first visit to a Muslim country as pontiff.

Atheism in Vogue

Dec 31, 2006

With the 2006 release of Richard Dawkins's bestselling book, The God Delusion, atheism gets a new look and growing appeal.

Evangelicalism goes green?

Mar 11, 2007

Faith leaders respond to issues of environment and global warming. Christians such as Jim Wallis, Charles Colson and Richard Cizik stress "creation care" as a responsibility for believers.

Supreme Court maintains ban on partial-birth abortions

Apr 18, 2007

In a win for anti-abortion advocates, the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision continues a ban on controversial abortion procedure.

Jerry Falwell dies

May 15, 2007

The founder of Liberty University and the Faith and Values Coalition, who helped create the "Moral Majority" and influenced the formation of the Christian right, died at age 73.

Faith and the Presidential Elections

Period: Feb 28, 2008 to Oct 15, 2008

In the 2008 Presidential Elections, faith played a significant role, from the discussion over candidate Obama's religious affiliation to a forum on faith and politics at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church.

Jeremiah Wright's sermon creates controversy for Obama

Mar 13, 2008

Jeremiah Wright, former pastor of Barack Obama, is criticized for a sermon in which he blamed the U.S. for the September 11 attacks.

Pope Benedict XVI visits the United States

Apr 15, 2008

Pope Benedict XVI speaks at the United Nations about human rights. He acknowledges the sex-abuse scandal's damage, and meet with President George W. Bush.

Saddleback Civil Forum: Faith and the Presidential Candidates

Aug 16, 2008

Megachurch pastor Rick Warren hosts presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama for a forum on faith and politics.

President Obama's speech in Cairo

Jun 4, 2009

President Obama addresses the Muslim world from Cairo, Egypt; he seeks to reset the relationship between the United States and the Middle East.

Fort Hood massacre

Nov 5, 2009

In the worst ever massacre at an American military base, Nidal Malik Hasan, an American-born Muslim, kills 13 people, wounds 31 others.

Episcopal Diocese of LA appoints second openly gay bishop

Nov 15, 2009

Following the 2003 appointment of the first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, the Episcopal diocese of Los Angeles consecrates lesbian Mary D. Glasspool as bishop, widening the gap between conservative and liberal Anglicans.

Switzerland bans minarets

Nov 15, 2009

Swiss voters opt to ban the further construction of minarets, the prayer towers that accompany Muslim mosques.

Debate over Islamic prayer center near Ground Zero

Period: Dec 9, 2009 to Jul 19, 2010

New York City's community board endorses the construction of the Islamic prayer center near Ground Zero, sparking a nation-wide debate.

Haiti earthquake prompts questions about God and human suffering

Jan 12, 2010

<a href='http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/2010/01/does_god_allow_haiti_to_suffer/all.html' >Following the devastating 7.0 magnatude earthquake, theologians, faith leaders and scholars discuss how to think about God and human suffering.

The nation debates Muslim prayer center near Ground Zero.

Aug 23, 2010

Americans debate whether an Islamic prayer center should be constructed near the September 11 terrorist attack site.

The Islamic prayer center near Ground Zero holds its first interfaith dialogue

Sep 11, 2010

Alex Kronemer, co-executive producer of a documentary about the controversy surrounding the construction of the Park 51 Islamic center, reflects on the first interfaith dialogue held at the site.

Terry Jones burns Koran, riots follow in Afghanistan

Mar 20, 2011

<a href='http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/09/terry-jones-timeline-it-all-st.html' >An obscure Florida pastor garners attention after threatening to burn a Koran on September 11, 2010. Condemnations come from President Barack Obama, the Vatican's council on Inter-religious Dialogue, and the United Nations's Ban Ki-moon. On March 20, Jones follows through with his burning. Twelve are killed in Afghanistan when protest of the Koran burning turn violent.

GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry holds "The Response" prayer rally

Aug 6, 2011

GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry holds "The Response" prayer rally, drawing a crowd of 30,000. On the rally's official site, Perry wrote: “As a nation, we must come together and call upon Jesus to guide us through unprecedented struggles, and thank Him for the blessings of freedom we so richly enjoy.”

No Protestants in the Supreme Court for the first time

Aug 7, 2011

Elena Kagan is sworn in to the Supreme Court, replacing Justice John Paul Stevens. The move leaves the Supreme Court with six Catholic and three Jewish justices but no Protestant justices.