How Sunday school shaped Britain
It's not just learning the words to Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam. Early pioneers rocked the boat by teaching poorer children to read, and football clubs like Everton owe their existence to the classes.

Anglican rift is about more than sex
The BBC's Robert Pigott reports from Jerusalem's meeting of conservative Anglicans opposed to homosexuality.

Signs of division on Egypt's brow
BBC correspondent Magdi Abdelhadi looks at the rise of public displays of devotion, such as the zebiba or prayer mark, in Egypt.

McCain's evangelical balancing act
The BBC's Jamie Coomarsamy finds out why some evangelical Christians are wary of Republican presidential hopeful John McCain.

Can web predict economic gloom?
Gambling, guns and religion, would you associate them with an economic downturn?

Hindus upset over Hollywood film
Hindus in the US say they are offended by the Hollywood comedy Love Guru, ahead of its release on Friday.

Visiting Iran's ayatollahs at Qom
The BBC's Sadeq Saba has visited the Iranian holy city of Qom, the spiritual home of Iran's conservative Islamic establishment and the source of some of the most outspoken dissent against the system.

Ministers 'ignoring Church role'
The government is marginalising the Church and failing to value its work in society, a new report will say.

Blair launches faith foundation
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair launches a faith foundation in an attempt to unite the world's religions.

Blair 'to devote life to faith'
Former prime minister Tony Blair says he wants to spend the rest of his life uniting the world's religions

Britain left with 'moral vacuum'
A senior bishop warns radical Islam may fill the space left by the decline in Christianity.

Derry minister off to Afghanistan
A Presbyterian minister in Londonderry is to spend four months in Afghanistan with a Territorial Army medical team.

Inmates win prison racism battle
Former prisoners at Leeds jail win a legal battle over claims they were mistreated on grounds of race and religion.

When Muslims become Christians
There's a widespread belief that the penalty for leaving Islam is death - hence, perhaps, the killing of a British teacher last week. But Shiraz Maher believes attitudes may be softening.

Why we need dilemmas
Imagine you're a huge fan of an author for his writing, only to discover something deeply unpleasant about the man himself. You could boycott his books - but that would be an act of dogma that could be every bit as blinkered as the reason for your objection. Dilemmas, dilemmas, says Clive James.

There may be trouble ahead
A change in the law could mean mediums, psychics and healers face prison or a fine if they cannot justify their claims. Spiritualists are delivering a mass petition to Downing Street and complaining that a genuine religion is being discriminated against.

Discrimination law revamp planned
Plans for new laws to protect workers from discrimination on the grounds of age, sexuality, disability, race or religion are unveiled.

Thousands celebrate Sikh festival
Up to 10,000 people are taking to the streets of a Berkshire town to mark the founding of the Sikh religion.

Blair urges bigger role for faith
Former PM Tony Blair says the world would be poorer without faith but says politicians find it hard to talk about.

Religion 'linked to happy life'
A belief in God may boost our chances of leading a satisfying and contented life, research suggests.