Concern over the killing of unarmed Trayvon Martin was echoed in religious centers from Atlanta to New York and California, with many preachers and their congregations wearing hooded sweatshirts in Martin's memory.

(RNS) In his new book, "Religion For Atheists: A Non-believer's Guide to the Uses of Religion," Swiss philosopher Alain d Botton outlines an array of things he contends religions get right and atheists can adopt to create a better, richer secular society. By Kimberly Winston.

WASHINGTON (RNS) Atheists and nonbelievers gathered on the National Mall Saturday (March 24) in a bid to show politicians, voters and even themselves that they have grown into a force to be recognized and reckoned with. By Kimberly Winston.

(RNS) When Pope John Paul II visited Cuba in 1998, he called for the island nation ``to open to the world and for the world to open to Cuba.'' Pope Benedict XVI now will walk in that wider doorway when he visits the island nation next week. By Cathy Lynn Grossman.

WASHINGTON (RNS) Behind high walls and barbed wire, the inmates of Muslim and pagan faiths are most likely to have extreme religious views and be the least assisted by religious volunteers, according to a snapshot of how chaplains view religious life behind bars released Thursday (March 22). By Adelle M. Banks.

WILMINGTON, N.C. (RNS) Christopher McGarvey is a recent seminary graduate, a cantor at St. Basil the Great Orthodox Church and the brains behind the What Would Jesus Brew class -- part of a yearlong Heavenly Homebrew Competition of church teams brewing individual beers for a fall event benefitting a hospice center. By Amanda Greene.

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI on Friday (March 23) urged Cuba's communist government to look for ``new models'' beyond its ``Marxist ideology,'' since Marxism ``no longer responds to reality.'' By Alessandro Speciale.

B16 uses a cane in public as he heads to Mexico and Cuba (hey, he's nearly 85!), atheists rally in D.C. and ultra-Orthodox men don't want to get stuck in the middle seat sitting next to a woman on El-Al.

(RNS) Amy Siegel will compete in the Pillsbury Bake-Off in Orlando on Monday (March 26) with her strawberry swirl-peanut-butter-brownie cupcakes, but the contest is getting in the way of preparing her kitchen for Passover. By Vicki Hyman.

SILAD, Mexico (RNS) Times have changed to such a degree in Mexico that politicians now seek out the pope and prelates for support. Even so, the hostility of some in Mexico City shows how far the relationship has yet to go between Mexico and the Catholic Church. By David Agren.

(RNS) A new movie confronts a controversial topic by highlighting two words that don't typically go together: abortion and survivor. By Annalisa Musarra. 475. With photos.

WASHINGTON (RNS) The Roman Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention remained the two largest U.S. churches in 2011, but both posted a decline of less than 1 percent, the fourth year in a row for Southern Baptists. By Annalisa Musarra.

(RNS) One year ago, more than 20 state legislatures had either passed or were considering bills that prohibited judges from considering Islamic law, known as Shariah, in their decisions. But the anti-Shariah juggernaut has stumbled in recent weeks. By Omar Sacirbey.

(RNS) Days after lethal shootings of Jewish children in France, a new study shows rising rates of anti-Semitism in Europe. By Lauren Markoe.