Religion and Human Flourishing

Are faith communities the key to closing opportunity gaps in public schools?

Distinguished Fellow Shima Baradaran Baughman Delivers Ensign College Devotional

After nearly two centuries, the promise of U.S. public schools to foster effective and meaningful learning opportunities for all children across race and social class remains unfulfilled. In this report, we examine the potential for religious faith to help bridge student learning opportunity gaps—given that seven in ten Americans identify with a faith tradition and that religious faith plays a significant role in various dimensions of human flourishing. We define religious faith as including both (a) personal spiritual beliefs and practices and (b) participation in religious organizations that structure shared beliefs, values, and rituals that guide personal and community conduct.

The Religion and the American Founding conference, held in March, brought together representatives from over a dozen different religions and faith organizations to share the impact of faith on the American founding.

Zahra Jamal with Interfaith America asks experts in religious diversity and inclusion about the benefits of employees bringing their religion to work; Paul Lambert from Wheatley Institute responds.

Is religion in America making a comeback? Or is it experiencing an exodus? According to a new article in Y Magazine, BYU experts say that both may be true.

The larger empirical record offers little support for sweeping claims of harm and substantial evidence that religious participation is linked to women’s flourishing. Indeed, devotedly religious women tend to enjoy better mental health, better physical health, live significantly longer lives and enjoy better social and relational health.

Wheatley Institute's Religion and Human Flourishing Director, Paul Lambert, Wheatley Affiliate Scholar Justin Dyer, and data scientist Stephen Cranney highlight their research on the decline of religious affiliation, but the rise in religious belief in The Dispatch's article titled, "Sacred Staying Power."

Although retention is not as high as it once was, for Latter-day Saints it has remained remarkably robust across every major indicator of religious life. They lead the nation in church attendance, personal and family religious practice, and active retention, including among Millennials and Gen Z.