How does being in combat affect religious faith?

About half of combat veterans (48%) say their combat experiences didn’t make much of a difference when it came to their religious faith, according to a new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. veterans. Four-in-ten say their combat experiences strengthened their religious faith, while one-in-ten say the experiences weakened their religious faith. At the same time, majorities of veterans report that their combat experiences had a positive impact on other aspects of their lives. Most combat veterans say that their experiences made them feel closer to those who were in combat with them (69%), showed them that they were stronger than they thought they were (67%) and changed their priorities about what is important in their life (56%).

Media Mentions

Are Democrats really ‘godless’? The numbers say mostly not, but the rap still sticks Sept. 8 - The Washington Post * In Africa, Pope Francis comes face to face with the future of the church Sept. 5 - The New York Times *

In the News

Michigan church cancels anti-Muslim 9/11 event after backlash
Sept. 10 - Detroit Free Press *

An unsung hero of the 9/11 recovery: The Muslim engineer who rebuilt the Pentagon crash site as a chapel
Sept. 10 - The Washington Post *

Pope Francis: ‘I pray there are no schisms’
Sept. 10 - The New York Times *

Émigré Russian Orthodox inch toward a return to Moscow Patriarchate
Sept. 10 - Religion News Service

Officials: 31 Iraqi pilgrims die in stampede during holiday
Sept. 10 - The Associated Press

Virginia seminary sets aside $1.7 million to pay reparations to descendants of slaves
Sept. 9 - CNN

‘Someone’s gotta tell the freakin’ truth’: Jerry Falwell’s aides break their silence
Sept. 9 - Politico Magazine

Myanmar army drops lawsuit against religious leader who complained to Trump of persecution
Sept. 9 - Reuters

Animal slaughter ruling in Belgium stirs religious freedom debate
Sept. 8 - Al Jazeera

Judge rules terrorism watchlist violates constitutional rights
Sept. 4 - The New York Times *

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