Religious Studies Turning Toward Cognitive Science
John Teehan, an associate professor in the religion department at Hofstra University, has seen how cognitive science has brought new tools and insights to the study of religion and may eventually challenge the ways religions justify their beliefs. He is writing a book about how many moral teachings in the Bible fit with the moral psychology that cognitive science says evolved naturally. I asked Teehan for an overview of what’s happening in the religion studies field in the United States. (Tom Heneghan, FaithWorld Blog, Reuters)

Kepler Satellite Finds a Planet
This planet is too hot and massive for life, but the ease and precision with which Kepler was able to discern its presence bodes well for the satellite’s ability to find more hospitable Earth-like planets, the Kepler astronomers said in a news release and in a paper published in the journal Science. (Dennis Overbye, The New York Times)

Why Do People Home-School Their Children?
There is no doubt that religion is the main force. American public schools are rigidly secular. Private schools are expensive. For parents who want their children to grow up relatively unexposed to doubt, Darwin or indecent lunchroom chatter, home-schooling offers hope. And one reason the movement is growing so quickly is that religious Americans tend to have a lot of children. (The Economist)

Web of Deceit and Hypocrisy
Bits of information are no longer compartmentalized like so many scattered VHS tapes and gothic rock album liner notes, which is why William Dembski and company can’t get away with trying to portray ID as a scientific theory with no religious intent while having already admitted that same religious intent to sympathetic Biblical literalists. But that crowd doesn’t seem to understand this fundamental aspect of the Internet, that Google waits in watch of dishonesty. And thus it is that Dembski’s blog Uncommon Descent is among the most interesting things that the Internet has to offer. (Barrett Brown, The Huffington Post)

Time to Lift Ban on Incentives for Organ Donation
Jeff Stier: Would you prevent one of the 13 deaths taking place today among those in line for a kidney by donating one of yours? Would you do so for compensation? I’d do neither. But given an incentive, perhaps others would. Clearly the incentive to save a life isn’t enough, or synagogues would be sponsoring kidney drives alongside their blood drives. (Jewish Telegraphic Agency Wire Service)

Hell, No
Just when it seemed to have cooled off, the topic of hell is back—at least for pastors learning to preach about a topic most Americans would rather not talk about. (Greg Garrison, Religion News Service)

Q&A
David DeSteno
Contrary to popular belief, having good character isn’t just about controlling your emotions, but about listening to them, says David DeSteno, associate professor of psychology at Northeastern University. DeSteno argues that there are subconscious mechanisms shaping a person’s character, and that this can change from moment to moment. (news@Northeastern)