President Obama Celebrates Islamic Holy Month of Ramadan
The president joined Cabinet secretaries, members of the diplomatic corps, and lawmakers to pay tribute to what he called “a great religion and its commitment to justice and progress.” (Associated Press)

New International Version Bible Gets an Update
The top-selling Bible in North America will undergo its first revision in 25 years, modernizing the language in some sections and promising to reopen a contentious debate about changing gender terms in the sacred text. (Eric Gorski, Associated Press)

Little Cultural Difference in the Development of Kids’ Moral Reasoning
University of Toronto psychologist Charles Helwig’s new findings support the idea that universal concerns among children—such as a need to feel in control of one’s behavior and disapproval of harming others—shape moral development far more than cultural values do. (Bruce Bower, Science News)

Cellist Tries to Understand the Nature of Music by Writing Songs for Monkeys
David Teie has been developing a theory to explain why music plays on human emotions. His theory is that music relates to the most primitive sounds we make and respond to, like laughter, heartbeats, or a mother’s cooing. (Richard Harris, NPR)

The Future of Religion
What form, structure, and expression will the phenomenon we call “religion” take in the future (that is, if “religion” is then still labeled as such); or, conversely, is there a future for religion, specifically formal, organized, institutionalized religion as we presently recognize it in a rapidly globalizing, postindustrial, and postmodern world? (Peter Savastano, Religion Dispatches)

Is Wickedness Soluble in Good Deeds?
To what extent should greatness factor into our evaluation of a public person’s life? (Rod Dreher, Religion Blog, The Dallas Morning News)

Q&A
Anne Graham Lotz
In her new book, The Magnificent Obsession, Anne Graham Lotz writes about feeling alienated at times from “religious people” and pursuing her own religious calling despite the disapproval of her famous parents. (Amy Sullivan, TIME)