Religions of the World -- graphs and statistics about the major religions of the world.
Religious Identification in the U.S. -- information about religious affiliations in the U.S.
Religious Liberty in Public Schools: An Overview -- an overview essay on this important and sometimes volatile topic.
Overcoming Religious Illiteracy: A Cultural Studies Approach -- an article that presents both a thoughtful rationale for teaching about religious diversity in schools and guidelines and ideas about how to do this effectively using a cultural studies framework.
Religious Research Articles -- an excellent set of resources and links related to religion and education, located at the First Amendment Center's website.
Divining America: Religion in American History -- essays on the history of religion in the U.S.
Religion and Public Schools -- a site by the U.S. Department of Education containing "guidelines, publications, and resources on the topics of religious expression in public schools and faith community support of children's learning" -- includes a clear presentation of the governement's perspective on what is constitutional and unconstitutional concerning religion and public education.
Religion in the Public Schools: A Joint Statement of Current Law -- a statement of current law and legal precedents concerning religion in public schools.
Teaching about Religion in Support of Civic Pluralism -- a website that provides background and classroom materials in support of a multicultural approach to teaching about religious diversity.
Teaching About Religion -- an essay from Education Week in which the authors make a case that it's important to teach about religion in order to understand the world -- they also distinguish between teaching about religion and engaging in religious practice.
One Nation, Many Gods -- an article that, among other things, reports research showing a world religions course helped reduce intolerance among students without undermining their religious beliefs.
People for the American Way -- a website that provides information on the controversy over religion in the schools.
Because I Had a Turban -- an article that discusses the experiences of Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh students who are South Asian/Indian Americans and who feel ignored, marginalized, or discriminated against due to their religious cultures and customs.
Religious Diversity -- a site with many links about different religions.
Religious Identification in the U.S. -- presents up-to-date information about the nature of people's religious affiliations in the U.S.
Bible Belt Upside the Head -- this article examines the Staunton, VA school system and its consideration to change their 60 year-old WRE (Weekday Religious Education) program. The author provides both sides of the argument and examines the question from a constitutional standpoint.
Universal Faith -- this article addresses the idea that the issue of religion and secularity is not black and white, but rather the gray area is what makes religion in schools the center of controversy. The idea of dual-use is especially important for teachers to understand, because this proposal blends the idea of accommodation for religious believers while maintaining secularity for nonbelievers as well.
Policy on Religious Holidays Stirs Debate -- this article addresses the limitations of the separation of church and state.
The Religious Tolerance Organization -- a site that provides information about religious diversity in an attempt to promote greater understanding and respect -- includes useful information about specific religions.
The Evolution Debate -- a collection of articles on this topic that have been published recently in the NYTimes.
Pennsylvania School Officials and Science Groups Split Over Biology Curriculum -- an article about the decision by the Dover, PA school board to require the teaching of "intelligent design" in biology classes.
What's All the Fuss About? Evolution, Intelligent Design, and Science Education -- a good overview of recent developments in the controversy over how we teach about the thoery of evolution and whether we should include information about intelligent design beliefs.
Evolution Stickers Go On Trial in Georgia -- an article about controversial stickers placed on science textbooks in an Atlanta-area school district. The stickers state, “Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered.” The article also includes discussion of other instances of conflict over the teaching of evolution and creationism.
Teaching about Evolution and the Nature of Science -- a 1998 book (full text available here), by the National Academy of Sciences, offering guidance for teachers about the teaching of evolution -- includes framework material and lesson plans.
Adam and Eve in the Land of the Dinosaurs -- an article from the NYTimes about the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky.
Court Rejects Pledge of Allegiance -- an article about the court case in June of 2002, in which a U.S. court of Appeals ruled that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional because it includes the words "under God," violating the separation of church and state.
Supreme Court Weighs "Under God" in Schools -- The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on whether to preserve the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance recited daily by American schoolchildren. Congress added the words to the pledge in 1954, at the height of anti-communist fervor. Now, a California father and avowed atheist is suing, saying the pledge amounts to an endorsement of religion. Listen to a radio segment about this controversial case.
The Pledge of Allegiance: A Short History -- a history of the pledge, written in 1992.
A School Prayer Case -- an article about a 1996 case in Mississippi.
Obama Breaks Down Why We Need Separation of Church & State -- a YouTube video in which Barack Obama gives his opinion on the issue of religion in schools.
Does Music with a Sacred Text Have a Place in the Public Schools? -- a website that supplies teachers with information about how to introduce religious music into their curriculum.
How Far Can Public Schools Go in Accommodating the Religious Needs of Muslim Students? -- a good essay about how to accommodate the needs of Muslim students constitutionally.
The Council on Islamic Education -- the homepage of this organization -- lots of useful information, resources and perspective.
Public Schools Grapple with Muslim Prayer -- this article addresses both sides of the controversy regarding the accommodation of schools when attending to students who practice the Islamic religion.
SoundVision -- extensive resources about Islamic perspective, experience, and issues. Includes discussion of issues such as gender equity and Muslim/non-Mulsim relations, and offers videos, books, and online discussion groups.
Islam Online -- news, views, and perspective rooted in the Muslim experience and the Islamic religion.
Ramadan on the Net -- a good site about the annual Islamic observance of the Fast of Ramadan.
Jewish Music Resources -- This site provides links to books and articles that you can read online about Jewish music.
The Anti Defamation League -- this site places religion in a global context as well as educational, political, and private contexts.
The American Academy of Religions -- this website includes information for teachers with publication information and other various teaching ideas and resources.
Americans United: Religion in the Public Schools -- this site provides perspective about the issues of religion in public schools from the standpoint of those who believe very strongly in the separation of church and state.