The United States is currently in what some have called the "Mormon Moment" – a time when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is gaining attention due, in part, to the popularity of Mormon celebrities and politicians. Many Mormons, however, are leaving the church to embrace traditional Christianity, but such radical shifts in thought don't come easily.

I hold that Mormons--and the whole country--will be better off for having this national conversation about Mormonism. Increased exposure means short-term pain but a long-term gain in greater understanding and knowledge about the Mormon faith. Other religions have gone from the fringes to the mainstream--Catholicism and Judaism most notably--and there is no reason why the same can’t be true for Mormons as well.

The first major independent poll of U.S. Mormons describes a conservative, devout community highly concerned about being accepted even as it embraces beliefs about gender roles, premarital sex and religious commitment that are well outside the mainstream.

Genuinely warmhearted atheists exist, but warmheartedness is not the first descriptive quality that comes to mind. The more vocal ones betray themselves sooner or later: To reject God is almost always to despise people.

Every religion has its true believers and its doubters, its pious and its pragmatists, but new evidence suggests that Muslims tend to be more committed to their faith than other believers. Muslims are much more likely than Christians and Hindus to say that their own faith is the only true path to paradise, according to a recent global survey, and they are more inclined to say their religion is an important part of their daily lives.

About half of all voters, and 60% of evangelical Republicans, know that Mitt Romney is a Mormon. The former Massachusetts governor’s religion has implications for his nomination run but not for the general election, should he be nominated as his party’s standard bearer. White evangelical Protestants – a key element of the GOP electoral base – are more inclined than the public as a whole to view Mormonism as a non-Christian faith.

The Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs this year dedicated an $80,000 outdoor worship center — a small Stonehenge-like circle of boulders with propane fire pit — high on a hill for the handful of current or future cadets whose religions fall under the broad category of "Earth-based." Those include pagans, Wiccans, druids, witches and followers of Native American faiths.

A most excellent response to a Muslim’s question by Ravi Zaccharias. I also love how he explains the multiple denominations within Christianity.

“Scientology is often viewed as the most sinister of new religions because of its aggressive attacks on critics, its manipulation of members to buy Scientology products and its incredible demand on full-time workers,” said James Beverley, professor of Christian Thought and Ethics at Tyndale University, in an interview with The Christian Post. “There are regular reports of violence in the top circles of the movement, particularly at its base in Hemet, Calif., east of Los Angeles.”

Being that he’s arguably the country’s best known Mormon and much has been made of the political impact of his religion, there has been comparatively little reporting on how Mitt Romney has actually lived his faith. That's why I was particularly impressed with this sprawling and fascinating CNN profile of Mitt Romney’s religious life.