See more of our interview with Simon Schama about his new five-part series, "Story of the Jews."

Watch the Rev. Nathan Humphrey, former priest-in-charge at St. Paul’s Parish K Street in Washington DC, and the Episcopal bishop of Washington, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, as they distributed ashes on Ash Wednesday 2013 at the Foggy Bottom Metro stop.

The movie "Philomena" is up for four Oscars, including Best Picture, at the Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2. It tells the true story of an Irish Catholic girl forced by nuns to give up her son for adoption and her search for him decades later.

As the US Senate prepared for hearings one the use of solitary confinement in American prisons, a coalition of faith-based leaders gathered near Capitol Hill to denounce the practice, which some of them have called a form of torture.

The recent reconciliation service in New Orleans was “about acknowledging what has taken place in history, apologizing for that, and seeking ways to see our neighbor in a different light,” says Bishop Morris Thompson of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana.

Emory University students in “Secular Ethics 101” learn compassion meditation and discuss the possibility of an ethic that will unite the world.

“Ethics of compassion is a major part of all major religions. But ethics of compassion can also be developed with having to rely on a specific religion.” Watch more of correspondent Kate Olson’s interview about the Dalai Lama and secular ethics with Geshe Lobsang Tenzin, senior lecturer in Emory’s religion department and director of the Emory-Tibet Partnership.

“It doesn’t matter which ethical system you use, it can always be enhanced by a compassionate approach.” Watch more of correspondent Kate Olson’s interview about the Dalai Lama and secular ethics with Emory University Professor of Bioethics and Center for Ethics Director Paul Root Wolpe.

“Christianity and Buddhism both are trying to think about how we communicate our contemplative tradition in a way that isn’t restricted to the monastic community.” Watch more of correspondent Kate Olson’s interview about the Dalai Lama and secular ethics with Emory University Professor of Religion Wendy Farley.

"We cannot allow for our brothers and our sisters to be on the side of the road. Jesus tells the story about us caring about our neighbors. Politicians don’t care about us," says Rev. Charles Williams II of Historic King Solomon Baptist Church.

Jordanian Christians insist some of the most important ancient sites, such as the site of Jesus' baptism, are on their side of the Jordan River. Correspondent Kim Lawton reports on the Christian presence in Jordan.

Is Edward Snowden a hero for revealing government wrongdoing, or a traitor for leaking classified information? Correspondent Lucky Severson reports on the debate over the morality of Snowden's actions.

"If we had had 30 or 40 bishops in this country stand up and say, 'I’ve made a mistake. I take full responsibility. I’m sorry, and I resign,' we wouldn’t be where we are today," says Rev. Thomas Reese, a senior analyst at the National Catholic Reporter. Watch our conversation about the United Nations' criticism of the Catholic Church's handling of sex abuse by priests.

Cows are considered sacred by Hindus in India. They were the favorite animal of Lord Krishna, and they serve as a symbol of wealth, strength, and abundance. But people who want to protect these creatures must also deal with those who think cows are little more than a nuisance.

"We become less human if we don't tend to grief in an open-hearted and generous way," says Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde of Washington, DC. "We face into that abyss and say yet I will live, yet I will pass on life and joy. Even if I can't know it myself, I will ensure that others will, and I will find my greater meaning in that."

Watch our audio slideshow of "The Expanse of Eternity," a concert held on January 17 when the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. had emptied the nave of all its chairs. The photographs are by Sam Pinczuk, and the music is from "Song of Athene" by John Tavener. Michael McCarthy conducts the choral group <em>Cathedra</em>.

For one week in January, the National Cathedral removed all the thousands of chairs normally in the cathedral's nave and hosted a series of free concerts where attendees were able to listen to the music while standing, sitting, or roaming through the emptiness. Watch excerpts from the January 15 concert "The Spirit in Flight" and our interview with the choir's director of music, Michael McCarthy.

A 200-year-old order of Catholic nuns, the Sisters of Loretto, battle the construction of a pipeline that would transport toxic gases through their Kentucky homeland.

American garment maker Joe Bozich, founder of Knights Apparel, is conducting what could be an expensive experiment. He is betting that if his customers know the Dominican Republic workers who make his sportswear are paid well, they will continue to buy his line, even if it ends up costing more.

Almost two and a half million Syrians have fled their country in what the United Nations has called the "greatest humanitarian catastrophe of modern times." Faith-based groups—Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox, Mennonite, and more—in Jordan, home of the largest Syrian refugee camp, are doing what they can to help.