Author: TheConversation

By Frank S. Ravitch, Professor of Law & Walter H. Stowers Chair of Law and Religion, Michigan State University When Louisiana passed a law in August 2023 requiring public schools to post “In God We Trust” in every classroom, from elementary school to college, the author of the bill claimed to be following a long-held tradition of displaying the national motto, most notably on U.S. currency. But even under recent Supreme Court precedents, the Louisiana law may violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from promoting religion. I make this observation as one who...

By Eli Shupe, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of Medical Humanities and Bioethics, University of Texas at Arlington Every year, first-year medical students approach their human cadavers with a mixture of awe and trepidation. They will come to know their assigned cadaver intimately. During the course of their studies, they will carefully pull back layers of skin, muscle and tissue as they learn the fundamentals of human anatomy. When the long process of dissection is complete, the cadavers are cremated, with the remains returned to family, interred in a dedicated plot, scattered in a memorial garden or sometimes...

By Pauline Jones, Professor of Political Science, University of Michigan; and Andrew Murphy, Professor of Political Science, University of Michigan When the Supreme Court ruled in 303 Creative v. Elenis in 2023 that a businessperson could not be compelled to create art that violates their religious beliefs, specifically a wedding website for a same-sex ceremony, supporters of the decision celebrated it as a victory for freedom of religion and expression. On the day the ruling was issued, the conservative Family Research Council called it “the latest in a trend of victories for free speech and religious liberty,” while the...

By Michael J. Socolow, Professor of Communication and Journalism, University of Maine In journalism, bad news sells. “If it bleeds, it leads” is a famous industry catchphrase, which explains why violent crime, war and terrorism, and natural disasters are ubiquitous on TV news. The fact that journalists and their employers make money from troubling events is something researchers rarely explore. But even if it seems distasteful, the link between negative news and profit is important to understand. As a media historian, I think studying this topic can shed light on the forces that shape contemporary journalism. The assassination of...

By Jeremy David Engels, Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, Penn State The start of another year can feel magical to many of us. Even though the days remain short and dark, the flip of the calendar can make it seem new beginnings with new resolutions are possible. Mindfulness scholars and teachers like me call resolutions “habit breakers,” as they can overcome patterns that no longer serve individuals. However, research suggests that many resolutions fail by the end of January. But a key to ensuring that resolutions stick is to choose one that will make a meaningful difference in...