American Millennials are decidedly less religious than older generations, with more than one third selecting “No religion” on recent polls. Yet some Millennials have found new ways to embrace forms of spirituality that connect the human spirit in soulful ways outside the walls of houses of worship — in fitness studios, mindful meditation retreats, civic engagement, or theology debates over microbrews. Others are cultivating interfaith experiences during college in and their young professional lives that inform their social and political views of faith communities. This panel seeks to examine how Millennials are living out their religious and spiritual lives, and ways to measure these emerging trends.

Opinion writing plays an important role in the media and religion ecosystem. From Religion News Service's diverse roster of columnists to religion reporters at major newspapers penning the occasional editorial or news analysis piece, opinion journalism on the God beat takes many forms. This panel will center the experiences of RNA reporters and editors to expose the opportunities, benefits and pitfalls of opinion writing.

This working lunch for journalists aims to explore two questions: 1) How are Millennials engaging in new forms of storytelling surrounding faith and spirituality? and 2) What resources and examples for Millennial spirituality coverage can journalists use in their own reporting?

What do the Bible and other religious texts say about the notion of hospitality or “welcoming strangers?” This panel takes a look at how sacred texts in various faith traditions have played a role in the immigration debate, and how different sides have used or weaponized religious texts and teachings to support their opinions on immigration, particularly when it comes to how refugees and asylum-seekers are treated.

This panel will focus on Christian Nationalism's recent upsurge, including the Trump administration's role in potentially aiding and abetting the movement.

“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” is the catchphrase description of a city that is home to a variety of lifestyles unlike most other places in the United States. It’s not just the notorious ones, such as the gambling tourists. There are also large immigrant populations, who flock to the city for cheap living and good-paying jobs, for example. This panel will explore the ways that religious communities minister to the city’s diverse population, either within their houses of worship, or on the Strip itself.

Christianity and capitalism are deeply intertwined in the United States, but there's far more than just the prosperity gospel when it comes to religion in politics and economics, and not all socialists are atheists. This panel will explore the history of religion on the left, particularly in the context of socialism and movements for economic justice. Panelists will also cover contemporary labor and economic justice movements, highlighting stories that the press has overlooked and areas where media coverage can be strengthened.

From tropes and dog whistles to violence in our nation’s synagogues and abroad, what is new about the oldest hatred? Experts talk about how to recognize antisemitism in religious, political and communal settings. They will discuss efforts to fight the latest scourge and what the U.S. and other countries can learn from Europe.