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Barbara Bradley Hagerty Barbara Bradley Hagerty has been the religion correspondent for NPR since January 2003. She reports on the intersection of faith and politics, law, science, and culture.
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Barbara Bradley Hagerty

Wednesday

Why A Man Declared Innocent Can't Get Out Of Prison

Benjamine Spencer was 22 years old in 1987 when he was arrested for murder. He was newly married, and expecting his first child. Cooper Neill for NPR hide caption

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Cooper Neill for NPR

Law

Why A Man Declared Innocent Can't Get Out Of Prison

Benjamine Spencer's case illustrates how difficult it can be for some prisoners in Texas to prove they did not commit a crime without new and unassailable evidence, such as DNA.

Why A Man Declared Innocent Can't Get Out Of Prison

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Thursday

8 Ways You Can Survive — And Thrive In — Midlife

One secret to midlife happiness is being a rookie at something. Trying new things and failing keeps you robust. retrorocket/Getty Images hide caption

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Stuck In The Middle: Work, Health And Happiness At Midlife

8 Ways You Can Survive — And Thrive In — Midlife

One secret to midlife happiness is being a rookie at something. Trying new things and failing keeps you robust. Also, to revive a midlife marriage, mix things up: Hike, go dancing or set out in an RV.

8 Ways You Can Survive — And Thrive In — Midlife

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Tuesday

Forget About It: Your Middle-Aged Brain Is Not On The Decline

Taking an intelligence test at the University of Maryland: In one month of brain training, former NPR correspondent Barbara Bradley Hagerty vastly increased her scores in intelligence tests. Courtesy of Barbara Bradley Hagerty hide caption

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Courtesy of Barbara Bradley Hagerty

Stuck In The Middle: Work, Health And Happiness At Midlife

Forget About It: Your Middle-Aged Brain Is Not On The Decline

You forget someone's name, or why you ran downstairs. Your brain is getting older, and the connections are weakening. But research shows the middle-aged brain is actually operating at its peak.

Forget About It: Your Middle-Aged Brain Is Not On The Decline

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Monday

Forget The Red Sports Car. The Midlife Crisis Is A Myth
David Whittle/Getty Images/Imagezoo

Stuck In The Middle: Work, Health And Happiness At Midlife

Forget The Red Sports Car. The Midlife Crisis Is A Myth

The midlife crisis is entrenched in American popular culture, but mostly, it doesn't exist in more than a mere 10 percent of the population. Here, five ways we misunderstand midlife.

Forget The Red Sports Car. The Midlife Crisis Is A Myth

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Wednesday

After Tragedy, Nonbelievers Find Other Ways To Cope

Carol Fiore's husband, Eric, died after the plane he was test-piloting crashed in Wichita, Kan., 12 years ago. An atheist, Carol felt no comfort when religious people told her Eric was in a better place. Barbara Bradley Hagerty/NPR hide caption

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Barbara Bradley Hagerty/NPR

Losing Our Religion

After Tragedy, Nonbelievers Find Other Ways To Cope

Many have long turned to religion for solace in the aftermath of a tragedy, but that's not an option for the nonreligious or those whose faith is destroyed by the event. For the nonreligious, dealing with trauma and loss often requires forging one's own path.

After Tragedy, Nonbelievers Find Other Ways To Cope

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Monday

Finding New Meaning In The Loss Of A Son

Ronan at 2 years old. "I know Ronan's purpose in life was to shed light on this disease," says his mother, Maya Thompson. "This is why I will continue to fight for childhood cancer for the rest of my life." Courtesy of Maya Thompson hide caption

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Courtesy of Maya Thompson

National

Finding New Meaning In The Loss Of A Son

Maya Thompson's son Ronan died of cancer three days before his fourth birthday. During his illness, she began a raw and sometimes angry blog that drew millions of readers. Thompson has since started a foundation and is funding clinical trials to find a cure for childhood cancer.

Finding New Meaning In The Loss Of A Son

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Wednesday

Mormonism: A Scrutinized, Yet Evolving Faith

temple George Frey/Reuters hide caption

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George Frey/Reuters

Religion

Mormonism: A Scrutinized, Yet Evolving Faith

The 2012 election shined a spotlight on the previously little-known religion of Mormonism. Many Americans have heard about the missionaries or baptism for the dead. But on the whole, the theology is shrouded in mystery. Mormons say their religion is often misunderstood because, unlike other faiths, it changes with time.

Mormonism: A Scrutinized, Yet Evolving Faith

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Tuesday

Thursday

For Religious Conservatives, Election Was A 'Disaster'

Attendees pray during The Family Research Council's Values Voter Summit on Sept. 14 in Washington, D.C. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

It's All Politics

For Religious Conservatives, Election Was A 'Disaster'

"Our message was rejected by millions of Americans who went to the polls," one leader says. He adds evangelicals now need to approach politics in a fundamentally different way.

For Religious Conservatives, Election Was A 'Disaster'

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Wednesday

Battleground States Carry Obama To Second Term

President Obama walks on stage with first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia to deliver his victory speech on election night in Chicago. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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Win McNamee/Getty Images

It's All Politics

Battleground States Carry Obama To Second Term

By holding the "Midwest firewall" — including Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan — the president handily defeated challenger Mitt Romney. Obama won seven of the eight battleground states and is ahead in Florida, the final battleground.

NPR Election Coverage Hour 4

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Tuesday

Wednesday

Shift In Mormon Age Policy Widens Women's Options

A statue representing womanhood — and women's role in raising children — is seen with the Mormon Temple in the background in Salt Lake City. Douglas C. Pizac/AP hide caption

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Douglas C. Pizac/AP

Religion

Shift In Mormon Age Policy Widens Women's Options

The Mormon Church announced earlier this month that young women can begin their mission trips when they're 19 — two years earlier than the previous policy allowed. The shift is also a seismic change in philosophy — and sends the signal that young women have more options in planning their futures.

Shift In Mormon Age Policy Widens Women's Options

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Wednesday

Sisters And Vatican II: A Generational Tug Of War

A nun chants while she and her sisters pray together during Vespers at their home near Dumfries, Va. Unlike older sisters shaped by Vatican II, a new generation of women are flocking to more conservative orders. Barbara Bradley Hagerty/NPR hide caption

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Barbara Bradley Hagerty/NPR

Religion

Sisters And Vatican II: A Generational Tug Of War

On Oct. 11, 1962, Pope John XXIII opened Vatican II, with a desire to let some fresh air into the Catholic Church. It was a revolution, especially for the nuns who were encouraged to go into the world and help the needy. But now the nuns are being censored, and a generational rift has emerged.

Sisters And Vatican II: A Generational Tug Of War

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Tuesday

Both Candidates Leave God Off The Campaign Trail
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National

Both Candidates Leave God Off The Campaign Trail

Religion figured prominently in the last two presidential races, but is virtually absent from the 2012 campaign. After invoking faith throughout his first presidential bid, President Obama now barely mentions God. Similarly, rival Mitt Romney refers to religion in only the vaguest of terms.

Both Candidates Leave God Off The Campaign Trail

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Thursday

Religion

Catholic Bishops Ramp Up Same-Sex Marriage Fight

When the archbishop of Newark, N.J., said that people who support same-sex marriage should refrain from communion, he was just one of several bishops taking aim at such unions. His comments came on the heels of the Bishops' campaign about contraception and they have led some see to see it as a political move.

Catholic Bishops Ramp Up Same-Sex Marriage Fight

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