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Essay of the Week
Like any long-term relationship, Cindy Lollar and her partner Greta have had their ups and downs. Now as they grow old together, Lollar believes the love and commitment she and Greta share are as strong and enduring as those found in any marriage. Click here to read her essay.
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What Students Believe
Throughout the school year, young people around the world write statements of belief as a classroom exercise. And thousands of those students have submitted their essays to our series. Click here to read a sampling of what young people believe.
Special Features
Published October 31, 2018
Hope is a commodity that many find in short supply. We can hope for things grand or mundane, but all hope embodies a faith and optimism that good can come to the world. Click the links below to read the hopes of these essayists.
A Walk in the Woods
Published October 8, 2018
As fall is around the corner with cooler days and turning leaves, it’s a perfect time for a hike among the trees. Whether for pleasure, exercise, or solitude, a walk in the woods can also inspire belief. Click the links below to learn what our essayists discovered out in nature.
What Students Believe
Published September 24, 2018
Throughout the school year, young people around the world write statements of belief as a classroom exercise. And thousands of those students have submitted their essays to our series. Click the links below to read a sampling of what young people believe.
Life Lessons Learned from Strangers
Published September 18, 2018
As children, we’re taught to be wary of strangers. But random encounters with people we don’t know can lead to surprising insights about others and opportunities to learn more about ourselves. Click the links below to read this selection of essays about life lessons learned from strangers.
Hard Work
Published September 3, 2018
Hard work can result in the completion of assigned tasks, a steady paycheck, a way to fill time or the simple satisfaction of a job well done. And like many other things in life, work can inspire belief. In honor of Labor Day, click the links below to learn what these essayists believe about their work.
The Meaning of Courage
Published August 27, 2018
What keeps you going when you are afraid to do something but do it anyway? What does it mean to be brave? Whether confronting fear of physical harm or death, or confronting justice and doing what’s right, many people find meaning in taking action to confront their fears.
Defining Family
Published August 20, 2018
Many a poet has written that blood is thicker than water. But today, blood and DNA do not necessarily define a family. The following essayists agree with Maya Angelou, who said “family isn’t always blood . . . it’s the ones who love you no matter what.”
Our Brother’s Keeper
Published August 14, 2018
Many of the world’s religions teach the importance of caring for each other, whether it’s tending to a close family member or showing compassion for a complete stranger. Click the links below to read how these essayists explore the simple acts of kindness that can enrich our own humanity.
The Little Things
Published August 10, 2018
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle once said that “the little things are infinitely the most important.” Whether it’s sending someone a thank you card, shoveling a neighbor’s sidewalk, or remembering that your coworker prefers dark chocolate, the littlest things can make a big difference. Click the links below to read what these essayists believe about the little things.
The Immigrant Experience
Published August 6, 2018
In the heated debates over political policy, it’s easy to forget that America is largely a nation of immigrants. For those who came to this country from distant lands generations ago, to the recently naturalized citizen, the American dream is a powerful draw for people around the world. Click the links below to learn the beliefs that immigration has inspired in these essayists.