Religions Around The World

In the early morning hours, monks can be seen walking on their alms round in Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Showing humility and detachment from worldly goods, the monk walks slowly and only stops if he is called. Standing quietly, with his bowl open, the local Buddhists give him rice, or flowers, or an envelope containing money.  In return, the monks bless the local Buddhists and wish them a long and fruitful life.
Christians Celebrate Good Friday
Enacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in St. Mary's Church in Secunderabad, India. Only 2.3% of India's population is Christian. 
Ancient interior mosaic in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora
The Church of the Holy Saviour in Istanbul, Turkey is a medieval Byzantine Greek Orthodox church.
Dome of the Rock located in the Old City of Jerusalem
The site's great significance for Muslims derives from traditions connecting it to the creation of the world and to the belief that the Prophet Muhammad's Night Journey to heaven started from the rock at the center of the structure.
Holi Festival in Mathura, India
Holi is a Hindu festival that marks the end of winter. Also known as the “festival of colors”,  Holi is primarily observed in South Asia but has spread across the world in celebration of love and the changing of the seasons.
Jewish father and daughter pray at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Israel.
Known in Hebrew as the Western Wall, it is one of the holiest sites in the world. The description, "place of weeping", originated from the Jewish practice of mourning the destruction of the Temple and praying for its rebuilding at the site of the Western Wall.
People praying in Mengjia Longshan Temple in Taipei, Taiwan
The temple is dedicated to both Taoism and Buddhism.
People praying in the Grand Mosque in Ulu Cami
This is the most important mosque in Bursa, Turkey and a landmark of early Ottoman architecture built in 1399.
Savior Transfiguration Cathedral of the Savior Monastery of St. Euthymius
Located in Suzdal, Russia, this is a church rite of sanctification of apples and grapes in honor of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
Fushimi Inari Shrine is located in Kyoto, Japan
It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. Fushimi Inari is the most important Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice.
Ladles at the purification fountain in the Hakone Shrine
Located in Hakone, Japan, this shrine is a Japanese Shinto shrine.  At the purification fountain, ritual washings are performed by individuals when they visit a shrine. This ritual symbolizes the inner purity necessary for a truly human and spiritual life.
Hanging Gardens of Haifa are garden terraces around the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel
They are one of the most visited tourist attractions in Israel. The Shrine of the Báb is where the remains of the Báb, founder of the Bábí Faith and forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh in the Bahá'í Faith, have been buried; it is considered to be the second holiest place on Earth for Bahá'ís.
Pilgrims praying at the Pool of the Nectar of Immortality and Golden Temple
Located in Amritsar, India, the Golden Temple is one of the most revered spiritual sites of Sikhism. It is a place of worship for men and women from all walks of life and all religions to worship God equally. Over 100,000 people visit the shrine daily.
Entrance gateway of Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple Kowloon
Located in Hong Kong, China, the temple is dedicated to Wong Tai Sin, or the Great Immortal Wong. The Taoist temple is famed for the many prayers answered: "What you request is what you get" via a practice called kau cim.
Christian women worship at a church in Bois Neus, Haiti.
Haiti's population is 94.8 percent Christian, primarily Catholic. This makes them one of the most heavily Christian countries in the world.

World Religions News

The Truth About Time That Most of Us Avoid Facing

“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” ~Oprah Winfrey

My father died at forty-nine.

I was young when it happened, still soft in the way grief makes you when you are not yet equipped to hold it. I was so consumed by the loss itself that I never stopped to do the mathematics of it. Forty-nine years. That is all he got. Forty-nine years to do everything he wanted to do, to become everything he wanted to become, and to say every word he still had left inside him.

I did not let …

New Research Reveals Gap Between Christians’ Generosity Aspirations and Giving Practices


Study finds many religious donors want to give more than they currently do, suggesting that consistency — not willingness — is often the barrier to greater generosity

INDIANAPOLIS — Most faith-based donors across the United States aspire to give consistently, but many struggle to turn intentions into regular giving habits, according to a new national study.

Produced by Givelify Philanthropic Research & Insights, a research initiative of Givelify, with support from the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, part of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, the 2026 Giving in Faith: Rethinking Generosity through Consistent Giving report examines the behavioral and motivational factors that shape consistent generosity within faith communities.

Building on past findings that nearly all faith-based donors aspire to give consistently one or more times a month, the new report found that only 30% currently do so, even with the availability of automatic recurring giving. At the same time, church leaders tend to view congregational giving patterns more optimistically, estimating that about 53% of congregants give consistently.  

Together, these findings highlight a disconnect between giving intentions, perceived giving patterns, and actual giving behavior within faith communities.  

This suggests not a lack of generosity, but the reality that even the most deeply held intentions can be difficult to turn into actions that can be sustained over time. For church leaders, this highlights an opportunity to support generosity more intentionally as an ongoing expression of faith and help people translate good intentions into sustained action.  

“Generosity is already deeply rooted in faith communities, reflecting the longstanding work of pastors and church leaders who have faithfully cultivated cultures of generosity, service, and spiritual growth within their congregations,” said Wale Mafolasire, founder and CEO of Givelify. “The fact that 95% of faith-based donors aspire to give consistently speaks to that foundation. Building on that reality, this report provides churches with a deeper understanding of what helps consistent generosity take root and endure over time.”   

He added, “Small shifts in consistency can create meaningful ripple effects, opening the door for more people to experience the spiritual and personal impact of giving as an ongoing practice and expression of their faith.”  

New tools for faith leaders and churches  

The 2026 Giving in Faith report introduces three frameworks that church leaders can use to better support generosity in ways that are grounded in the spiritual lives of their congregants, including: 

  • A new operational definition of consistent giving.The report establishes a shared, measurable definition of consistent giving grounded in actual giving behavior and is designed to support a clearer understanding across churches, donors, and researchers.  
  • Four donor profiles. The research identifies distinct groups within congregations — from Devoted and Steady Givers to Awakening and Unengaged Givers — each reflecting different motivations, habits, and barriers related to generosity. 
  • A Consistent Giving Model™.The report introduces a blueprint for understanding the factors that shape consistent generosity and help sustain giving over time. 

“What makes this research especially important is that it moves the conversation beyond just where, when, and how people give to also attend to the practices and relationships that help that giving become consistent over time,” said David P. King, Karen Lake Buttrey Director of Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. “The findings provide church leaders with practical insight into the different motivations, relationships, and habits that shape generosity, helping them engage congregants in ways that are more personal, supportive, and responsive to the realities of everyday life.”  

Researchers estimate that even modest improvements in consistent giving could amount to $30 billion annually in additional support across U.S. faith communities. For a typical congregation, that could mean approximately $50,000 in additional annual giving. That increased support could help churches that rely on steady generosity strengthen the vital services they already provide every day — including outreach programs, food ministries, counseling services, youth initiatives, and other forms of community care — at a time when many communities need them most. 

Looking ahead: trends and statistics shaping generosity in churches 

The findings suggest that generosity within faith communities continues to remain strong, with both church leaders and donors expressing optimism about giving and community impact.  

  • Giving resilience is expected to continue 

Most church leaders (82%) expect giving to increase in the year ahead, despite 67% saying they remain concerned about broader economic conditions. 

  • Financial realities will shape — but not diminish — generosity 

While 60% of donors say they want to give more in the year ahead, about half also report that personal finances (51%) or the broader economy (48%) could affect their ability to give. This reinforces a central theme of the report: intention remains high, but for some, consistency is shaped by everyday financial realities. 

  • Generosity will continue expanding beyond the church 

Faith-based donors continue to support not only churches, but also nonprofits, community organizations, and individuals in need. Donors expect to maintain or increase giving to nonprofits (77%), community organizations (67%), and individuals in need (83%) — reflecting a broader, more relational approach to generosity. 

“What encourages me most about this report and its findings is that it reflects the lived experiences of congregations that have long served as pillars of their communities. It also elevates the voices of Black churches, which are so often overlooked in national conversations about giving,” said Bishop Walter S. Thomas, Pastor Emeritus of New Psalmist Baptist Church. “Across the country, we continue to see a deep spirit of compassion, service, and community alive and well within congregations. Churches have an opportunity to nurture that spirit in ways that strengthen relationships, inspire hope, and remind people that faith is meant to be lived out in community and care for one another.” 

To read the full report, visit givelify.com/givinginfaith.  

Methodology 

The 2026 Giving in Faith report is based on a nationally representative mixed-methods study conducted in early 2026. The research includes surveys of 894 Christian church leaders and 1,987 Christian faith-based donors across the United States, alongside behavioral analysis of real-world giving data from Givelify’s platform. Additional economic analysis was conducted in collaboration with researchers at Texas A&M University.  

Researchers intentionally oversampled predominantly Black churches and Black Christian faith-based donors as part of a separate planned research study. Post-stratification weights were applied to church leader responses to reflect U.S. Christian church demographics by predominant racial composition and geographic region, using benchmarks from Lake Institute of Faith & Giving’s National Study of Congregations’ Economic Practices and the National Congregations Study, respectively. 

About the Giving in Faith Report 

The Giving in Faith report is Givelify’s flagship research study and one of the most comprehensive examinations of faith-based generosity in the United States. Produced biennially by Givelify Philanthropic Research & Insights with support from the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, the report combines behavioral data, donor psychology, and national survey research to help faith leaders, researchers, and practitioners better understand generosity trends and opportunities shaping faith-based philanthropy today. 

About Givelify Philanthropic Research & Insights 

Givelify Philanthropic Research & Insights is a multidisciplinary research and intelligence practice that pioneered The Psychology of Giving™ — the study of the behaviors and motivations that shape why people give — and applies it to advance generosity at scale. 

Operating at the intersection of data and purpose, its work is both theory-informed and practice-driven, grounded in the lived experiences of people of faith and the organizations that serve them. Through landmark research such as Giving in Faith, Givelify Philanthropic Research & Insights equips faith organizations, researchers, and the philanthropic community with insights that deepen understanding of generosity and inform mission-driven decisions. 

About Givelify 

Givelify is the most loved and trusted online and mobile giving platform. Along with its powerful donation management system, it’s the fastest-growing technology for advancing generosity. More than 2 million givers have donated over $7.5 billion to 80,000+ churches, places of worship, and nonprofits to date. Learn more at Givelify.com. 

About Lake Institute on Faith & Giving

Lake Institute on Faith & Giving fosters a deeper understanding of the dynamic relationship between faith and giving, through research, education, and public conversation. The institute offers customized programs that translates data and giving trends into practical tools. Lake Institute supports the development of research designed to explore the broad context of religious giving. Through public forums we engage practitioners, scholars, and the community in thoughtful conversation and reflection. Lake Institute is a program of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn. Learn more at lakeinstitute.org.

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Contact:
Dione Martin
Givelify
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RNS or Religion News Foundation.

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