There’s no denying that 2020 has been a trying year.Churches all over the nation closed their doors because of COVID-19. Rioters burned and looted businesses in cities from Portland, Oregon, to Kenosha, Wisconsin. And a contested election has left many Americans concerned for the country’s future.Amid the trials and tribulations of this year, Becket Law’s annual Religious Freedom Index found that religious liberty is still an essential American value. Becket Law, a nonprofit, public interest legal institute, says its mission is "to defend the free exercise of all faiths, from Anglican to Zoroastrian."In a survey of 1,000 Americans, 78% said they believe “religion is important to providing stability to society during times of social unrest,” Becket Law reports in its index.Caleb Lyman, director of research and analytics at Becket Law, joins the show to explain Americans’ current view of religious freedom and whether the nation's perspective on faith has changed during 2020. Lyman also discusses the survey’s surprising findings regarding how Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) views religion. We also cover these stories: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger says he will recertify the state's election results.Conservatives push back on former Vice President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.Federal judges in both Michigan and Georgia dismiss election-related lawsuits from lawyer Sidney Powell. Enjoy the show! Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.