Welcome to the Morning Buzz, PRRI’s morning dose of religion-related news with a shot of data – because what doesn’t liven up a morning round-up like some public opinion numbers? A question for the ages, posed by Morning Buzz reader Arnie: How much is an unsaleable bald eagle worth?

An atheist group expressed their displeasure with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack after he publicly announced that he prays daily for rain. Prayer, the atheist group said, is not the right solution to the current drought. And it’s true that fewer than 4-in-10 (38%) Americans believe earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters are a sign from God.

The fast food chain Chick-fil-A ignited a firestorm of protest on social media websites like Twitter and Facebook after the company’s president announced that he is opposed to same-sex marriage. For more on the substantial changes in public opinion on same-sex marriage over the past decade, check out this research note.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg slammed both President Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for extending words of sympathy, rather than commitments to policy changes, in the wake of the shootings in Aurora, Colorado. According to an analysis of findings from a 2011 ABC News/Washington Post survey conducted by PRRI, many religious Americans believe that there should be stricter enforcement of current gun control laws, or stricter laws altogether.

Joanna Brooks’ memoir, The Book of Mormon Girl: A Memoir of an American Faith, comes out on August 7, and details many of the author’s struggles to reconcile her faith with some of the LDS Church’s stances on issues like women’s rights and homosexuality.

In the dog days of summer, it’s always nice to get a break. Take your eyes off the ongoing coverage of the presidential campaign, and learn about which Senate races will matter most this fall.

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