A California judge began hearing arguments this week in a civil rights case concerning whether one yoga form's religious roots should prevent it from being taught in a public school system.

A lawsuit was filed against the Encinitas Union School District by The National Center for Law and Policy on behalf of Stephen and Jennifer Sedlock, whose children attend school in the district. The plaintiffs' attorneys say Ashtanga yoga, which is used as a part of the physical education curriculum in the district, is rooted in religion and is therefore being unconstitutionally taught in schools.

Candy Gunther Brown, who is an associate professor of religious studies at Indiana University, took the stand as an expert witness for the plaintiffs in the case and called Ashtanga "the most religious form of yoga," according to FOX5SanDiego.com. more >>

Goodwill for teen cancer victim Zach Sobiech continued to pour in on Wednesday after fans buoyed his farewell song "Clouds" to the number one spot on the iTunes singles chart and a video tribute of his life created by SoulPancake has gone viral.

The Lakeland, Minn., teen died on Monday surrounded by friends and family after a four-year battle with osteosarcoma, a rare cancer of the bone that usually affects young children.

Last May, after all of his medical options were exhausted, doctors gave the teen one year to live. Once he learned how much time he had, he began working on musical farewells for his friends and family at the request of his mother. more >>

The Peace Corps, one of the largest government-run volunteer organizations in the U.S., announced on Tuesday that as of June it is changing its policy to allow same-sex couples to volunteer together in the overseas service program.

"Service in the Peace Corps is a life-defining leadership experience for Americans who want to make a difference around the world," said Deputy Director Hessler-Radelet in a statement. "I am proud that the agency is taking this important step forward to allow same-sex domestic partners to serve overseas together."

The Peace Corps, established by former President John F. Kennedy in 1961, works in 76 different countries in various social and economic development programs, aimed at helping people better understand Americans, while at the same time offering U.S. citizens more insight into people of other cultures. more >>

Even the reporters are choked up. What the monster tornado tore up in Moore, Oklahoma is tearing at our hearts.

Houses gone. Neighborhoods gone. Schools gone. Children. Gone.

People wandering the streets "like zombies," trying to figure out where their house was. Parents waiting in the mud, looking for some shred of hope that their child is somehow alive beneath the rubble of their school. Children in shelters, wondering if they'll ever see their parents again. more >>

A young billionaire couple from Houston, Texas, has decided to give away their estimated $4 billion dollar fortune instead of leaving it for their children, and you might be surprised to know why.

Wunderkind John Arnold is not yet 40 years old, but last October he closed his hedge fund, Centaurus Energy, and retired after amassing an estimated wealth of $4 billion in the last 10 years.

Now, Arnold who began his career at Enron, and his wife Laura have dedicated the rest of their lives to giving away that wealth to support innovative ideas that can solve society's myriad problems because they don't plan on leaving it for their three children. more >>

A national network of hospitals in the U.S. called Cancer Treatment Centers of America is combining state-of-the-art medical care for patients in advanced-stages of cancer with spiritual support by a team of pastors, which is said to help patients live longer.

"The focus of Care that the Cancer Treatment Centers of America utilizes is a 'Holistic Model,' and in that model 'Spirituality' among several other modalities, and the support of such in a clinical environment, based upon a plethora of research strongly suggests that healing, and wellness can be directly related to those emphasis, which in this case would be 'Spirituality/Religious' support," the Rev. Percy W. McCray, Jr., pastoral care director at CTCA, shared with The Christian Post in an email on Tuesday.

While a team of oncologists, surgeons, radiologists and integrative care clinicians assist with the patients' medical needs, the pastors minister to their Christian faith. more >>