From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Religion in the modern world.

Hello again, I'm Warrenalny, and this is To the Poet from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues Americans care about most. Newsweek magazine's cover announces the decline and fall of Christian America. While a recent book is entitled, God is Back. The contrast illustrates the worldwide tension between secularism and modern political life and the growing prevalence of religious belief. Free market thinking has some people shopping between denominations.

Some traditionalists, threatened by the secular world, go to extremes. Do religions compete for

believers? Which one is likely to win? Why is Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda such a modern

phenomenon? On reporters' notebook later on, America's electrical grid and cyber spies. First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T.

MacArthur Foundation, and the Skoll Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. McArthur Foundation,

and the Skoll Foundation, supporting social entrepreneurs around the world, uncommon heroes dedicated to

the common good. Learn more at Skoll.org. Hello again. Moran Alney, back with To the Poet. Secularism

is a defining characteristic of the modern world. So why is there such an increase in religious

belief? With two major religions celebrating holidays, we'll look at faith in America and other

parts of the world. On reporter's notebook, U.S. intelligence agencies report that cyber spies have

penetrated America's electrical grid. We'll find out what that could mean. First, this news update.

After meeting with Treasury Secretary Geithner, Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke, and other

advisors today, President Obama told reporters there are glimmers of hope for the economy. You can hear

his words behind the clicking of camera shutters. We're starting to see progress. And if we stick with it, if we don't flinch in the face of some

difficulties, then I feel absolutely convinced that we are going to get this economy back on

Franklin. President Obama speaking this morning, Michael Fletcher is White House reporter for the Washington Post, and Michael, thanks for being on our program. My pleasure. What are these glimmers of hope that the president's talking about? Well, he's pointing to a few things. One is something he actually tried to highlight yesterday, which is kind of record low mortgage interest rates. He's saying now it's a good time for people to go out and refinance. They could save hundreds of dollars a month in some cases just by refinancing because 30-year

mortgages are in many cases below 5% for the first time in many, many years. So he's pointing to that.

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