research: the meaning of life

I read an article from the Chicago Tribune's online edition from yesterday called "Research tries to measure how we find life's meaning", by Ronald Kotulak. This story was a mix of religion and science, written by one of the paper's science reporters. It was definitely different from other religion stories that I have read. It focuses on research done trying to figure out when Americans become more religious. The lead starts with a common story that could have been told about many after the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks-- someone searching to buy a flag. The story, however, was about the lead researcher on the project, and was a good example of something many others could relate to. While the article was a bit long (maybe the print version was a bit shorter), it did a good job of explaining how research is done on religious behaviors and reactions. It also returns to the search for a flag at the close of the article, tying the conclusion back to the lead.