Public Life
Catholic Voters and the Papal Visit
By richardwood — April 14, 2008
The current New York Times series on Pope Benedict XVI provides excellent insight into the dynamics behind the pope’s visit. The April 13 article portrays the complexity of this Pope’s views on social issues; today’s article (April 14) considers the struggles of lay Catholics as their parishes face closures. But for those interested in religion […]
Olympic Sacrilege
By Mark Silk — April 11, 2008
The ancient Olympic Games were as much a religious affair (honoring Zeus and King Pelops of Olympia) as an athletic one, and the modern Olympics should also be recognized as constituting a civil religion of its own. That’s how to understand IOC President Jacques Rogge’s using the word “crisis” to describe a situation in which […]
An Unlikely Couple
By rvineis — April 1, 2008
Turning away from the presidential race momentarily, Al Gore is playing matchmaker to an unlikely couple: Pat Robertson and Al Sharpton. The two have agreed to appear together in advertisements as part of Gore’s 300 million dollar campaign to raise awareness about climate change. Sharpton didn’t believe the former Vice President was serious, “At first […]
The asshole from Texas
By Mark Silk — March 4, 2008
If Chuck’s the schmuck from New York, what does that make Rev. Land?
Time Out for Some Demography
By Mark Silk — February 29, 2008
Last Monday, the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life released the first analytical hunk of what it is calling the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey (not to be confused with earlier Pew-sponsored “American Religious Landscape and Political Attitudes” surveys). Thanks to the Pew name, a fab marketing strategy, and a really cool website, it has […]
Catholic Sound and Furor
By richardwood — February 28, 2008
An important exchange about Catholic engagement in public life occurred this week in the pages of the Washington Post. On Sunday, Joe Feuerherd reacted to the U.S. Catholic bishops’ recent statement on citizen’s civic responsibility, a related webpage, and recent statements by some individual bishops. He suggested that the thrust of those statements meant that […]
Prayer Breakfast
By rvineis — February 7, 2008
In case you forgot, today was the National Prayer Breakfast.
Faith Based Controversy
By rvineis — February 4, 2008
David Kuo and John J. DiIulio’s NYT piece on faith based initiatives last week caused quite a stir. Check out the reactions from the current head of the White House department they criticize, a minister preaching the establishment clause, the general counsel of the American Jewish Committee, and the president of a Secular Humanist society. […]
Faith in our Union
By rvineis — January 29, 2008
David Kuo and John J. DiIulio Jr, former directors of the White House office of Faith Based Initiatives, criticized the Bush administration’s leadership of their department in today’s NYT. Kuo and Dilulio defended the positive effects of religious giving like providing social services to low income citizens, daycare, and assistance for the homeless. Yet, they […]
Blair Converts to Catholicism
By rvineis — December 22, 2007
Across the pond, former PM Tony Blair officially converted to Catholicism on Friday. Blair had been a member of the Church of England during his years on Downing Street. He “told the BBC this year that he had avoided talking about his religious views while in office for about 10 years for fear of being […]
Faith In America’s Voters
By rvineis — December 22, 2007
The Weekly Standard‘s Christopher Caldwell tells the readers of the Financial Times here why he believes religion appears to matter more in this race than before.
B v. M
By Mark Silk — December 20, 2007
Useful overview in Slate of the contest for converts between Baptists and Mormons.
Piety taken to excess
By rvineis — December 13, 2007
Tomorrow’s Washington Post will feature a piece by Charles Krauthammer who is a bit perturbed about the current religious debate. Check out this change of pace in our national dialogue.
The New England Way
By Mark Silk — December 8, 2007
Anyone who wants to understand what makes religion in public life different in New England should take a look at this article in today’s Hartford Courant. The Connecticut Valley Atheists erect a sign (with official permission) in Rockville’s Central Park with a picture of the Twin Towers and a quote from Lennon’s “Imagine”–to wit, “Imagine […]
Page 2 of 2
