THE QUESTION

In a world torn by religious, ethnic and geopolitical conflict, what can we be thankful for this Thanksgiving?
Posted by Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on November 23, 2007 11:16 AM

FROM THE PANEL

"On Faith" panelist Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo is Professor Emeritus of Puerto Rican and Latino Studies at Brooklyn College and Distinguished Scholar of the City University of New York. He has written more than 40 scholarly articles and authored nine books, including the four-volume PARAL series on religion among Latinos. His book Prophets Denied Honor (1980) is considered a landmark in Catholic literature. With his spouse, Ana María Díaz-Stevens, he authored Recognizing the Latino Religious Resurgence , which was named an Outstanding Academic Book for 1998 by Choice magazine. A spokesperson for civil and human rights, he has testified before the U.S. Congress and the United Nations and was named by President Jimmy Carter to the Advisory Board of the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights for two terms. Presently, he directs the Research Center for Religion In Society and Culture (RISC).

An Earth Religion Thanksgiving Day

The meaning of the day no longer rests upon the dominance of one religion, such as that of the Pilgrims, which conquered the other one belonging to the Native Americans.

Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo, Director, Research Center for Religion in Society and Culture | 17 COMMENTS
Nov 26, 2007 at 9:58 AM
J. Brent Walker is executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee and both a member of the Supreme Court Bar and an ordained minister. A native of Charleston, W. Va., Walker holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Florida. He also earned a law degree from Stetson University College of Law. Walker was a partner in the law firm of Carlton, Fields in Tampa, FL. Walker left the firm in 1986 to enter Southern Seminary, Louisville, KY, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1989 and was named the most outstanding graduate. He pastored the Richland Baptist Church, Falmouth, KY, and routinely speaks in churches and denominational gatherings. Having taught 10 years as an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center, he has, since 2003, served as an adjunct professor at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.

Thanks to Those Who Paved the Way

Even though our liberty is a gift from God — not the result of an act of concession of the state — we have chosen to tailor our political institutions to protect that liberty.

J. Brent Walker, Executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee, ordained minister. | 24 COMMENTS
Nov 26, 2007 at 7:58 AM
An ordained United Church of Christ and American Baptist minister, "On Faith" panelist Dr. Willis E. Elliott has been a pastor, teacher, lecturer, administrator, consultant (to Newsweek for 38 years), church executive, and the author of six books. His five earned degrees in religion include a PhD, University of Chicago, where he was divinity research librarian. He taught in colleges, seminaries, & universities--including the University of Hawaii, where he taught "The World's Great Religions" and "Religion and the Meaning of Existence." At the 1966 Triennium of the National Council of Churches, he was the interlocutor with Billy Graham.

Thanksgiving as the Meeting of Two Minds

For the Christian mind, every day is thanksgiving day, and all acts of compassionate service to humanity and the good earth are return-gifts to the Giver of all.

Willis E. Elliott, Minister, teacher, author | 56 COMMENTS
Nov 26, 2007 at 6:24 AM
"On Faith" panelist Sulayman S. Nyang teaches in the Department of African Studies at Howard University in Washington, D.C. A scholar of African and Muslim affairs, Nyang, who is a native of the Republic of the Gambia, also served as his homeland's deputy ambassador to seven Middle Eastern and North African countries from 1975-78. Except for those three years, Nyang has taught at Howard since 1972, serving as acting director of the African Studies Program from 1973-75 and from 1986-1993, as chairman of the Department of African Studies. In 1993, he became senior consultant on the African Voices Project of the Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution..In 1997, Nyang became the first scholar to be named the Henry Luce Professor for Abrahamic Religions at the University of Hartford and Hartford Seminary. From 1999 to 2002 Professor Nyang served as a principal investigator and co-director of the Muslims in the American Public Square (MAPS) project sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trust and housed at Georgetown University's Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. Now a U.S. citizen, Nyang has written extensively on African, Islamic and Middle Eastern affairs .His most widely-known book is Islam, Christianity and African Identity. He has also authored or co-edited Religious Plurality in Africa, with Jacob Olupona; A Line in the Sand: Saudi Arabia's Role in the Gulf War, with Evans Heindricks; and Islam:Its Relevance Today, co-edited with Henry Thompson. Nyang also wrote Islam in the United States of America (1999). His latest work is Muslims' Place in the American Public Square. Hopes, Fears, and Aspirations (2004), jointly edited with Zahid Bukhari and John Esposito of Georgetown University, and Mumtaz Ahmad of Hampton University). Nyang, who holds a doctorate in government from the University of Virginia, also serves on the advisory boards of several national African and Muslim organizations and was the first American Muslim president of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.

Thankful for Land of Opportunity

All those who traveled from elsewhere and landed in this country have come to appreciate the affluence and the natural beauty that awaits the visitor.

Sulayman Nyang, Scholar of African and Muslim affairs | 19 COMMENTS
Nov 26, 2007 at 5:53 AM
The Rev. Gabriel Salguero is the director of the Hispanic/Latino Leadership Program at Princeton Theological Seminary’s Center of Continuing Education. The "On Faith" panelist received his M.Div. from New Brunswick Theological Seminary and is a Ph.D. candidate in Christian social ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York. He and his wife, Jeanette, co-pastor the multicultural Lamb’s Church of the Nazarene in New York City. He serves on the board of Sojourners and is a member of the Latino Leadership Circle. Gabriel has been called one of the emerging voices of Latino evangelicals. He also serves as a member of the Equal Employment Advisory Commission for the state of New Jersey. Salguero has a two-year-old son and enjoys basketball and reading.

Thanksgiving: A Post Script on Hope

Our thanksgiving and gratitude is not based on a realistic view of the world that says evil exists but it is not the last word.

Gabriel Salguero, Director, Hispanic/Latino Leadership Program at Princeton Theological Seminary | 44 COMMENTS
Nov 23, 2007 at 4:06 PM
As editor of the Catholic weekly magazine "America" (americamagazine.org), Rev. Thomas J. Reese promoted discussion on current issues facing the Catholic Church and the world. The "On Faith" panelist is author of Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church. Father Reese is frequently quoted as an expert on Catholic issues. He is a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University, where he is working on religion and politics. Besides his theological training as a Jesuit priest, he has a doctorate in political science from the University of California Berkeley. He once worked as a lobbyist for tax reform.

Surprised by Goodness

It is the Christian vocation to work to overcome these disasters, to feed the hungry, work for peace and justice.

Thomas J. Reese, S.J., Senior fellow Woodstock Theological Center, Jesuit priest | 12 COMMENTS
Nov 23, 2007 at 3:06 PM
Born in 1934 in Durban, South Africa, Arun Gandhi is the fifth grandson of India’s legendary leader, Mohandas K. “Mahatma” Gandhi. He is co-founder of the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, now at the University of Rochester in New York. He is a regular participant in Renaissance Weekend deliberations with President Clinton and other Rhodes Scholars. He worked for 30 years as a journalist for The Times of India. He is the author of several books, including "A Patch of White" (1949) and "The Forgotten Woman: The Untold Story of Kastur, the Wife of Mahatma Gandhi," which he wrote with his late wife Sunanda.

Thankful for Life, Mutual Respect

We have life and intelligence and we should be able to resolve to strengthen our bonds with family and friends and eventually with all of humanity.

Arun Gandhi, Co-founder of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. | 11 COMMENTS
Nov 23, 2007 at 2:47 PM
Syndicated political columnist and “On Faith” panelist Cal Thomas has a twice-weekly column that appears in over 500 newspapers around the world. A graduate of American University, Thomas is a veteran of broadcast and print journalism. He has worked for NBC, CNBC, PBS television, and the Fox News Channel where he currently appears on the weekly media critique show, “Fox News Watch.” Thomas has authored ten books, including Blinded by Might: Can the Religious Right Save America?, A Freedom Dream, Public Persons and Private Lives, Book Burning, Liberals for Lunch, Occupied Territory, The Death of Ethics in America, Uncommon Sense and Things That Matter Most. His latest was The Wit and Wisdom of Cal Thomas. In 1995, Thomas was honored with a Cable Ace Award nomination for Best Interview Program. Other awards include a George Foster Peabody team reporting award, and awards from both the Associated Press and United Press International. Common Ground, which Thomas writes for USA Today, offers insightful discussion of contentious social issues with his friend and political counterpart, Bob Beckel. The two are working together on a book to be published in 2007.

Give Thanks for Freedom of Worship

In the midst of conflict and chaos, we can be thankful that we live in America which still guarantees the freedom to worship.

Cal Thomas, Syndicated political columnist | 53 COMMENTS
Nov 23, 2007 at 1:30 PM

READER RESPONSE

» Dave | I am thankful for the men and women in the military who exhibit the courage to fight against tyranny and terrorism unlike so many of our spineless ele...
» Hank Whatever | I am thankful for toast. If the Vatican were to rewrite the bible again soon, maybe they could include toast into the Lord's prayer. Would go somethin...
» Thomas Michael Barnes | We can be thankful that: we are alive and participating in the sentient Universe...the Being knowing Itself. we are human, and therefore, at the top...
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On Faith is an interactive conversation on religion moderated by Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post. It is produced jointly by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com, as is PostGlobal, a conversation on international affairs. Please send your comments, questions and suggestions for On Faith to David Waters, its producer.