RSS Feed
Archive: January 11, 2009 - January 17, 2009
Obama's Hoop Dreams
The real game is the on-going struggle for justice and equality and it's played down on the court and mostly under the basket.
By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | January 16, 2009; 4:35 PM ET | Comments (0)
A Transitional and Transcendent Moment
A prayer that is broad enough to include all Americans and that forces all into the recognition that each of us is but a small part of the world's population is certainly appropriate. To be appropriate to all, however, is to be compromising to no one.
By John Shelby Spong | January 16, 2009; 2:58 PM ET | Comments (16)
Multiple Prayers at the Inauguration
Government should avoid bringing religion into official business. If the President-to-be-sworn-in wants to acknowledge his personal feelings about the roll of God in the election and his upcoming presidency, then he can offer prayers before he goes to the event, or host a private religious service.
By Pamela K. Taylor | January 16, 2009; 1:14 PM ET | Comments (9)
The Option to Pray is Sacred
Could we all agree that having the option to pray at the inauguration or of ending the oath of office with the words "so help me God" is what is truly sacred? Isn't that kind of choice, especially in matters of faith, what this nation is built on?
By Brad Hirschfield | January 16, 2009; 12:53 PM ET | Comments (6)
God Help Us If Obama Doesn't Invoke God's Name
Some have argued that to say "so help me God" in the inauguration would be equal to disrespecting those in this country who do not believe in God. Well, by the same argument, to not say that phrase would disrespect those who do believe in God.
By Susan K. Smith | January 16, 2009; 11:28 AM ET | Comments (28)
Who's Praying for Obama?
As the inauguration excitement fades and the prayer services come to an end, will these leaders continue to pray for Barack Obama? More importantly, will they and will we continue to join together on common ground?
By Eboo Patel | January 16, 2009; 10:19 AM ET | Comments (26)
Oath to God Shows Regard for Church and State
The secular nature of the American government is one of its abiding strengths, but moments of prayer or a "So help me, God" here and there are no threat to the wall of separation.
By Jon Meacham | January 14, 2009; 4:45 PM ET | Comments (45)
Oath to God Shows Contempt for Non-Believers
By choosing to be part of a ceremony which includes religious expression we are essentially eliminating and disenfranchising a large number of American who are either not Christian or not believers.
By Sally Quinn | January 14, 2009; 3:57 PM ET | Comments (142)
What Is the Difference Between Bravery and Courage?
Filmmaker and human rights advocate Ronit Avni is today's guest blogger; she is also the Founder & Executive Director of Just Vision, a non-profit that researches, documents and creates media about Palestinian and Israeli civic peace builders. Recipient of Auburn...
By Eboo Patel | January 14, 2009; 11:27 AM ET | Comments (3)
Hamas Leader's Claims about Israel
The idea that ultimate truth can or does reside in a single religious tradition is the primary place where religion in all its forms almost inevitably turns demonic. We understand it when confronted by the absurd Muslim claims, like those expressed by Hamas leaders. The time has come to recognize it when it comes perfumed with Christian vocabulary.
By John Shelby Spong | January 13, 2009; 5:32 PM ET | Comments (1)
Inaugural Prayers: As American (And Extra-Constitutional) As Cherry Pie
Let us hope that our new president and our legislators, in spite of their bowed heads on Inauguration Day, realize that they, and not God, are responsible for getting us out of the economic and foreign policy mess that the previous president got us into on the advice of a "Higher Power."
By Susan Jacoby | January 13, 2009; 1:44 PM ET | Comments (590)
Invocations To God For Us
Invocation to God should occur in public political events in order for prophetic religion to be given opportunity to teach that God judges nations as well as individuals.
By Gardner Calvin Taylor | January 13, 2009; 11:54 AM ET | Comments (15)
True Faith Not An Empty Ritual
The real danger with inaugural prayers, in my judgment, is that the faith is diminished by what many Americans see as an empty and perfunctory ritual.
By Randall Balmer | January 13, 2009; 11:46 AM ET | Comments (4)
Let Each President Decide
Leave the oath as it was written by the Founders and allow the one taking it to add whatever fealty he might sincerely have for the Almighty, which is what George Washington did.
By Cal Thomas | January 13, 2009; 11:44 AM ET | Comments (7)
Killing Children in Gaza and Israel
Killing children is never morally defensible. It is indefensible when done by rockets and suicide bombers, but it is equally indefensible when done by F16s, aerial bombardment, tanks and ground troops, or for that matter, by slow starvation, lack of medical supplies and care.
By Starhawk | January 13, 2009; 8:37 AM ET | Comments (13)
Hamas, Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda: 21st Century Fascists
Hamas, Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda are not political extensions of an ethno ideology contextualized within the framework of a religious narrative. These groups represent nothing more and nothing less than an unbridled commitment to murder, destruction and terrorism.
By Samuel Rodriguez | January 13, 2009; 3:06 AM ET | Comments (50)
Let Muslim Leaders Speak First
Asking for a first response from other Muslim leaders puts them in a difficult position. Disagreement with Hamas may sound like support of Israel. Agreement with Hamas may sound like opposition to any possible peace settlement in the Middle East.
By Leith Anderson | January 13, 2009; 1:01 AM ET | Comments (0)
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Political, not Religious
It is not Hamas's understanding of Islam that make them hate Israel, it is the fact that they are a dispossessed people, a people who's land was given away by Europeans, stolen from them more often than not at gun point.
By Pamela K. Taylor | January 13, 2009; 12:00 AM ET | Comments (17)
Force and Love: Two Different Things
It is love that leads the heart to repentance and freedom found in God, not oppression, fear, and violence.
By Matt Maher | January 13, 2009; 12:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Bush's Tortured Morality
Susan Thistlethwaite | The President's rigid, faith-based certainty beget a moral relativism that failed us.
By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | January 12, 2009; 9:40 PM ET | Comments (155)
Barack Obama: Faith and Community
It's clear to me that the Obama administration means to engage the efforts of ordinary citizens in the long march to solving poverty.
By Eboo Patel | January 12, 2009; 9:35 AM ET | Comments (7)
Catholics Calling Gaza a Concentration Camp = Ugly Hyperbole or Worse
Catholic leaders are making grotesque and false analogies about the situation Gaza.
By Brad Hirschfield | January 11, 2009; 5:38 PM ET | Comments (5)
