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Archive: July 5, 2009 - July 11, 2009
The Two John Calvins
We celebrate the 500th birthday of Calvin the revolutionary reformer, and remember Calvin the rigid dogmatic.
By Richard Mouw | July 11, 2009; 5:01 PM ET | Comments (5)
Teaching Our Children the Value of Others
Teaching children at a young age that one can respect and accommodate a minority's needs - even when incongruent with one's own - adds far more to a student's learning experience than it takes away.
By Hadia Mubarak | July 9, 2009; 9:29 PM ET | Comments (9)
Every Group for Itself
When public policy is made in light of obligations assumed instead of rights asserted, we are all better off.
By Brad Hirschfield | July 9, 2009; 2:28 PM ET | Comments (2)
Breaching the Wall
Perhaps it is in God's interest to care for us if we have the self-worth to care for ourselves.
By Erica Brown | July 9, 2009; 10:19 AM ET | Comments (1)
Dear Mr. Mayor, Better Fight Other Battles
Mayor Bloomberg, do you really want to put yourself, as holder of a secular office, in the uncomfortable position of seeming to favor Christianity and Judaism as the two faiths deserving of school holidays? Probably not.
By Gustav Niebuhr | July 8, 2009; 2:47 PM ET | Comments (2)
America Has More Than 3 Faiths
In adding Muslim holidays to the city's school calendar, the NYC Council is recognizing Islam as having equal official status with Christianity and Judaism. It also sends the message to Hindus, Buddhists, and members of other faiths that their beliefs are less important.
By Ramdas Lamb | July 8, 2009; 2:40 PM ET | Comments (4)
Calcutta Calling New York City
If Mayor Bloomberg would exchange places with his counter-part in Calcutta, he'd probably reconsider his position.
By Mathew N. Schmalz | July 8, 2009; 12:48 PM ET | Comments (7)
Palin's Peculiar Family Values
Sarah Palin should live up to her self-proclaimed Christian "family values" and do what she says is the moral thing to do: put her family first and help those who cannot help themselves.
By Sally Quinn | July 8, 2009; 12:39 PM ET | Comments (385)
Try Excused Absences
Mayor Bloomberg is wrong in saying that the City of New York does not have to accommodate all faiths. But he's right in saying that, given our vast religious pluralism, schools cannot close for "every single holiday."
By J. Brent Walker | July 8, 2009; 12:14 PM ET | Comments (0)
Negotiating Diversity
President Obama's Inaugural Address raised the bar of inclusion in mainstream America. What President Eishenhower did for the Jewish community over 50 years ago when he told America it was a Judeo-Christian people, Obama has done for other religious minorities,...
By Sulayman Nyang | July 8, 2009; 11:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Liberty and Justice FOR ALL
There is nothing wrong with allowing Muslims to observe a couple of their holidays. They are American citizens; they are here because of the promised rights and freedoms.
By Susan K. Smith | July 8, 2009; 11:07 AM ET | Comments (3)
Across the Baptist-Muslim Divide
Distance is shrinking between Baptist and Muslim leaders in America--faster than rank-and-file members realize.
By Robert Parham | July 8, 2009; 11:07 AM ET | Comments (0)
A Jackson Eulogy that Mattered
Up until Rev. Sharpton's words, there was nothing really said that directly addressed the Jackson family, including and especially his children.
By Susan K. Smith | July 8, 2009; 10:18 AM ET | Comments (6)
Muslim Holidays Make Sense for NYC Schools
New York City is one of the most important cities in the world. Recognizing these holidays would send a message to Muslim countries that the United States is not only one nation under God, as we say, but also that our religious diversity is our strength.
By Feisal Abdul Rauf | July 8, 2009; 9:51 AM ET | Comments (87)
Is America a Particular Civilization?
America's calendar of public holidays should be limited to the cultural-religious roots which account for America as a distinct civilization, namely, the Bible (Christianity and Judaism) and the Enlightenment.
By Willis E. Elliott | July 8, 2009; 9:24 AM ET | Comments (9)
Amercan Holidays, not Religious Ones
Most of our holidays are rooted in American history more than American religion.
By Leith Anderson | July 7, 2009; 4:46 PM ET | Comments (10)
Accommodate All Faiths, Or None
Bad news, kids. My recommendation is that you get only your own religious holidays off from school, and even worse, you will need to make up the work.
By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | July 7, 2009; 4:42 PM ET | Comments (7)
Are Christian Holidays Observed?
Christmas is observed not as the birthday of Christ--in fact in many schools saying "Merry Christmas" is verboten.
By Charles "Chuck" Colson | July 7, 2009; 4:30 PM ET | Comments (20)
Holidays Could Be Educational
The argument that the majority religion(s) must prevail is not quite democratic.
By Arun Gandhi | July 7, 2009; 2:49 PM ET | Comments (0)
Not All Holidays Created Equal
If Muslims are to get days off for their holidays we should ask for reciprocity in Muslim countries for Christian and Jewish holidays.
By Cal Thomas | July 7, 2009; 1:44 PM ET | Comments (12)
Public Schools Are For Education, Period
At a time when American public schools are falling behind public education in other nations in the developed world, it is sheer stupidity to expand the number of days off for any purpose, including a religious purpose.
By Susan Jacoby | July 7, 2009; 10:24 AM ET | Comments (174)
No Nukes: Reality Meets Morality
If nuclear weapons are ever used again, it is likely the justification for such use will be religious, not strategic. Religious leaders from many faith groups are beginning to recognize that they had better step up to this challenge and help the arms control and diplomatic effort.
By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | July 7, 2009; 10:24 AM ET | Comments (13)
Three Wrongs Don't Make a Right
Should our secular public schools favor Christianity or Judaism over Islam? Absolutely not. Should our public schools favor religion over non-religion? Absolutely not.
By Herb Silverman | July 6, 2009; 5:23 PM ET | Comments (10)
