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Archive: July 27, 2008 - August 2, 2008
Colluding in Scapegoating the "Other"
Even religious leaders learn that scapegoating the other as "the enemy" is a way to keep the conflict going and maintain a claim to power. This is evident in how the church handled the issue of race and how it is handling the issue of homosexuality.
By James Anderson | August 2, 2008; 9:09 PM ET | Comments (1)
Pass the Manischewitz, Please
Orthodox Jews especially have started to wrestle with what some say is a growing problem of alcohol abuse in their communities.
By David Waters | August 2, 2008; 5:03 PM ET | Comments (0)
Our Very Religious and Somewhat Racist Nation
Racism is a horrifying sin against the command to love our neighbor as self. God creates people in His image, so racism is also blasphemy. It is also stupid since it prevents us from benefiting from the great goods that God would bring through other people.
By John Mark Reynolds | August 2, 2008; 11:37 AM ET | Comments (8)
Faith Seeking Reconciliation
Why does prejudice remain even among people of faith?This question needs to be asked in every generation.
By Gabriel Salguero | August 2, 2008; 9:50 AM ET | Comments (3)
Religious Beliefs Reflect On Racial Prejudice
A culture's sacred (that is, its religion) reflects (though it may also critique) the culture's virtues and vices.
By Willis E. Elliott | August 2, 2008; 8:48 AM ET | Comments (7)
Divine Impulses: William and Janet Cohen
Former Secretary of Defense William Cohen and his wife, television journalist Janet Langhart Cohen are of different races, political persuasions and religious backgrounds. Yet they say a 'soulful' connection brought them together....
By Elizabeth Tenety | August 1, 2008; 5:04 PM ET | Comments (0)
Piecemeal Pragmatic Pluralism
How can we encourage interfaith dialogue on public policy issues without predetermined universal principles of adjudication?
By Eboo Patel | August 1, 2008; 2:16 PM ET | Comments (18)
Racial Reconciliation Begins with an Apology
Slavery was wrong. Racial discrimination in education, housing, and economics was wrong. The compliance of the United States government in discriminatory practices was wrong, and an apology is long overdue.
By Susan K. Smith | August 1, 2008; 11:43 AM ET | Comments (92)
Imagining God in Color
Racism won't disappear from religion until religion stops being exclusionary, a profound flaw that modern believers (some of them, at least) struggle to overcome.
By Deepak Chopra | August 1, 2008; 10:27 AM ET | Comments (29)
Is God Crying?
Apparently, God wanted the variety of people, of religions and traditions. Apparently God is all right with that. The diversity makes the world richer and more interesting.
By Susan K. Smith | August 1, 2008; 8:50 AM ET | Comments (20)
Prejudice, God and the 2008 Elections
There exists no possible avenue on which human beings can reconcile belief in God with racial prejudice.
By Samuel Rodriguez | August 1, 2008; 7:28 AM ET | Comments (3)
McCain: Anger Management Issues
In a political sense, we are getting a glimpse of the McCain default to anger as a response to challenge. In a religious sense, we may be getting a glimpse of McCain's true moral character.
By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | July 31, 2008; 3:54 PM ET | Comments (1)
Religion and Racial Prejudice: Old But Guilty Partners
Religions of most sorts either helped people invent prejudice or it gave them ammunition for hitting out at 'the other." Most lines in most scrolls, most pages in most holy books gave reasons and inspiration for being prejudiced in all sorts of ways.
By Martin Marty | July 31, 2008; 5:42 AM ET | Comments (8)
Racial Prejudice: What's God Got To Do With It?
The real question, in my view, is why 70 percent of Americans are so sure that they do not harbor racial prejudice. I don't see how any honest American of any race or ethnic group can pretend to be immune to racial bias.
By Susan Jacoby | July 31, 2008; 4:48 AM ET | Comments (71)
Confess to God, Not Pollsters
Racial prejudice in a person of faith reflects an unexamined conscience. It is finally a failure of relationship to God. There's no other conclusion you can draw.
By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | July 31, 2008; 3:07 AM ET | Comments (3)
Faith-Based Racism is an Ancient Tradition
Racial prejudice reflects wonderfully on your religious beliefs....if you are a religious racist! The fact is that one can, and many have, articulated powerful religious systems that posited a divine preference for one race of human being over others.
By Brad Hirschfield | July 31, 2008; 2:17 AM ET | Comments (24)
Can't Love God, Hate Another
If we go to Scripture for the answer to that question, we find "If anyone says 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar."
By Cal Thomas | July 30, 2008; 4:04 PM ET | Comments (21)
Believers as Hypocrites
When people claim to believe in God and still harbor prejudices against people of color and race then the only word that can describe such people is "hypocrites".
By Arun Gandhi | July 30, 2008; 12:06 PM ET | Comments (2)
The Army Fights "With God on Our Side"
Soldiers know that they may die in battle, and the armed forces must create an ethos that protects their psyches from the impending danger of the conflict. One aspect of feeling safe is the idea that God approves of your cause and implicitly will take you to Heaven if the worst befalls.
By Deepak Chopra | July 29, 2008; 10:51 AM ET | Comments (38)
Changing The Debate From What Is Right, To What Works
Imagine no longer fighting about which side is right, but inviting all those affected to consider the needs of those around them before eating the meal they need to meet their own.
By Brad Hirschfield | July 29, 2008; 9:44 AM ET | Comments (14)
Yes, There Are Atheists (And Religious Minorities) In Foxholes
The real issue is that right-wing Christian evangelicals, encouraged by the Bush administration and religious conservatives at the top level of the officer corps, have attempted to push their views on non-Christians (and liberal Christians) within the service academies as well and on military bases.
By Susan Jacoby | July 29, 2008; 9:36 AM ET | Comments (327)
ACLU's Request Out of Line
Members of the uniformed services, who are called to put their lives on the line for their country, have the right to seek divine comfort and guidance through prayer
By Michael Otterson | July 29, 2008; 7:47 AM ET | Comments (29)
Military Chaplains, Yes! Prayers at Meals, NO!
In today’s armed services, many of the troops are there because they have no other options for employment. That means to me that we as a society have no other option than to see that they receive spiritual care if they need and want it.
By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | July 28, 2008; 11:01 AM ET | Comments (13)
Chaplains Serve Soldiers
Saying prayers at meals that are mandatory is an imposition. This would be especially true if the prayers assume a particular view of God, which all prayers seem to do. The ACLU is absolutely correct to make this request.
By John Shelby Spong | July 28, 2008; 8:15 AM ET | Comments (13)
Just, Even Holy Reasons for Using an Army
Armies, even when motivated by the best and most justified reasons, are basically still killing machines. Despite all the niceties, armies have the option and, in a deeper way, the purpose to harm and kill.
By Adin Steinsaltz | July 28, 2008; 12:29 AM ET | Comments (13)
Wall to Wall Obama
In an era where people from different faith backgrounds are in more frequent and intense contact than ever before, we cannot build walls that divide religious communities from each other.
By Eboo Patel | July 27, 2008; 11:04 PM ET | Comments (37)
