Atlanta Fire Chief Dismissed: Religious Bias? — Mayor Kasim Reed’s decision to dismiss his fire chief last week for giving co-workers copies of a Christian self-help book condemning homosexuality is fanning new kinds of legal and political flames. See also NYT article.
Covering Religious Violence: 8 Factors Journalists Should Know
Covering Religious Violence: 8 Factors Journalists Should Know — Journalists and policymakers must not jump to the conclusion that religious differences are enough to fuel religion-related violence, warns Prof. John Wolffe, in a report titled, “Religion, Security and Global Uncertainties.” Wolffe advocates digging deeper to learn why and how stable, diverse communities break down, resulting […]
Faith on the Hill
Faith on the Hill — Nine-in-ten members of the newly elected 114th Congress are Christian — a significantly higher share than is seen in the general population. Many other major religious groups are also represented in the body, including Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and the unaffiliated. This Pew Center report does the break-down.
What Scientific Idea is Ready for Retirement?
What Scientific Idea Is Ready for Retirement? — This 4 min. video collage offers several responses to this question. Possibly useful for discussion about the tentativeness of science, definitions and claims about knowledge, and the authority of paradigms.
In Search of a Science of Consciousness
In Search of a Science of Consciousness — Philosopher Alva Noe reviews Waking, Dreaming, and Being, (Columbia Univ. Press, 2014) a new book by Evan Thompson on neuroscience, the problem of consciousness, and religious meditation. Thompson continues the ongoing discussion on the phenomenological gap between what neuroscience accounts for and what we actually experience.
A Teacher’s Guide to Discussing Religion in the Public Classroom
A Teacher’s Guide to Discussing Religion in the Public Classroom — From a public high school social studies teacher, this brief article continues the discussion of the place of religion in tax-funded schools and the role of religious content in civil discourse in a liberal democracy.
Pop Culture Gets Religion (or not)
Pop Culture Gets Religion (or not) — Christianity Today offers a 2014 summary of God in pop culture. It includes themes about memory, justice, the source of evil, the recent Bible movies, and other ways that popular culture presents religious ideas our students take in.
The 2014 International Awards Program for Religious Art and Architecture
The 2014 International Awards Program for Religious Art & Architecture — Jury members agreed that religious art and architecture are flourishing throughout the world, and that artists, architects, liturgical designers, students, and others are exploring ways to balance tradition with new demands of religious practice. The landscape of sacred space is changing, along with dramatic […]
Call for Clergy to Shun Civil Marriage Ceremonies
Call for Clergy to Shun Civil Marriage Ceremonies — Here is the NYT on the Marriage Pledge published in First Things in December, 2014. The pledge commits clergy members not to sign “government-provided marriage certificates.” This Times piece includes several statements and links that may help with a two-kingdoms analysis.
As We Forgive
As We Forgive — A 10 min. video on young Christian filmmaker Laura Waters Hinson, producer of As We Forgive, the Academy Award winning documentary on the Rwanda genocide and possibilities of forgiveness. She discusses her work in film, her calling as a Christian, and her new projects. The film discusses the left-hand kingdom’s efforts […]
