ReligionDispatches

Physicians, “Conscience,” and the Denial of Options

Wendy Cadge

New regulations from Bush's HHS privilege the religious scruples of physicians over a patient's right to treatment. 40 million Americans have physicians who will not present them with all their options.

Faith Like a Covert Operation For The Bush Family

Frederick Clarkson

A new investigation of the Bush family reveals a religious narrative that strays from the official story and explains how a blue-blooded Episcopalian family come to represent the evangelicals of America.

Amway, Religious Right Pyramid Scheme, Returns to the Motherland

Bill Berkowitz

“Emerald”-level member uncovered fraud and deception before being kicked out; Charles Colson and “Redemption”; Americans United’s Top Ten Church-State stories; and more.

Creationism Makes Its Mark

Lauri Lebo

When their son Zachary came home from science class with a cross burned into his forearm It was not the religion that bothered his parents, but the injury to their child. They sued, and brought science v. creationism back into the courts for yet another go-round.

Books

RD10Q: Brands of Faith: Marketing Religion

Mara Einstein

Branding is a combination of name, logo, and mythology; in a world in which we see more than three-thousand marketing messages a day, does religion have to sell itself in order to remain part of the cultural conversation?

RD10Q: Religion of Fear: The Politics of Horror in Conservative Evangelicalism

Jason C. Bivins

Religious horror, like Chick comics, Hell Houses, and the Left Behind books, moved from the margins in the 1960s to the center by the early 2000s with an assist from a strong anti-pluralism, anti-liberalism, and antipathy to governmental reform.

RD10Q: The Roots of Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Bruce Chilton

Can a religious text be lethal? The story of Abraham and Isaac, shared by Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, has been used for centuries to glorify sacrifice—and it has never been our own story more than it is right now.

More in Books »

RDBlog: The Devil's Advocate

Muslim Anti-Semitism

Posted by Hussein Rashid at 3:12PM

Responses to the taking of innocent life vary according to whose innocent life has been taken.

Revelations from Family of Secrets (an addendum)

Posted by Frederick Clarkson at 9:14PM

Bush connections to JFK, the Bay of Pigs, and the Saudi royal family are investigated by renowned journalist Russ Baker in his new book, hot off the press.

Atheists Gone Wild

Posted by Louis A. Ruprecht at 8:25PM

An attorney sues to remove "So help me God" from the inaugural phrasebook and reminds us that the political Left can be too anti-religious for its own good; it must learn to choose its battles wisely.

Firing a Woman for Her Choice of Husband

Posted by Kate Childs Graham at 7:36PM

OK, so gays are not the only ones with marriage issues.

Commented On

How bittersweet indeed. Question of the day ...where do we draw the line.

... more »

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