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I Met God, She’s Black: An Exhibit Makes the Black Female Body a Temple

By Anita Little

…rlMagic and #CarefreeBlackGirl? I think it’s just timing in some ways. The best way to talk about it is in terms of the reception we held. The reception was on July 7th—just after two very tragic killings of black men and subsequent killings of police officers. When the reception happened that same week, more than 1500 people showed up and that was really phenomenal. People were looking for a space to heal. When some of them came into this environ…

In Defense of Clerical Celibacy, From a Protestant Liberal

By Kate Blanchard

…echoed this idea in 1 Corinthians 7, saying that he saw singleness as the best, most hassle-free way for Christians to serve God, “But if [people] cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn.” The message here is pretty clear: a few folks are gifted with the call and the ability to live lives centered on something other than married life, but most of us will need to marry if for no other reason than to kee…

Why is the State Department Opening an Office of “Religious Engagement”?

By Austin Dacey

…e of law, and minority rights in their societies. When the U.S. government bestows high-level diplomatic attention instead on select (typically male, adult, and non-democratically appointed) spokespersons, it aids them in consolidating their own power and authority within their communities. The Religion and Foreign Policy Working Group does not ignore this potential for discrimination. It writes of the importance of partnering with “women religiou…

Democrats Have Seized the Narrative Frame From the GOP, But Can They Find a Better Story to Tell About an Inclusive, Pluralist US?

By Chrissy Stroop

…embodied by a sheriff who once worked with right-wing wackos on their (at best) morally dubious anti-trafficking missions? Once again, Democrats cede moral ground by uncritically adopting GOP framing instead of trying to shift the conversation to something that represents the party’s inclusive and progressive vision. That brings us to religion. While the Democrats are currently winning on messaging in several areas once dominated by the GOP, they…

The Night of Power: Laylatul Qadri

By Amina Wadud

…try remembering to humble myself before the throne of the All mighty, the Bestower of favors, and go right on ahead and ask for what I want. That too shows love and trust. I trust that Allah will bring some repose, or grant a favor. I also have a little bit of concern over that: “be careful what you pray for.” Sometimes the consequences of one prayer’s answer are more troubles than you were facing. So, better to be prudent. I used to have a stick…

Hijab: Culture, Custom, and Chaos

By Amina Wadud

…5 years of covering by choice. In the public settings, I tend to cover my hair with the exception of the length of my dreadlocks down my back. I stick to this, especially when I travel; although I am always asked if I can take my scarf off when at the airport. Either that or I’m given the pat over. I guess to see if I have a bomb with those locks! I think to myself, yes, I can take this off, but I say “No.” Not here, and not now. I exercise choice…

The Women’s March, Anti-Semitism, and ‘The Jewish Farrakhan’

By Shaul Magid

…St. Louis after an antisemitic attack, using some of the extra funds to repair a Jewish cemetery in Colorado. She also raised tens of thousands of dollars to pay for the funerals of the 11 Jews massacred in Pittsburgh (the American Muslim community was one of the first to donate money to the Jewish community in Pittsburgh). But these gestures and her apology were largely not accepted by the Jewish community; once someone is given the label antisem…

Can the “Spiritual Left” Make the Change They Wish to See?

By Arielle Levites

…In equating close attention to the self with doing for others spirituality offers a field of action in a world in which positive social action sometimes feels impossibly stymied. After all, the politicians are cozy with the bankers; the revolutionaries aren’t nice and often succumb to internecine arguments; and big movements don’t work as well as little movements. So why not be an activist in the smallest arena of all: the self? The spiritual left…

Bagels Aren’t Enough

By Jay Michaelson

…cal, and more than a little awkward. It’s hard to see Jewish Millenials speaking in tongues. A tongue sandwich, maybe. This leaves those of us invested in a Jewish future contemplating either smaller, boutique forms of Jewish engagement, or perhaps a Judaism that transcends the Jews. Perhaps the best of Jewish spirituality becomes as accessible to non-Jews (i.e. 99.5% of the world population) as the best of Jewish humor. Or perhaps anti-semitism w…

Megachurch Pastor: We’re “American Al Qaeda” for Opposing Homosexuality

By Tom Bartlett

…time in our conversation, Chandler lowered his booming voice. The gays are best discussed in hushed tones. Like Chandler, Giglio said homosexuality was not a focus of his ministry. But notice what he didn’t say. He didn’t say that his views had evolved since the 1990s. He didn’t say that he no longer thought gays and lesbians were hell-bound. He didn’t say that the dreaded homosexual agenda had ceased to be a threat to these great United States. H…