Religion Dispatches
The “Religious Literacy Dictionary” in Stephen Prothero’s 2007 bestseller, Religious Literacy, devotes less than two pages to “Buddhism,” but spends seven lines making the point that “Buddhists have not been particularly active in American politics.” This notion, accurate or not, is probably the perception of most Americans, many of whom have little real awareness of the 2,500-year-old tradition to begin with. It may also explain why President Ob…
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…y Act (on which other states have modeled their subsequent bills) in 1994; Washington adopted the Washington Initiative 1000 in 2008; Montana, by court order, legalized aid in dying in December 2008. Despite being legal, end-of-life choice is still a contested right in these states. Doctor compliance is limited and the laws have extensive restrictions and requirements including psychiatric evaluation, a diagnosed life span of less than six months,…
Read More…he sees it, is not about politics but about religion. Reading from George Washington’s farewell address, in which Washington maintained that “of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports,” Perkins twisted Washington’s words to suit his own ends, declaring: We must never be deterred in our defense of these great pillars upon which this Republic is built. We must defend mora…
Read More…ly with Russia’s increasingly anti-gay policies. Two days earlier, also in Washington, National Security Adviser Susan Rice told participants in Human Rights First’s Human Rights Summit that promoting the rights of LGBT people is an integral part of U.S. foreign policy. And in New York City on Tuesday, December 10, International Human Rights Day, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power met with an international group of LGBT rights ac…
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…ians are right-wing fundamentalists, but I also recognize that for a small number of people my beliefs disqualify me as a candidate. Two recent examples come to mind that illustrate the concerns that have been voiced. At a recent candidate forum, I was introduced as being a “moral figure in the community.” That prompted one of the other candidates to ask me directly during the Q & A part of the forum if I felt that atheists or other non-believers…
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…the Times‘ executive editor told NPR: “I think that the New York-based and Washington-based too probably, media powerhouses don’t quite get religion.” The problem is that efforts to better understand evangelicals all too often manifest as a reluctance to be critical and a failure to include the perspectives of both exvangelicals and policy researchers, both of whom are knowledgeable and have legitimate concerns about widespread evangelical tendenc…
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…t takeover or socialism. Point four of Luntz’s “10 Rules for Stopping the ‘Washington Takeover’ of Health Care” in the memo “The Language of Healthcare” reads, “The arguments against the Democrats’ health care plan must center around ‘politicians,’ ‘bureaucrats,’ and ‘Washington.’” What winning statement did Luntz get from polled citizens that would make them oppose Obama’s plans? It could lead to the government rationing care, making people stand…
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…to find an outlet and a voice. Instead, Brooks returns to his typology of number crunching versus psychology. The Washington political class has spent the past week going into made-for-TV hysterics over $165 million in A.I.G. bonuses. We’re in the middle of a multitrillion-dollar crisis, and our political masters—always willing to throw themselves into any issue that is understandable on cable television—have decided to risk destroying the entire…
Read More…I have agonized, along with my friends, about the disproportionately large numbers of such women and the much lower numbers of truly eligible Muslim men. Many friends have wondered if “he” is out there at all. Many friends have asked me if I can introduce them to someone, and friends have asked me if I can introduce their friends to someone. I empty my pockets helplessly; there are few that I’d introduce to them with confidence. The “good ones” ar…
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…rts and shows, as well as contributing to these dialogues we’re having. My phone’s ringing off the hook, and I’m participating as much as I can in discussions with LGBT lay people and clergy. There are so many people who want to have a positive dialogue about this. I’m getting to the point that I feel like I can engage at a positive level and contribute to that conversation. So, did you follow the recent change in the Presbyterian Church-USA? Th…
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