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Why Crux‘s Knights of Columbus “Partnership” is Problematic

By Kaya Oakes

…unded by the recently deceased Mother Angelica. EWTN is known for what can best be described as a traditionalist slant; its daily mass broadcast features several segments in Latin; and its rotation of shows focusing on doctrinal issues and conversion of non-Catholics, include “My Catholic Family,” “Household of Faith,” “Angel Force,” “Catholics Coming Home,” and many more. The National Catholic Register shares many personalities with EWTN and edit…

Why it (Still) Makes Little Sense to Call ISIS Islamic

By Haroon Moghul

…r, as delivered to his army, to ISIS’ practices. I pronounce the Prophet’s best friend a better interpreter of Islam than poorly reconstructed Ba’athists on the Muslim margins.) Suleiman stressed: “Freeing slaves” is so frequently mentioned as a meritorious act in the Muslim tradition that, in the 8th and 9th centuries, biographies of Prophetic companions cited, as virtues, manumission; Muhammad’s wife, Aisha, was lauded for “freeing six hundred s…

The Religious Right and the Tea Party on “Education Choice”

By Julie Ingersoll

…t in our education system that we can use to provide our children with the best possible education here in the state of Maine.” Other proponents see this as a first step toward having education dollars following all students to any school their families choose—indeed, toward further privatization. But there is a debate within conservative circles over whether or not shifting public funds to private or quasi-private institutions is the best strateg…

How Donald Trump Has Exposed Rifts in the Religious Right

By Sarah Posner

…ather the affirmation that America is strong, brave, or just generally the best. For Trump, America risks not being the best anymore not because of the decline of religion (typically the heart of Christian nation ideology), but because of the rise of immigration. Even before Trump-mania took hold, religious conservatives like Moore and Reynolds were already rejecting the decades-old playbook of candidates genuflecting to the Christian nation ideol…

2023 CPAC Lived Down to Expectations, But Don’t Buy the Narrative: The GOP is Not as Divided as You Might Think

By Annika Brockschmidt

…e allegations. The large ballroom of the main stage was half-filled at the best of times—even during Trump’s speech, the “highlight” of the conference. Perhaps more than ever before, this year’s CPAC was a spectacle of right-wing grifters, garish influencers hoping to make it to Fox News with a viral clip, and the most MAGA of the pro-Trump wing of the Republican Party. The speakers who turned up tried their best to rile up the audience—with varyi…

Eyes on the Prize, Rainbow People! A Post-DOMA Challenge

By Peter Laarman

…not a day to say, as one lesbian interviewed on NPR said, “they saved the best for last.” In fairness, the person interviewed was telling an otherwise compelling story about the need for queer people to make common cause with low-wage workers. She and her spouse are small-time farmers in the Central Valley: in that context they can feel how wrong it would be for them to say “thank you very much” to the Supremes and then proceed to ignore the econ…

Muslim Brotherhood: Protect Churches; Mufti Exempts Egyptians from Friday Prayer

By H.A. Hellyer

…e. It feels like the calm before the storm. Well, calm is probably not the best word – we’re still hearing gun-fire in the distance. Having said that, we know that some of our neighbors are periodically shooting off rounds in order to alert us all to their presence, and feel that we’re in a secure environment. But still, for the first time since this whole chaos took off and we started patrolling our streets, we’ve been ordered by the army to retu…

As Florida Attempts to Make it Illegal, an Argument for the Sacred Work of White Discomfort

By Robert P. Jones

…meant painfully pushing through a wall of fatigue with no end in sight. My best coaches also relentlessly pointed out my individual shortcomings: tactical mistakes, sloppy play, insufficient leadership, and inadequate strategic compensation for my slight, 5’6” 130-pound frame. These criticisms often angered me and certainly made me feel uncomfortable or embarrassed in front of my teammates. But they were necessary for motivating me to be a better…

Will Mindfulness Change the World? Daniel Goleman Isn’t Sure

By Jay Michaelson

…ologist for the TED Talk set. And his new book, Focus, is a New York Times bestseller. But before any of that fame, Goleman was a hardcore Buddhist meditator—and remains one today. His early books were about the development of the contemplative path, and throughout his work has run the theme of how meditative practice, in secular or spiritual contexts, can lead to greater happiness and peace—and conversely, how the disconnects in our own minds can…

Hearts and (Versus?) Minds: Bachmann’s Ultrasound Bill

By Sarah Morice-Brubaker

…ng to Bachmann, the goal here is to make sure that the woman has “the very best information with which to make that decision.” (Good thing she’s still about leaving the decision up to the woman, because otherwise she might be disheartened by evidence suggesting that viewing an ultrasound makes little difference in the outcome of that decision.) Yes, that’s the line on ultrasound bills. They give women some sort of necessary information. But why do…