Books

Books, Culture, Sexuality/GenderAugust 1, 2012

The Gospel Church and the Ruining of Gay Lives: An Interview with Anthony Heilbut

By Douglas Harrison

Most insiders to this world are privy to the open secret of gospel’s deep reliance on the contributions and influence of gay men and women. But Heilbut opens wide the closet doors and peers in with the bright light of righteous outrage for the plight of the children in an increasingly homophobic religious culture, while also bringing a deeply felt sensitivity for the stories of the children and their musical sensibility. As he writes: “It is impossible to understand the story of black America without foregrounding the experiences of the gay men of gospel.”

(A)theologies, BooksJuly 2, 2012

Ross Douthat’s Rosy Old-Time Religion

By Jerome E. Copulsky

In his latest the Times’ conservative Wunderkind Ross Douthat attempts to explain the current crisis as the result of our nation’s departure from orthodoxy. An honest look at the history of orthodoxy and he might see a past rife with the sin and brutality, enforced less by faith than by coercion.

Books, RD10QJune 27, 2012

The Book David Barton Doesn’t Want You To Read

By Michael Coulter

“Being a Christian scholar is first and foremost about getting the facts right and it should not be about trying to make an historical figure match your religious and political views or agenda. Sloppy and misleading historical writing used for advancing an agenda harms the general reputation of Christians as scholars.”

(A)theologies, BooksJune 27, 2012

No Longer At Sea: Kate Bornstein Talks Scientology

By Kristin Rawls

When I first thought about writing the book, I thought I was dealing with the same Scientology I remembered, but I’ve since realized that it has changed. We never thought of it as a religion back then! We would call it a Church, but we would “wink” because we were fighting to get tax-exempt status. But I know that Scientologists today believe that it’s a Church—a religion—and it is becoming one.

Books, Politics/LawJune 25, 2012

Patriotism and Piety—Not For Conservatives Only

By Ira Chernus

Haidt’s primary point is actually a good one: people on all sides of the political debate ought to listen more carefully, and try harder to understand one another. He correctly identifies a cardinal sin of so many liberals and lefties: failing to give conservatives an honest hearing. But it’s lousy strategy. If you want to win, you’ve got to have the best possible intelligence about what the other side is up to.

(A)theologies, Books, Politics/LawJune 4, 2012

The Quixotic Task of Debunking David Barton

By Paul Harvey

A pair of evangelical professors have written a point-by-point refutation of the religious right’s favorite historian. The question remains: does it matter?

(A)theologies, BooksJune 4, 2012

Immortal Illusions: Should We Stop Trying to Live Forever?

By Beatrice Marovich

Is the human drive for immortality, from the Alexander the Great to Frankenstein to the latest technology-driven movements, just an illusion?

Books, RD10QMay 31, 2012

How Contemporary Spirituality Makes Us Stupid, Selfish, and Unhappy

By David Webster

Why “spiritual, but not religious” is problematic and makes one academic want to punch those who say it in the face. Hard. Theologians are often open about their religious stance, so there shouldn’t be a double standard for critical, reflective atheist voices.

(A)theologies, BooksMay 30, 2012

Cornel West, Using His Powers for Good

By Edward J. Blum

In many ways, The Rich and the Rest of Us is political sustenance for the already converted to liberal and leftist causes. Quoting historian Howard Zinn and looking to the insights of filmmaker Michael Moore probably will not convince many conservatives to rally to the cause—and when Smiley and West rely on Barbara Ehrenreich, they are drawing upon a fellow dissident. Put simply, they are preaching to the choir—but choirs need encouragement too. This is what Smiley and West accomplish: they provide the Occupy generation with a text to rally around.

Books, Politics/LawMay 17, 2012

A Neoconservative Jesus, Certified Kosher

By Ira Chernus

After some perfunctory praise of the last three popes, Boteach gets down to his Glenn Beck-ish business: “The American Evangelical community has proven the most stalwart and reliable friend of Israel in the United States.” Christians and Jews are now “brothers” because “together they confront the implacable foe of Islamist terrorism.”