Religion Dispatches
In which we take the long view, considering the place of religion in the twenty-first century so far. What stands out is our confusion—about religion, about the secular sphere, and about the future of both as embodying forms of political commitment capable of peaceable coexistence.
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Why is the character of Jesus so powerful? Why is he such a hit? Bestselling writer Mary Gordon re-reads the Gospels, asking these questions, among others, and trying to figure out why fundamentalist readings of scripture, grounded in fear and rage, have come to dominate the understanding of religion in this country.
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An atheist convention, attended by premier nonbelievers Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett, inspires some reflections on the virtue of a positive, productive humanism, rather than the anti-theism that dominates the discourse.
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Americans wrestle with the biblical text, but there is no one correct way to read scripture.
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A blogger exposed Hagee’s hate-speech and challenged McCain’s hypocrisy in seeking the controversial pastor’s endorsement.
Read MoreAfter his highly publicized break with McCain, John Hagee retains powerful friends.
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The best-selling scholar says that the Bible is more violent than the Qur’an, that religious fundamentalism is political, and more.
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A new book on the Scopes “Monkey Trial” reveals history through people, images, and good old soap opera.
Read MoreIn Vienna a museum gave in to pressure from the religious right and pulled a picture…
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When the media labels a religious group a “cult,” it fans the flames of intolerance and can endanger the group’s most vulnerable members.
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