Smelling a Secular Funk: Debating the Power of Religion in The Public Sphere
A supergroup of philosophers gathered in New York last week to talk about religion and public life, about the “centrality of the catastrophic” in today’s political context, and about considering the “uncommon” as opposed to “common ground” as a basis for ethics.
Beyond Progressive Religion
Everyone has it wrong regarding politics and religion: the Christian Right, Atheists, and even the Progressive Religious community. The author proposes a daring alternative.
French President Sarkozy declared recently that the burqa “will not be welcome on our territory,” as it is a symbol of the enslavement of women. If the president is trying to foster equality of women, is this the best way to go about it?
Take It Off, Or We’ll Make You: On Sarkozy’s Proposed Burqa Ban
When you step out in clothing that boldly states your womanhood, you are a free woman. You are no longer a slave to old rules and notions. Modernity is inherently free.
Jewish State, Islamic State: All States are Religious
All nations contribute to the management and definition of religion so it’s neither necessary, nor possible, to identify any state as definitively “religious” or “secular.” To choose is largely political.
Don’t Blame Secularism: Reading Blind Spot: When Journalists Don’t Get Religion
A new book of essays argues that the American media suffers due to secularism and a general ignorance of religion. But is secularism really at the heart of it, or is it a far broader and longer-standing relationship with ignorance of our “enemies” that creates the Blind Spot?
Obama and the Unbelievers: The Future of Secularism
The presidential inauguration showed that an enforceable wall of separation between church and state simply does not exist in America, at least at the level of expression in the public square. What is the future of secularism in our religious democracy?
Election 2008: Religion and Politics
From McCain's faith (or not) to Obama's pastor to Palin's exorcist...it's all here.
Godless Liberals: The Myth of the Secular Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was not, as is often assumed, exclusively secular. In fact, religious Protestants, Jews and Catholics played a key role in imagining a tolerant, but believing, society.
Mad About Secularism: Turkey and the Global Politics of Religion
Imposing our own notion of the religion/secular divide on the international scene fosters misunderstanding.
PBS’ The Jewish Americans covers three hundred fifty years of Jewish-American history with only a few glaring omissions.