In The Power of Religion in the Public Sphere, due out spring 2011 from Columbia University Press and the SSRC, Judith Butler, Jürgen Habermas, Charles Taylor, and Cornel West interrogate the specificity of religious and secular reasons, dispositions, and ethical orientations in relation to democratic politics, each taking up a different strand of the complex intertwinement of religion and the public sphere in the contemporary world.
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Announcements, events, and opportunities related to topics of interest to TIF readers are posted here. Additionally you may find round-ups of news items and brief commentary on current events.
For a listing of all of the events announcements, click here.
For a listing of announcements regarding books, click here.
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Lebanese to march for secularism
by Charles GelmanIn Lebanon, "a small group of non-partisan civic-minded citizens called Laïque (Secular) Pride" is organizing a March for Secularism, to take place on April 25 in Beirut, "in support of secularism, and to bring attention to the letter and spirit of the Lebanese Constitution," reports Alexandre Medawar for Common Ground News Service. In so doing, he draws out some of the complexities that unsettle any attempt to treat Lebanon decisively as either a secular or a multi-confessional republic.
March 11, 2010
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Focus on the Family preparing to shift gears?
by Charles GelmanSince stepping down as chairman of Focus on the Family last February, James Dobson's relationship with the advocacy group and parachurch organization that he founded in 1977 has become increasingly tenuous. Now, reports Talking Points Memo's Justin Elliot, it appears that Dobson's growing ostracization suggests a more significant shift in Focus on the Family's politics.
March 11, 2010
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Thomas Farr on Obama’s religious freedom agenda
by Jessica PolebaumAt Georgetown/On Faith, Thomas Farr questions the commitment of the Obama administration, and particularly the State Department, to the promotion of religious freedom abroad.
March 11, 2010
events
Sacrifiction/Art & Religion Symposia
by Jessica PolebaumFrom April 12-17, Montreal will play host to two international symposia organized by Concordia University, the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), and the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal. The first, organized by UQAM, will take place April12-15 and will gather numerous scholars and artists for a discussion of the theme of "sacrifiction." Organized by the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, in collaboration with Concordia University, the second symposium is the Fourth International Max and Iris Stern Symposium, which will explore the relationship between contemporary art and religion and will be held April 15-17. On April 15, a joint session is planned.
March 12, 2010
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Philosophers rethink Darwin
by Nathan SchneiderAt The Chronicle of Higher Education, Michael Ruse surveys a number of contemporary philosophers—including some you might not expect, and some you might—who are raising critical questions about Darwinism.
March 15, 2010
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Templeton and journalistic integrity
by Nathan SchneiderThe Templeton-Cambridge Journalism Fellowships have been a source of fierce controversy among science writers, particularly since John Horgan's ambivalent 2006 debrief essay suggested that the program is keyed toward promoting a religious agenda. The announcement of this year's fellows has already aroused controversy, particularly surrounding science writer Chris Mooney, author of The Republican War on Science. Biologist Jerry Coyne went on the offensive.
March 15, 2010
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“Questioning” Catholic celibacy
by Nathan SchneiderAt the Reuters FaithWorld blog, Tom Heneghan has a useful post about the controversy sparked by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn's remarks on the connection between priestly sex abuse and celibacy.
March 15, 2010
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“Theology After Google” conference
by Nathan SchneiderMitchell Landsberg, of the Los Angeles Times, reports on a recent Claremont School of Theology conference about how new technologies will affect the future of religion.
March 15, 2010
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Texas Board of Ed. ratifies new textbook standards
by Charles GelmanLast Friday, the Texas Board of Education ratified---with a seven-vote margin---a series of controversial new textbook standards, reports TPM's Justin Elliot.
March 15, 2010