Glenn Beck's track record of keeping promises may not be pristine (in fact, Pulitzer Prize-winning politifact.com has often given his statements a rating of "Pants-on-fire"), but the August 28 Restoring Honor rally seemed actually less political than past Tea Party gatherings.
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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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Understanding Jewlicious
by Amanda KaplanDavid Abitbol, co-creater of Jewlicious, discusses the origins and intentions of his blog with The Jerusalem Post.
August 31, 2010
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Standing shoulder to shoulder
by Amanda KaplanRabbi Marc Schneier and Imam Shamsi Ali discuss the coincidence this year of Rosh Hashanah and Eid al-Fitr, with regard to the ongoing controversy around the planned Islamic community center in lower Manhattan.
September 2, 2010
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Religion and development: “from AIDS to zebras”
by The EditorsKatherine Marshall, co-chair of the SSRC's Project on Religion and International Affairs, speaks of her tenure at the World Bank, where she helped to guide the Bank's initiative on religion and global development, and her current work at Georgetown's Berkley Center, overseeing regional and issue analysis concerning the development work of faith-inspired organizations around the globe.
September 3, 2010
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“9/11 Christian Center” Pastor provokes ire on all sides
by Sam HanThe Florida televangelist Bill Keller, who has spearheaded a plan to build a "Christian center" as a counterpoint to the so-called "Ground Zero mosque," has managed to anger both sides of the Park51 debate.
September 7, 2010
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Bron Taylor: “The Roots of James Lee’s Rage against Civilization”
by Charles GelmanBron Taylor explores the literary, spiritual, and ecological roots of Discovery Channel shooter James Lee's "rage against civilization."
September 7, 2010
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Celebrating Ramadan by going green
by Grace YukichFor Muslims, Ramadan is a time of fasting---of getting by with less. Traditionally, this has meant abstaining from things like eating, drinking, or sex from dawn until sunset. In recent years, these more traditional practices have been supplemented by a desire to get by with fewer resources as well. As part of the focus on moderation, some Muslims are intentionally focusing on their influence on the environment, making a special effort to limit their waste and to treat the earth well.
September 7, 2010
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Seminar: “From Worldview to Worship: The Liturgical Turn in Cultural Theory”
by Charles GelmanNext summer, James K.A. Smith will lead the Calvin College seminar "From Worldview to Worship: The Liturgical Turn in Cultural Theory."
September 8, 2010
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Jacoby: fixation on Obama’s religion is unprecedented and un-American
by David WalkerIn her Washington Post opinion column, The Spirited Atheist, Susan Jacoby reflects upon the "billions of words" published in newspapers, blogs, and articles about Obama's religion, arguing that "there is nothing ordinary, or traditional in American politics, about subjecting a president's private faith to this kind of scrutiny."
September 9, 2010
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David Petraeus, George Washington, and the wartime call for religious civility
by David WalkerAs Chris Beneke notes over at Religion in American History, there is a historical parallel to General Petraeus' warning about the dangers posed to US troops by Koran burning: George Washington's order to stop burning effigies of the Pope during the American Revolution.
September 13, 2010