At openDemocracy, Sindre Bangstad writes on the domestic conditions in which Anders Behring Breivik concocted and attempted to justify his recent dual attacks on a government building and summer camp in Norway
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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.
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World Youth Day reassessed
by Amanda KaplanTwo writers at the The Guardian enter into the conversation about this year's World Youth Day and the public reaction that accompanied Pope Benedict's visit to Madrid. Andrew Brown asks why the public appears not to recognize the Church's accomplishment, citing the role of the media in creating a narrow narrative of the event, while Miguel-Anxo Murado turns the discussion to politics, claiming that the protests were perhaps not as successful as it may have appeared.
August 23, 2011
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Wanted: two of every animal
by Amanda KaplanThe Creation Museum in Kentucky has been stirring up controversy with its plan to create a 500'-long and 80'-high "replica" of Noah's ark. In early August a town meeting of sorts was held to discuss local concerns, specifically issues of state funding and tax incentives. One attendee recounts the exchange.
August 24, 2011
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The Vatican and the Bolivarian revolution
by John D. BoyLast month, Wikileaks released a confidential 2005 U.S. embassy cable that provides an inside perspective on the Vatican's views of Latin America's leftward drift in recent years following the election of Hugo Chavez et al. The cable, entitled "Vatican Weary of Leftist Latinos," summarizes the views of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri (then an archbishop) expressed in conversation with the American ambassador.
August 25, 2011
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Fear, Inc.: a report on the roots of Islamophobia
by Charles GelmanThe Center for American Progress has a new report out on the groups and individuals fomenting the rising tide of Islamophobia in the U.S.
August 26, 2011
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Questioning religion’s role in the presidential race
by Charles GelmanAt the Scoop, Maura Jane Farrelly rounds up some responses (and adds her own) to Bill Keller's Times Magazine editorial appealing for closer scrutiny of presidential candidates' religious backgrounds and beliefs.
August 29, 2011
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Islam: still a religion in Tennessee
by Richard AmesburyA Tennessee judge has upheld his earlier decision allowing the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro to build a new mosque and community center.
September 1, 2011
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What comes to mind when you think of spirituality?
by Emily FloydAfter a year of planning and conversation, The Immanent Frame and Killing the Buddha launch today a new web-based project titled Frequencies.
September 1, 2011
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More on religion in the presidential race
by Amanda KaplanAt The Daily Beast, Micheal Medved joins the current discussion, set off by Bill Keller's recent Times article, on religion's role in the presidential race.
September 2, 2011
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Interfaith groups blossom after 9/11
by Grace YukichFor some Americans, the response to the religious fears created by 9/11 was increased hatred of difference, particularly of Islam and Muslims. In contrast, others responded by reaching out across lines of religious difference to learn, share, and heal. Interfaith groups formed around the U.S. as venues for people of different faiths to get to know each other more deeply, challenging stereotypes and forging new community connections.
September 6, 2011