Southerners still argue the cause of the Civil War on the 150th anniversary of its start. Some call it the War of the Northern Aggression, a battle that pitted patriots defending states’ rights against a tyrannical federal government. Others blame economics — regional tensions between the industrialized North and the rural South. But at the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives in downtown Nashville, what the Baptists of that era thought becomes clear. The cause was slavery. They never even... Read more

Among the more disturbing news developments in recent weeks is the surprising (to some western pundits, at least) strength shown by the hardest line Islamic party in the first round of Egypt’s parliamentary elections. This story is being buried inside newspapers and at the bottom of newcasts, as the American media concentrate on truly important subjects such as the size of Professor Newt Gingrich’s head and former candidate Herman Cain’s strange exit from the presidential primary stage. In Egypt, the... Read more

The core lie underlying the recent rise of Islamophobia is the claim that Muslims’ loyalty to their faith makes them untrustworthy Americans. As we’ve tracked in the past, Anti-Muslim commentators (and even former presidential candidates) continue to falsely promote this divisive rhetoric, propagating the myth that if Muslims find their religion and loyalty to America in conflict, they would ultimately betray America. With such an intense focus on the “loyalty” of American Muslims, it should serve as a surprise to... Read more

Aftershocks of the U.S. bishops’ doctrine committee’s moves against theologian Sr. Elizabeth Johnson spread Monday as the College Theology Society issued a statement saying the bishops’ moves represent a “fundamental breach” in the call for dialogue in the church and wounds the “entire community of Catholic theologians.” The Monday statement from the College Theology Society, which represents lay and religious undergraduate theology faculty, is the latest in a months-long saga over Johnson’s book Quest for the Living God: Mapping Frontiers... Read more

by Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitzfor Jewish Week Online As the Presidential race progresses, once again the role of religion in politics has re-emerged as a common tension that cannot be dismissed. American Jews have often feared bringing religion into the political discourse out of fear of anti-Semitism, but this concern has hopefully lessened since Senator Lieberman was a serious Presidential candidate while being open about his traditional Jewish practices and perspectives. In our commitment to build a just society, we have... Read more

By Josh LedermanThe Hill Democrats claim to have an unprecedented, promising opportunity to expand their voter base into previously uncharted territory — religious voters. Republicans have long walked in lock step with the loudest and most influential voices in the American religious sphere, professing a monopoly on the faith-based values that drive the decisions of millions of religious voters. But eager to leave no stone unturned as they peruse the electorate for 2012 supporters, Democrats are setting out to court... Read more

The 2012 election cycle is kinda-sorta breaking the time-honored American adage of not discussing religion and politics in the same sentence Kinda-sorta because two men seeking the Republican presidential nomination are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called the Mormons. Faith in broad terms is discussed; specific religions generally are not. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who sought the party’s nod four years ago, tried to allay voter concerns during the 2008 campaign about his... Read more

by Benjamin MyersABC Religion Contemporary western societies have witnessed the emergence of a new tribalism, fuelled by the logic of capitalism with its proliferation of niche identities and by the politics of multiculturalism with its advocacy of mere “difference,” while lacking the language to articulate any vision of a common good. Such multicultural pluralism is a mirror image of the postmodern ethics of difference, where each person is assumed to be absolutely “other.” Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams argues that,... Read more

Like many evangelicals in Iowa, Steve Deace, an influential conservative radio host, is wrestling with the possibility that Newt Gingrich may be the most viable standard bearer for family-values voters in the next election. It’s a conundrum, he says, that many others are also grappling with. “Maybe the guy in the race that would make the best president is on his third marriage,” he says. “How do we reconcile that?” One senses him trying. “I see a lot of parallels... Read more

The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political arm of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood is exceeding already high expectations in the first of Egypt’s three-round parliamentary elections.  Although opinion polls had predicated the MB support at 20-30 percent, initial returns indicate that the FJP and its allies may win over 40 percent of seats, depending on the outcome of runoffs.Many attribute this bump to the Brotherhood’s impressive ground-game.  “Each Muslim Brotherhood member signs on to a rigorous educational curriculum and is part... Read more