Author Archives

Right Wing Terror in Norway

Last week, the world recoiled in horror as a madman went on a rampage that included gunning down of dozens of school children. Why? Well, according to his “manifesto”, he did it in reaction to the perceived threat posed by Islamic radicals. In his writings, the killer cites the anti-Muslim writings of American Bruce Bawer, who now lives in Europe, if not as a 

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Islamophobia as a Political Weapon

Here is an article worth reading as the 2012 presidential campaign rhetoric heats up. “Responding to questions from Chris Wallace on Sunday concerning a planned Islamic Center in Murfreesboro, Tenn., the Republican presidential candidate and former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza argued that local communities like Murfreesboro can and should ban the construction of Islamic houses of worship in light of their legitimate concerns about

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Religious Literacy

According to a recent survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, Americans have a very vague (at best) understanding about the teachings, practices and beliefs of the world’s great faith traditions. Strikingly, this includes a lack of knowledge about their own faiths! To take the survey and read more about the results please click here. I think this suggests a

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Cooperate / Coexist

I have to admit that I have conflicted emotions whenever I pull up behind a car with one of those “coexist”  bumper stickers where the word is cleverly spelled out using diverse religious symbols. Part of me smiles, knowing that the person behind the wheel of the car is someone who shares my concern about the peaceful coexistence of the worlds great faith traditions.

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A Multireligious University?

Here is an interesting post about  Claremont University in California. Claremont is a Methodist School of Theology that is conducting an “experiment” in becoming a multireligious university. Here is the author’s summary comment: “Our opponents say that inviting other religious voices into theological education will eliminate Christian distinctiveness. But, to their surprise, something different is happening. Our own voices are now becoming more clear

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Bearing Witness – Finding Hope

As the U.S. House of Representatives gears up for hearings about the purported radicalization of the American Muslim community, the media is once again buzzing with talk about threats and fear.  Of course, the House Homeland Security Committee’s narrow focus on the perceived threat posed by American Muslims feels a little strange here in Austin where the most recent act of terror was carried

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