ITEMS Of INTREST October 23, 2006 Issue

ITEMS OF INTEREST

with contributions from Michelle Boorstein

RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS Gary Laderman of Emory University and Sheila Davaney of the Iliff School of Theology are using a Ford Foundation grant to lay the groundwork for a religion opinion-editorial page on progressive values, religion, and public affairs, titled "The Religion Report: Research and Opinions on Religion in Today's World." Through a new web-based venue and subsequent outreach, they hope to change the landscape of religious discourse across the country.

'Progressive' in this case means not a singular ideological perspective, but widely inclusive views; we're committed to a diversity of ideas ...," says Davaney, Harvey Davaney, Harvey H. Potthoff Professor of Christian Theology at Iliff and project director. "Our goal is to widen and deepen the conversation about religion and public life in America and the world." ...

Davaney and Laderman say the idea for an opinion-editorial page grew out of their frustration at the lack of depth, nuance, or diversity in discussions involving religion on a range of pressing public concerns. Often, they say, views of various religious groups are lumped together, distorted, or not heard at all. "Branding religion in a certain way, whether it's Christianity, Judaism, Islam, or any other faith, erases the true picture of what religious perspectives really bring to the table," Laderman says.

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