This week we continue our three-week series "Exploring the Issues: Race, Religion and Sexuality," which aims to take a deeper, often more personal look at these wide-ranging issues that pervade American society. Our columnists will continue to bring their own personal experiences and philosophies to contemplate various aspects of these umbrella topics, including religion, the issue at hand for this week.
Religion, no matter how it is approached, is a divisive and intensely personal subject that must be handled with kid gloves. Not only has religion become an instrumental influence on national policy — abortion, gay marriage, foreign policy — but it also greatly affects the personal and public lives of many Madison residents and students. The shouting matches on Library Mall between extremist evangelists and students, the ongoing debate about segregated fee funding for the Roman Catholic Foundation and the presence of groups like the Freedom From Religion Foundation in Madison often make religion the subject of impassioned debate.
And so, we aim to continue this debate about religion — attempting to reflect on truth and implication, faith and practice, conviction and dogma, among others — as we cultivate an ever-important discussion in the public forum.
Our topics and their writers are as follows:
Today:
Gerald Cox – Religious belief in Madison
Adam Lichtenheld – Jesus' teachings influencing politics
Tuesday:
Andy Granias – Religion and the stem cell debate
Kyle Szarzynski – Tolerance for religion
Wednesday:
RCF-UW and Jason Smathers – Point-counterpoint on segregated fees for religious organizations
Thursday:
Bassey Etim – Liberal Catholicism
MSA – Current state of Muslims in America
Friday:
Andrew Wagner – Westboro Baptist
Rob Phansalkar – America's political and religious roots
Enjoy.
