Guest Voices - Other views on faith and its impact on the news.

Posted at 11:22 AM ET, 12/24/2012

Twenty new little stars: Christmas and the vulnerability of children

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite

God’s vulnerability reveals what we need to know when tragedy strikes: you are not alone, says theologian.

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | 11:22 AM ET, 12/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: President Obama; gun; guns; gun control; gun control; massacre; Newton; Connecticut; shoot; shooting; shootings; shooter; Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite; Sandy Hook Elementary School; politics; christmas; Jesus

Posted at 05:01 PM ET, 12/16/2012

Can the First Husband talk about marriage?

By Elizabeth Marquardt and W. Bradford Wilcox

Researchers offer America’s leaders, including President Obama, a marriage agenda.

By Elizabeth Marquardt and W. Bradford Wilcox | 05:01 PM ET, 12/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Elizabeth Marquardt; W. Bradford Wilcox; President Barack Obama; President Obama; Obamas; marriage; families; same-sex marriage; gay marriage

Posted at 04:21 PM ET, 12/14/2012

God weeps: 27 children, staff killed in Conn. school shooting

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite

Chicago theologian challenges anyone who says now isn’t the right time to talk about guns.

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | 04:21 PM ET, 12/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Conn. school shooting; Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite; school shooting; sandy hook elementary school; sandy hook; sandy hook elementary; connecticut shooting; connecticut school shooting; Newtown; connecticut; gun control; elementary school shooting; deadly shooting; gun control; children; faith; President Obama

Posted at 04:11 PM ET, 12/13/2012

Congress must protect the needy among us

By Stuart Weinblatt

Lawmakers are tasked with listening to the voices that are so often silenced, says a Md. rabbi.

By Stuart Weinblatt | 04:11 PM ET, 12/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Fiscal cliff; politics; President Obama; Congress; lawmakers; Torah; Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice; White House; Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt; Congregation B’nai Tzedek

Posted at 03:57 PM ET, 12/04/2012

Scrooges on Capitol Hill: Republicans hold middle-class tax cuts hostage

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite

GOP counter offer is reminiscent of the Charles Dickens classic, says a Chicago theologian.

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | 03:57 PM ET, 12/04/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Scrooges: GOP holds middle-class tax cuts hostage; Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite; Bob Cratchit; Scrooge; Scrooges; Christmas; fiscal cliff; fiscal cliff 2013; what is the fiscal cliff; tax cuts; sequester; supercommittee; super committee; bush tax cuts expire; when do bush tax cuts expire; deficit; automatic cuts; automatic spending cuts; obama tax cuts; default; debt ceiling; credit rating downgrade; social program cuts; defense spending cuts; defense program cuts; defense contractor cuts; us deficit; us budget; warren buffett; deficit reduction committee; middle class; middle-class Americans; sluggish economy; Congress; President Obama; Obama; President Barack Obama; Republicans; GOP; tax cuts for the wealthy; tax cuts; Ebenezer Scrooge; Charles Dickens; A Christmas Carol; Bob Cratchet; OccupytheBible

Posted at 01:53 PM ET, 11/29/2012

In search of Jordanian hospitality

By Becky Garrison

Writer reflects on American politics and a recent trip overseas.

By Becky Garrison | 01:53 PM ET, 11/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: mideast unrest; middle eastern unrest; arab protests; arabian unrest; mideast news; government protests; anti-government protests in the mid-east; north africa protests; mideast revolts; middle eastern political unrest; why are there protests in the mideast?; libya unrest; egyptian protests; tunisia protests; bahrain unrest; tunisia unrest; Becky Garrison; Middle East; Mideast; Jordan; Jordanian; Holy Land; Romney; Obama; President Obama; Mitt Romney; Obama; barack obama; president obama; obama reelection; obama 2012; barack obama reelection campaign; obama reelection campaign; obama for president; obama 2012 elections; obama election; barack obama campaign; obama election news; obama election news; obama reelection news; obama 2012 election; president barack Obama; Israel; Israel news; Israel map; Israel iran; nation of Israel; Jerusalem Israel; Israel gaza; Israel hamas; Israel Palestine; Israel Palestine conflict; Israel national news; iran and Israel; Palestine Israel conflict;

Posted at 04:19 PM ET, 11/21/2012

Thanksgiving?

By Niels C. Nielsen

The Pilgrims did not believe that we live in a moral vacuum, says author of “God in the Obama Era.”

By Niels C. Nielsen | 04:19 PM ET, 11/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Thanksgiving; turkey; turkey pardon; obama turkey pardon; PETA turkey; Ben Franklin turkey; Cobbler and Gobbler; Cobbler turkey; Gobbler turkey; sasha and malia; Niels C. Nielsen; President Obama; President Barack Obama; God in the Obama Era; God in the Obama Era: Presidents’ Ethics and Religion from George Washington to Barack Obama; Leonard Bacon; religious faith; religious communities; God at Thanksgiving; holiday; holidays; meal; families; family reunion; shopping sprees; oldest American holiday; independence of our nation; day of celebration; Puritans; Pilgrims; first Thanksgiving; Protestant Pilgrims; Christians; England; joy; fellowship; civil religion; Indians; native Americans; presidential Thanksgiving proclamations; George Washington; Abraham Lincoln; Civil War; the Civil War; nation’s chief executives; Providence; providence; thanks; divine blessings; unbelievers; nonbelievers; nontheists; secular; humanists; fate; good luck; blessings; luck; celebration; Paul Tillich; ultimate concern; faith; God bless America.

Posted at 02:01 PM ET, 11/20/2012

Marriage equality campaigns: The difference faith makes

By Sharon Groves

Religious engagement was a key to victories in Maine, Md., Minn., and Wash., says a Human Rights Campaign leader.

By Sharon Groves | 02:01 PM ET, 11/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: You will know them by their fruits; Matthew 7:16; gay marriage; same-sex marriage; marriage equality; Maryland; Maine; Minnesota; Washington state; African American; Latino; Protestants; Catholics; gays; lesbians; LGBT community; LGBT; Sharon Groves; Human Rights Campaign; HRC; religion; faith; communities of faith; churches; congregations; LGBT community; LGBT activists; Rev. Rebecca Voelkel; conservative religious leaders; religious leaders; communities of faith; Rev. Dr. Marvin Ellison; Religious Coalition Against Discrimination; RCAD; people of faith; campaigns; boots on the ground; faith communities; President Obama; President Barack Obama; Obama; Rev. MacArthur Flournoy; Rev. Delman Coates; Delman Coates; straight and LGBT clergy; African American community; pro-equality; Roman Catholic; Catholics for Marriage Equality; Auburn Theological Seminary; HRC Religion and Faith Program

Posted at 12:59 PM ET, 11/20/2012

Longing for an Arab-Israeli Spring

By Faheem Younus

Muslim doctor longs to see a movement fueled by youth more focused on the future than the past.

By Faheem Younus | 12:59 PM ET, 11/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Arab-Israeli Spring; Arab Spring; Arab-Israeli conflict; Palestinians; Zionists; Israel; Zionism; Palestine; Gaza; Gaza Strip; Faheem Younus; Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas; Abbas; PLO; Saeb Erekat; Erekat; Hamas; Khaled Mashal; Mashal; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Netanyahu;, Israeli President Shimon Peres; Peres; Defense Minister Ehud Barak; Barak; Tel Aviv; Jewish; Muslim; Jews; Muslims; Arabs; Palestinian youth; Israeli youth; Islamic Resistance Movement; Al-Aqsa Martyr Brigade; President Obama; President Barack Obama; Obama; Cairo speech; Egypt; Muslim Palestinians; jihad; Mitt Romney; We cannot kill our way out of this mess; One Voice Movement; Global Giving; Faheem Younus; Muslimerican.com

Posted at 01:33 PM ET, 11/19/2012

Mr. President: Send Bill Clinton as Mideast peace envoy

By Arsalan Iftikhar

Clinton’s experience in the region makes him an ideal negotiator, says a human rights lawyer.

By Arsalan Iftikhar | 01:33 PM ET, 11/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: gaza hamas israel;israeli invasion;israeli ground invasion;israel terrorism hamas;hamas rockets jerusalem;israel war;israel palestinians;israel air strikes;israel hamas;gaza strip;hamas gaza;arab league;hamas egypt;gaza egypt;gaza turkey;gaza qatar;morsi;muslim brotherhood;erdogan;Abdessalem; tunisia, ramez harb; islamic jihad; gaza media center; Bill Clinton; Mideast; President Obama; Arsalan Iftikhar

Posted at 12:23 PM ET, 11/19/2012

Election 2012: ‘Mormon moment’ or a last gasp coalition?

By Dan Webster

It may be the tipping point for a country that no longer has a white ruling class, says an Episcopal priest.

By Dan Webster | 12:23 PM ET, 11/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: faith; politics; election 2012; campaign 2012; President Obama; Dan Webster; white evangelicals; Mormons

Posted at 11:41 AM ET, 11/19/2012

U-Va. sociology professor: Parenting in red, blue and purple America

By W. Bradford Wilcox

Cultural divides so evident in the political arena also extend to the family arena, says U-Va’s National Marriage Project director.

By W. Bradford Wilcox | 11:41 AM ET, 11/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: W. Bradford Wilcox; National Marriage Project; University of Virginia; religious divide; family arena; presidential election; election 2012; campaign 2012; President Obama; Mitt Romney; religious conservatives; secular progressives

Posted at 05:56 PM ET, 11/13/2012

Should President Obama reach out to the Catholic bishops?

By Thomas J. Reese

It would be a mistake to count out an institution that has been around for 2,000 years, says a Georgetown scholar.

By Thomas J. Reese | 05:56 PM ET, 11/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: USCCB; Catholic bishops; statement on economy; financial crisis; United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; President Obama

Posted at 02:30 PM ET, 11/08/2012

Compassion in chief: Why Obama won

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite

A new America can be glimpsed in the pattern of those voters who supported not just President Obama, but a vision of shared obligation as well as shared rights.

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite | 02:30 PM ET, 11/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: election 2012; campaign 2012; President Obama; Joe Biden; reelection; White House; faith; politics; religion and politics; women voters; Hispanics; Obama; same-sex marriage

Posted at 11:46 AM ET, 11/08/2012

Voters exercise their liberty of conscience at the polls

By Becky Garrison

By Becky Garrison | 11:46 AM ET, 11/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Becky Garrison; 2012 election; 2012 campiagn; President Obama; Mitt Romney; same-sex marriage; Billy Graham; Todd Akin; Richard Mourdock; evangelicals

Posted at 07:11 PM ET, 11/05/2012

Why we are voting for President Obama: Nine Mormon women speak

By Joanna Brooks

Immigration, health care and foreign policy are among reasons they want to re-elect Obama.

By Joanna Brooks | 07:11 PM ET, 11/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: election 2012; campaign 2012; Joanna Brooks; Mitt Romney; President Obama

Posted at 06:47 PM ET, 11/05/2012

No single way to sum up President Obama’s relationship to Israel

By Mia Appelbaum

When we evaluate how friendly or hostile Obama has been to Israel, we must challenge ourselves to find merit in opposing views and uncover the subtleties that complete our examination.

By Mia Appelbaum | 06:47 PM ET, 11/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Israel; Zionism; Jewish electorate; voters; presidential election; President Obama; Mia Appelbaum

Posted at 12:33 PM ET, 11/05/2012

Hopeful for explicit discussion from White House on religious diversity

By Eboo Patel

How America engages its own religious diversity, and how it encourages interfaith cooperation for the rest of the world, matter a great deal right now.

By Eboo Patel | 12:33 PM ET, 11/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Interfaith Youth Core; Eboo Patel; interfaith cooperation; President Obama; Mitt Romney; evangelicals; religion and politics; faith and politics; politics

Posted at 12:55 PM ET, 10/02/2012

Why attacking Iran may give Obama a third term in the White House

By Faheem Younus

Mission seekers, don’t push war agenda during Obama and Romney’s presidential debates.

By Faheem Younus | 12:55 PM ET, 10/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Election 2012; presidential debates; Iran; 22nd Amendment; President Obama; Mitt Romney; politics; presidential election; economy

Posted at 01:55 PM ET, 10/01/2012

In presidential debates, will Obama, Romney address matters of faith?

By Jacques Berlinerblau

If the 2008 debates offer any clue as to how often faith and values themes will surface during Wednesday’s Obama/Romney showdown then we can expect this: near total silence about religious issues.

By Jacques Berlinerblau | 01:55 PM ET, 10/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: grid, Presidential debate, Mitt Romney, President Obama, President Barack Obama, presidential debates, election 2012, campaign 2012