The University of Maryland's Knight Center for Specialized Journalism recently had a five day seminar event called "Religion in American Life." The Participants included some of the biggest names from across the religious spectrum in the United States. Kansas City Star columnist Bill Tammeus (and PCUSAer) attended the event and published some tantalizing comments heard while in attendance. (The Knight Center website shows the event occurring in April yet Tammeus gives a dateline of July 22 from Adelphi, MD, and says the event happened recently, so I am not sure if he is referring to April or if some additional event was held more recently.) Here is his column today:
Diverse voices discuss the forces at work on today’s faithful
According to the Knight Center website here is at least a partial list of the presenters and seminars:
- Luis E. Lugo, director, Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Religion on the National Stage
- Martin E. Marty, Fairfax M. Cone Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, University of Chicago. Religion's Role in Current American Life
- Roger Finke, director, Association of Religion Data Archives, and professor, Penn State University. The Demographics of Religion in America
- Mike McCurry, principal, Public Strategies Group, LLC, and former press secretary to President Clinton. Bringing in the Sheaves: Religion and Politics
- Randy Tate, former Republican Congress member and former executive director, the Christian Coalition. Bringing in the Sheaves: Religion and Politics
- Asra Nomani, author, "Standing Alone: An American Woman's Struggle for the Soul of Islam." A Muslim Reporter's Personal Journey
- Rev. John Shelby Spong, retired Episcopal bishop, Newark, N.J. Open Door, Closed Door: Gays and Organized Religion
- Rev. Cleo LaRue, Francis Landey Patton Associate Professor of Homiletics, Princeton Theological Seminary. Tradition, and Art, of Black Preaching
- Peter Steinfels, religion columnist, The New York Times, and co-chair of the Fordham Center on Religion and Culture. New Pope, New Millenium: Catholicism at a Crossroads?
- Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director, Americans United for Separation of Church and State. New Take on an Old Debate: Evolution & Intelligent Design
- Casey Luskin, program officer for public policy and legal affairs, Discovery Institute. New Take on an Old Debate: Evolution & Intelligent Design
- Dr. Richard Land, president, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention. Evangelicals, A Burgeoning Force
- Elliot Mincberg, vice president and general counsel, People for the American Way. Church, State & Tax Dollars: Faith-Based Initiatives
- Tom McClusky, acting vice president for government affairs, Family Research Council. Church, State & Tax Dollars: Faith-Based Initiatives
- Kevin Eckstrom, associate editor, Religion News Service. Beyond Church Listings: Putting Religion on the Front Page
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