Release date: Sept. 7, 2006
Contact: Elaine Justice at 404-727-0643 or elaine.justice@emory.edu

Scholars Seek to Create Online Religion Op-ed Page

Religion scholars Gary Laderman of Emory Universityand 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 that are oriented toward just social and political outcomes for everyone," says 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."

"9/11 was a watershed point for people to bring religion into the public arena," says Gary Laderman, professor of religion and director of Emory's Graduate Division of Religion. "Religion has always played a role in public life; we're trying to develop new ways to fairly and respectfully discuss religious and public policy issues that include all kinds of perspectives in the discussion.”

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.

As scholars, Davaney and Laderman have witnessed the tremendous growth of academic interest in religion and research on religious issues across the country. Yet often that research doesn't appear in the public sphere for a variety of reasons, from academic wariness of popularizing research, to lack of funding or a reliance on a narrow range of, often non-expert, interpreters of religion.

They believe that a progressive opinion-editorial page can serve as an antidote. "We hope to stimulate change by bringing together a wide spectrum of alternative scholarly, civic and religious voices to address the most significant issues of the day via a Web-based venue," says Davaney.

"The page will use the most up-to-date technology to allow progressive voices to share their opinions and provide information that is often absent from the public arena," adds Davaney. "We hope to reach policy makers and a broad public with viewpoints that they simply are not exposed to currently."

During the planning stage of the project currently underway, Davaney and Laderman have organized broad-based conversations among scholars and civic and religious leaders and activists. They are identifying issues, assessing available resources and exploring collaborations with leaders and institutions that can contribute to the creation of what they hope will be "a more vital national conversation about religion in our day."

Plans call for the opinion-editorial page to be launched via the Internet during 2007.

The Ford Foundation is an independent, non-profit grant-making organization. For more than half a century, it has been a resource for innovative people and institutions worldwide, guided by its goals of strengthening democratic values, reducing poverty and injustice, promoting international cooperation and advancing human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Russia. For more information about the Ford Foundation, go to www.fordfound.org.

The Iliff School of Theology is a graduate theological school of the United Methodist Church, serving more than 38 different faith traditions. Founded in 1892, the seminary provides several degree programs, including a joint Ph.D. program with the University of Denver. For additional information about the school, go to www.iliff.edu.

Emory University is known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate college of arts and sciences, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities. For nearly two decades, Emory has been named one of the country's top 25 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to its nine schools, the university encompasses The Carter Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, the state's largest and most comprehensive health care system.

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