Sightings Articles
Declining Catechesis -- Martin E. Marty
How does secularization occur? What speeds up the process? Instead of pointing to some massive secular humanist conspiracy as the major cause, many social thinkers urge us to watch the subtle improvisations made by individuals and publics. *Sighti...
October 16, 2000
America's Mythical Religious Past
On the first day of the course I teach on "Religion in Colonial America" at the University of Chicago Divinity School, I often ask students to tell me what they already know about early American religious history. Since many of them are new to the fi...
October 12, 2000
Wealth and Spirituality -- Martin E. Marty
We do our sightings in all kinds of corners of American life. Anyone who stays in a hotel receives, willy-nilly, *USA Today*. Whoever receives *USA Today* will find little colored graphs in the lower left-hand corner of a section page. Recently one d...
October 9, 2000
The Muslims Are Coming! The Muslims Are Coming! -- R. Jonathan Moore
With Joseph Lieberman on the Democratic ticket, this political season may offer a chance to measure anew the dimensions of American prejudice. Another recent test of the limits of religious tolerance can be found in south-suburban Chicago. Having out...
August 23, 2000
The Muslims Are Coming! The Muslims Are Coming! -- R. Jonathan Moore
With Joseph Lieberman on the Democratic ticket, this political season may offer a chance to measure anew the dimensions of American prejudice. Another recent test of the limits of religious tolerance can be found in south-suburban Chicago. Having out...
August 23, 2000
The Last Sightings from the Public Religions Project -- Martin E. Marty
Today and tomorrow the Public Religion Project holds a summary conference that effectively completes its three years of work. Then on Friday, those of us responsible for the Project, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, will close our office and hand...
September 22, 1999
Counting -- Martin E. Marty
Counting may not be the most exciting thing we do, and reading about counting may not give receivers of "Sightings" much to develop into editorials, talk-show topics, or lecture and sermon illustrations. But keeping track of news everywhere goes with...
September 21, 1999
Defining American Culture: Secular, Religious, or Religiosecular? -- Martin E. Marty
In the constant efforts, over the definition of American culture as "secular," "religious," or, as we prefer (though we'd look for a better word), "religiosecular," religious apologists regularly point to the academy and politics as the most secular ...
September 17, 1999
Handling Distinct Religious Beliefs -- Martin E. Marty
In our business of monitoring the press coverage of religious themes, we find that from time to time it is in place not just to make news about news but to reflect upon reflection. This we now do in reference to an important column on a neglected the...
September 16, 1999
Examining Words: Religion, Faith, and Spirituality -- Martin E. Marty
"Religion," designed to be used as a neutral term, has come to be part of a "them's-fightin'-words" debate in public. Many have noted that in the mouths of many, "spirituality" has come to mean a replacement for "religion." But a foreign visitor or...