Sightings Articles
Go.Crusaders? -- John Pahl
The high holy days of the NCAA basketball tournament -- "March Madness" -- approach. The team I will cheer on, from Valparaiso University, once again joins the sixty-four team field. The team is talented, and could repeat or even exceed the wonderful...
March 7, 2002
The Recurring "They" and the Truer "We" -- Martin E. Marty
There are three related debate topics that just won't go away this winter: are "they" totally evil and "we" simply good; is "their" religion murderous and "ours" benign; is "their" Book a manual and license for war and "ours" a sourcebook for peace a...
March 4, 2002
Soda Pop Evangelism -- James L. Evans
The Dr. Pepper company decided recently to market their soda pop in a special patriotic can. They were hoping to combine some creative marketing with a show of national unity. The design featured an image of the Statue of Liberty with words from the ...
February 28, 2002
The Bear, the Bull, and the Religious Marketplace -- Martin E. Marty
Barbara Crossette's story "A Tough Time to Talk Peace" in the New York Times (February 12, 2002), reports that in New York City, Buddhism -- described as a philosophy, but who does not also find it among the religions in every encyclopedia? -- has co...
February 25, 2002
Suffer the Children -- Martin E. Marty
America's cardinal Cardinal, Cardinal Bernard F. Law of the Boston archdiocese is at a crossroads of media coverage on today's most devastating churchly topic, priestly pedophilia. Law's experience, his warm relations with the Vatican, and politicos ...
February 18, 2002
The Nature and Destiny of Inglis -- Jonathan Ebel
Where does one begin to discuss the actions of Mayor Carolyn Risher of Inglis, Florida? She is the public official who, last Halloween night, used official stationary to write a proclamation banning Satan from her town. Her story appeared in the St. ...
February 15, 2002
A New Old Sort of Union -- Martin E. Marty
"I propose, fellow citizens, a new sort of union, or, if you please, a Christian party in politics." Speaking was Ezra Stiles Ely, who rounded up evangelicals' votes for Andrew Jackson. Moderator of the Presbyterian Church and head of the American Su...
February 11, 2002
Of Patriots and Saints -- Jonathan Ebel
Those who watched Sunday's Super Bowl were treated to a seemingly miraculous game. After appearing to fall apart in the game's final two minutes, the New England Patriots, fourteen-point underdogs, defeated the St. Louis Rams on a last-second field g...
February 7, 2002
Religion and the Course Catalog -- Martin E. Marty
It is one thing to speak of pluralism in scholarly fashion, and another to deal with its outer reaches when confronted with its manifestations. It is one thing to advocate governmentally-supported "faith-based" ventures, and another to deal with the ...
February 4, 2002
Box Cutters and Higher Education -- Brian Britt
Of the many images associated with the year now past, the one that haunts me most is the box cutter. It is such a familiar object, one that I associate with the pleasure of unpacking books. The scenes of collision, fire, and rubble are so extreme tha...