News for August 26

Religion and the DNC

The Democratic National Convention opened Sunday with an interfaith service. Get a peek into what happened during the service and the media reports afterward. But as the Democratic Party looks for ways to show its faith-based credentials, some commentators are asking whether the party might be going overboard in its quest to capture the religious vote. What do you think? Links include:

GetReligion.org |  “The media have underreported the presence of religious adherents in the Democratic Party and hyped the heck out of the values voters on the right. Usually the stories are on shaky ground, evidence wise, and are just used to push a commonly accepted meme. Now if the reporters actually think that the interfaith service would woo evangelicals in the GOP, they are probably high or know nothing about culturally conservative evangelicals.”

Christianity Today |  “Want a taste of the interfaith gathering?”

Street Prophets |  “The Wiccan who is also a delegate from Maine has a review in of the first ever interfaith gathering at a Democratic National Convention. Rita Moran, the delegate in question had her doubts about just how “interfaith” the service would be. The good news is that she was pleasantly surprised. The symbols chosen – a globe, a mandala, and some stars – were universal in nature and not associated with one faith or another.”

The Seeker |  “As Democrats kicked off their convention in Denver with interfaith prayers, scripture readings and gospel songs, at least one survey says American voters could already be suffering from faith-based fatigue.”

NPR |  “For the first time ever, Democrats have planned “faith caucus meetings” led by an array of religious and spiritual leaders, including Christians, Muslims and Jews. Democrats want to convince voters that they are putting their faith in action — and show that Republicans haven’t cornered the market on family values or faith.”

Is Voting a Christian Rite or Right?  |  Pew Forum on Religion

While some remain less than enthusiastic about their options this fall, conscientious abstention raises another ethical question: Do Christians have an obligation to vote?

The Souls of Muslim Young Folk  |  Salon

The question posed by W.E.B. DuBois in his classic “The Souls of Black Folk” cut to the marrow of what it was like to be black under Jim Crow. Now, more than a century after DuBois penned his query, Moustafa Bayoumi thinks it is appropriate to ask it again. The associate professor of English at Brooklyn College argues in his new book, “How Does It Feel to Be a Problem?” that young Arabs and Muslims are America’s latest “problem.”

Architecture After the Flame Goes Out  |  The Guardian

Grand Olympic building projects more often than not become expensive burdens to host cities once the Games are over.