Monthly Archives: September 2010

Beyond "Piss Christ" and the Pieta

by S. Brent Plate I currently teach a course called, “Religion and Modern Art.” When I mention this to people, they usually look puzzled. “How can you study that? Modern artists aren't religious!” Most reporters who cover the arts share … Continue reading

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J585 student wins RNS award

Evan Pondel, a student in USC Annenberg's specialized journalism master's program, won first place in a nationwide religion reporting competition. Pondel received the Chandler Student Religion Reporter of the Year award at the annual meeting of the Religion Newswriters Association … Continue reading

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More Detail, Fewer Apologies

by Su'ad Abdul Khabeer In the past week, “the apology” has been presented as a salve to the current anti-Muslim hysteria plaguing the United States. The first apology was extended by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, who apologized for … Continue reading

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Big Questions and the "Big Book"

by Brie Loskota and Nick Street Woody Allen recently opined in the New York Times that “there's no real difference between a fortune teller or a fortune cookie and any of the organized religions. They're all equally valid or invalid, … Continue reading

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Christine O'Donnell: Is Past Prologue?

by Samuel Chu Christine O'Donnell, the newest Tea Party darling, caused a stir with her surprising win in the Delaware Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. Since her win, news stories about her non-mainstream beliefs and practices have surfaced almost … Continue reading

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God and Greed

Last week, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat told a SoCal audience that religion reporters need to take theology seriously: theology has consequences. Differing from his professional peers who see the world through a political lens, Douthat said many people … Continue reading

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The Church of Glenn Beck, Inc.

by Kevin Healey Last year, Keith Olbermann repeatedly compared Glenn Beck to Harold Hill, the instrument-toting con-man from “The Music Man.” The comparison seems even more apt after Beck's Restoring Honor rally; borrowing a bit of mojo from his prominent … Continue reading

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About That Black Robe Regiment…

by Omri Elisha When lists start to appear ranking the “Top 10 Religion Stories of 2010,” Glenn Beck's Restoring Honor rally will almost certainly be among them. But amidst the hype surrounding his efforts to reinvigorate theocentric civil religion, more … Continue reading

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Ghosts of 9/11

by Nick Street Nearly half a century ago—on September 11, 1963—the New York Times published a piece by David Halberstam that would, together with the rest of Halberstam's reportage from Southeast Asia, earn him the Pulitzer Prize a year later. … Continue reading

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Ross Douthat: Theology Has Consequences

Thursday, September 16 at 5pm in the Annenberg Auditorium, the youngest-ever columnist for the New York Times discusses how religion really affects American life and why the media miss the story. Douthat joined the Times in April 2009. Previously, he … Continue reading

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