Latest Show July 26, 2014 – #BornPerfect, Survey Surprises and the Interviewer’s Interview

On This week’s State of Belief, special guest host Greg Lebel, Assistant Professor of Political Management at the George Washington University, sits in for Welton. We will discuss the Pew Research Center’s new survey on Americans’ feelings towards different faith groups, one organization’s courageous efforts to combat the toxic “ex-gay” therapy industry, and the role the United States is and should be playing in the international conflicts so present in our news.

Breaking News: Members of Faith Groups Like Themselves Best
It probably won’t come as a shock to most of our listeners, but a new survey by the Pew Research Center, How Americans Feel About Religious Groups, confirms that religious groups tend to be rated most favorably by their own members. However, the survey does have plenty of surprises. For example, racial and political demographics significantly influence which religions one feels warmly toward. And it would appear that when it comes to religious traditions, it’s unfamiliarity that seems to breed contempt. We’ll talk with Besheer Mohammed, research associate at the Pew Religion & Public Life Project.

#BornPerfect and the Campaign Against the “Ex-Gay” Therapy Industry
Despite many blows to its legitimacy, the snake-oil industry of “ex-gay” therapy has continued to promote itself as a valid way to – in its own words – “walk out of the homosexual lifestyle.” To combat this damaging idea, the National Center for Lesbian Rights has launched the “#BornPerfect” campaign. This week, NCLR’s executive director, Kate Kendell, sits down with Greg to talk about the campaign, why it matters so much, and to explain how listeners can get involved in this important movement.

Interview the Host: The Politicization of America’s Role in Global Affairs
Finally, Greg will take a break from hosting the show to be interviewed by Ray Kirstein, State of Belief’s producer, about the events around the world that are dominating headlines here in the United States. Greg talks about America’s role in the violence in Israel and Gaza, the tragedy in Ukraine, and other global conflicts and whether domestic politics are getting in the way of effective action. He also examines the impact these worldwide issues might have on the November elections, and ends with his thoughts on potential Perry-Cruz and Warren-Clinton showdowns for the White House.

Latest News

Faith in Faiths, #bornperfect, and Global Crises: Next State of Belief!

By Ray Kirstein on July 24, 2014

Here’s what’s coming up this weekend on State of Belief Radio:

Greg Lebel, Assistant Professor of Political Management and Director of the Semester in Washington Program at George Washington University, fills in for Welton Gaddy this week.

Who do you trust? And how much does their religion – and yours – influence that trust? A new survey from the Pew Research Center titled How Americans Feel About Religious Groups is loaded with insights. We’ll talk to Besheer Mohamed, research associate at the Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project.

Also, a full-force attack on the discredited practice of “ex-gay therapy.” I’ll talk with Kate Kendell, Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which has just launched their #bornperfect campaign.

And with all the crises breaking all at once around the world, is the US stepping up in an effective way? And are domestic politics getting in the way of that happening? We’ll discuss.

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Laws, Lawsuits and Religious Liberty – Next State of Belief!

By Ray Kirstein on July 20, 2014

Religion News Service Editor-in-chief Kevin Eckstrom

Here’s what’s coming up this weekend on State of Belief Radio:

Kevin Eckstrom, Editor-in-chief at the invaluable Religion News Service, fills in for Welton Gaddy this week.

Laws, Lawsuits, and Religious Liberty. Activists call for limiting too-broad “religious exemptions” in a non-discrimination executive order as well as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. We talk to Rabbi David Saperstein, Director and Legal Counsel of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Stacey Long Simmons.

The RAC joined almost 70 other activist and civil rights groups in calling on President Obama to refuse to expand “religious exemption” language in his anticipated executive order extending workplace non-discrimination protections to LGBT employees of federal contractors. Interfaith Alliance was among the signatories as well. You can read the full text of the letter here. A separate letter, signed by over 100 progressive faith leaders – co-authored by State of Belief host and Interfaith Alliance President Welton Gaddy – was sent to the White House to counter conservative leaders’ call for an expanded set of “religious exemptions.” Update: the White House has announced that President Obama will sign the executive order on Monday (July 21) with no additional “religious exemptions.”

NGLTF led the way in withdrawing its longtime support for a national Employment Non-discrimination Act in the form passed by the US Senate, over concerns that current language regarding “religious exemptions” will institutionalize bias and discrimination. Other LGBT and human rights organizations have followed the Task Force’s lead, identifying the changed human rights climate in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision, which recognized corporate religious conscience as a thing for the first time.

Also, police profiling and surveillance of Muslim-Americans in the New York metropolitan area. The shameful program was discontinued a few months ago, after more than a decade of unfettered spying. A court case claiming damages was recently dismissed, but an appeal has just been filed, with Interfaith Alliance among many rights groups signing amicus briefs. We’ll hear from Muslim Advocates’ Legal Director Glenn Katon.

And a court says Indiana has to allow Atheist and Humanist wedding celebrants. Center for Inquiry Indiana Executive Director Reba Boyd Wooden, who is a certified secular celebrant as well as a trainer of others in this work, will have the details.

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Hobby Lobby Wins: Jay Michaelson, Sarah Posner, Brian McLaren and Katherine Franke Respond

By Ray Kirstein on July 2, 2014

circleonlyHere’s what’s coming up this weekend on State of Belief Radio:

A dangerous ruling from the Supreme Court. You’ll hear analysis and comment from expert voices on the collision of religion and politics, when we’re joined by Dr. Jay Michaelson, journalist Sarah Posner and the Rev. Brian McLaren.

Jay’s written widely on the case, most recently for Reuters.

Sarah’s coverage of the Hobby Lobby case includes Hobby Lobby decision set to reignite conflict around women’s rights and Religious Leaders Press Obama for Exemption from Executive Order Barring Discrimination.

Brian published a column in On Faith headlined Q: What Did Hobby Lobby Win? A: Many More Abortions

We’ll also talk to Katherine Franke, Director of the Center for Gender & Sexuality Law at Columbia Law School. The Center has just launched the Public Rights/Private Conscience Project, bringing badly-needed legal expertise to this area of policy.

And Welton have some thoughts of his own to share about this misguided decision – the first time in history that the high court has recognized that private corporations have a religious conscience.

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