- Resources for Christian Living and Learning
- Special Topic: Culture Wars
- Current Issues News items of
interest to women and men who care about gender equality,
compassion, and justice.
- Expanding Our Horizons Websites to
aid in understanding people of various backgrounds and faiths
in different areas around the globe.
Introduction
Welcome to another edition of Web Explorations for Christian
Feminists. We're glad you stopped by and hope you'll come back
often. Just a reminder: Since the links in Web Explorations take
you to sites outside eewc.com, please keep in mind that EEWC
cannot be responsible for their content. Nor does the inclusion of
a link mean that it represents the views or official position of
EEWC. Rather, the links will simply direct you to sites that I
think you'll find interesting, informative, challenging,
inspiring, or just worth knowing about. I hope you'll enjoy
exploring them.
Resources for Christian Living
and Learning
The Bible Tool
This website from the CrossWire Bible Society, the Society for
Biblical Literature, and the United Bible Societies provides
classic religious works in public domain plus an amazingly
extensive list of Bible translations in many different languages.
In the "Passage Study" section, click "all
translations" and then key in a portion of the Bible you'd
like to see - in Chinese, Russian, Icelandic, Croation, Dutch,
German, Swahili, Spanish, and many more languages, even Esperanto,
along with numerous English versions.
Barbara
Brown Taylor interview
Episcopal priest Barbara Brown Taylor has been named one of the 12
most effective preachers in the English speaking world. In this
interview from Religion and Ethics Newsweekly (aired on PBS), she
talks about her spiritual journey and her views on ministry.
Where
the Bible Leads Me
In this article, originally from the Christian Century,
Barbara Brown Taylor reflects on ways to think about social issues
in terms of people and not as abstractions called
"issues" or "positions." (Source: MethodX
reprint from the Christian Century)
MethodX (the Way of Christ)
This unusual website is designed for modern young adults of
college age through their 30s. But no matter what age you are,
you'll find wonderful tips for your journey with God. Click on the
various tabs at the menu at the top. The website is part of Upper
Room Ministries, the same interdenominational global ministry
long known for the Upper Room devotional guide.
Jane
Fonda: "Christianity Is My Spiritual Home"
On this site, you can read about Jane Fonda's journey from atheism
to Jesus and her strong belief in Christian feminism. Or you can
also listen to Jane tell her story in her own voice as she
responds to interview questions from Lisa Schneider. (Source:
Belief Net)
Share your own story of faith and feminism by contributing an
essay at these sites:
The Resource Center
for Women in Ministry in the South (RCWMS)
is sponsoring an essay contest. Check the website for information
about the 2005 contest. RCWMS founder and executive director
Jeanette Stokes writes, "Essays should focus on or
exemplify feminist perspectives on spirituality and daily life.
We want women to write about their lives, grace, how they
experience God, or how they make it through the hard places. No
sermons, please. Prizes will be $500 for first place, $300 for
second place, and $200 for third place. The winning essay will
be published in the RCWMS newsletter, South of the Garden, in
March 2006. Winners will be notified by mail."
This
I Believe
National Public Radio (NPR) is inviting people from all walks of
life to submit essays telling of their beliefs and core values.
If your essay is used, you'll have a chance to read it on NPR
and receive monetary compensation as well. See the "This
I Believe" submission agreement.
Special Topic
Culture Wars
Is
America in a Culture War?
Although this article was written several years ago, it provides
useful background information and may be helpful in understanding
what is happening today. (Source: Religion Online. Reprinted from
the Christian Century, November 12, 1997)
Stations
of the Cross
"How evangelical Christians are creating an alternative
universe of faith-based news" by Mariah Blake (Source: Columbia
Journalism Review, May/June, 2005)
When
the Right Breaks the Barrier, How Should a Spiritual Left Respond?
(Source: Tikkun Magazine, which describes itself as
"A Jewish Magazine, an Interfaith Movement")
Joan
Chittister on the culture wars in churches
Benedictine sister Joan Chittister , a favorite writer and speaker
to those of us in EEWC, reflects on the controversy over women as
bishops in the Anglican Church and how it relates to other
controversies in churches over history. Among the
questions she raises are "How was it that cultural
understandings pretending to be moral absolutes, like segregation,
could be so soundly theologized?" and "How is it that
women, also made 'in God's image and likeness" -- according
to God, at least -- have their access to God controlled by
men?" (Source: Natonal Catholic Reporter, July 15,
2005)
"Religious
Schools Train Lawyers for Culture Wars"
(Source: National Public Radio)
Culture
Wars and Higher Education
(Source: Colloquy, Chronicle of Higher Education)
The Late
Unpleasantness in Idaho: Southern Slavery and the Culture Wars
by William L. Ramsey, Assistant Professor of History at the
University of Idaho.
If you're wondering what attitudes toward 19th century southern
slavery have to do with contemporary culture wars, be sure to read
this article. It reveals that some people still use the Bible to
justify slavery and insist that slavery was good for African
Americans. Read about a remarkable incident that happened in
Moscow, Idaho in 2004. Then read the next article for further
information. (Source: History News Network, December 20, 2004)
Taliban
on the Palouse?
"A religious empire based in Idaho is part of the far-right
theological movement fueling neo-Confederate groups." by
Mark Potok
(Source: Southern Poverty Law Center)
Christian Alliance
for Progress
This new organization describes itself as "the movement to
reclaim Christianity and transform American Politics." An
excellent website for progressive Christians who feel that their
faith has been hijacked.
A
thought-provoking essay on fundamentalism by C. Welton
Gaddy
Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy , director of the Interfaith Alliance,
presented this sermon at the Riverside Church of New York City,
October 17, 2004. He points out that "entire religious
traditions like Islam and Christianity are being redefined by the
strident voices and often violent actions of extremists who stand
far to the right of their historic centers. Today fundamentalism
is dividing mosques, temples, synagogues, and gurdwaras even as
churches; splintering relationships among families, friends,
communities and nations." (Source: The Interfaith Alliance)
Conservative
religious groups apply economic pressure on gay-friendly firms
(Source: Belief Net. From Religion News Service)
On the Front Lines of the Same-Sex Marriage Question
Although I don't ordinarily make it a practice to mention my own
work in this column, it seems appropriate this time because I've
landed in the midst of the culture wars myself since the
publication of a 2005 book I coauthored with David
G. Myers. The book, What
God Has Joined Together? A Christian Case for Gay Marriage,
has given us numerous opportunities for media interviews and
article writing. A few examples are listed below. Others may be
found on Dave Myers' website (click on his name above), or through
a Web search.
The
Gospel on Gay Marriage
An article by Letha Dawson Scanzoni written at the invitation of
the online magazine AlterNet. It includes a typology of
different categories of conservative Christians and what
progressives need to know in speaking about and to them.
Wisconsin
Public Radio (June 29, 2005 broadcast)
Interview with Letha can be heard by clicking on the June 29
program (second hour) in the archives for the Kathleen Dunn talk
show.
"Sins
of Sodom"
(An interview with David G. Myers and Letha Dawson Scanzoni, Boston
Globe, June 5, 2005)
Current Issues
News items of interest to women and men who care about gender
equality, compassion, and justice.
Saudi
Woman Takes the Wheel
What if a husband passes out while driving and it's against the
law for women to drive?
(Source: BBC News, June 12 2005)
Ban
on women drivers in Saudi Arabia Is Upheld
(Source: BBC News, June 13, 2005
Challenges
of globalization for women in India
(Source: BBC News, July 22, 2005)
Spain
Sees First Lesbian Marriage
(Source: BBC News, July 22, 2005)
Gender
Gap around the World
(Source: BBC News, May 16, 2005)
Church
Faces Women Bishops Split
(Source: BBC News, July 12, 2005)
More
on Opposition to Women Bishops
(Source: BBC News, July 12, 2005)
HIV
Rates Rise in Chinese Women
(Source: BBC News, July 11, 2005
Protest
against India Rape Fatwa
(Source: BBC News, July 1, 2005)
Expanding Our Horizons
Websites to aid in understanding people of various backgrounds
and faiths in different areas around the globe.
Stop
the Hate
A sermon by Rabbi Jack Moline. (Source: Interfaith Alliance)
The
Heart of Hinduism
This article points out that since the attacks on New York and
Washington, DC on September 11, 2001, "many American Hindus -
like Muslims, Sikhs and anyone who might resemble an Arab-American
- have faced harassment as suspected terrorists." Dr. Uma
Rangaraj describes her Hindu faith to a journalist. (Source:
InterFaith Alliance, reprinted article from the Monroe (LA) News-Star)
Sacred Texts
This site provides electronic access to sacred texts from many
religions, times, and places.
That's all for this time. Enjoy your exploring.
Your Web Explorations Guide,
Letha Dawson Scanzoni
© 2005 Evangelical and Ecumenical
Women's Caucus
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