The Pew Forum on Religion held a recent discussion entitled "Religion and Progressive Politics in 2008" that featured Rev. Jennifer Butler, Director of Faith in Public Life; Chris Korzen, Director of Catholics United for the Common Good; and Dr. Laura Olson, Professor of Political Science at Clemson University. It's an exceptional discussion of the current landscape.


Here's a taste of the discussion from Jennifer Butler:

Some of these [progressive religious] organizations...had been more content, I think, to be a quieter voice in their society. And I sort of laughed when I saw [Robert Wuthnow's book entitled] The Quiet Hand of God. I think it’s a very good book, and it does describe what was happening. I think what we may see coming out in the next year or two is the louder hand of God – (laughter) – because there is a rejection of this idea that [progressive] religion should remain more in the private sphere. People want to have a louder voice in their communities; and it’s a voice that respects pluralism. It may come from a particular place; it may come from a particular religion. But it’s always very respectful of other faiths, and it’s also respectful of the separation of church and state.

You can also read more about the growing progressive religious movement--which drew on interviews with leaders such as these--in my forthcoming book, Progressive & Religious: How Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist Leaders are Moving Beyond the Culture Wars and Transforming American Public Life. The book is available for pre-order from Amazon.com and will be in bookstores nationwide in August 2008.

Labels: progressive politics, progressive religion, progressive religious movement