Why the Dead Sea Scrolls Matter Beyond Religion

Last updated on: May 16, 2025 at 3:39 pm By Lisa Gable

What We Overlook in the Study of Sacred Texts Silence, Scrolls, and the Stories Still Untold Reframing Sacred Scripture as a Civic Resource The Bible is one of the most widely read and influential books in human history. Yet, unlike Shakespeare’s plays, the U.S. Constitution, or Homer’s Odyssey, people rarely discuss it as a key work of literature, politics, or culture—unless it’s part of a debate about religion. We need to move beyond the reflexive concern that teaching religious texts is... Read more

Islamic Ethics Call Leaders to Serve, Not Rule

Last updated on: May 16, 2025 at 8:08 am By Debbie Almontaser

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Stewards, Not Sovereigns: An Islamic Reflection on Power and Political Duty In the Islamic tradition, leadership is not defined by dominion but by accountability. Political power is not a privilege to be hoarded, but a trust—an amanah—that must be wielded with justice, humility, and unwavering service to the people. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock.” In those words is a radical reframing of... Read more

Can Tech And Media Get Faith Right In AI Revolution?

Last updated on: May 1, 2025 at 8:37 am By Debbie Almontaser

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Faith in the Digital Age: Ensuring Accuracy in Emerging Media In today’s world, we are witnessing a digital revolution that is touching every corner of our lives—how we learn, how we connect, how we express ourselves. Artificial intelligence, immersive gaming, and digital storytelling platforms are not just reshaping entertainment or business; they are reshaping how we experience culture, spirituality, and community. Faith, once confined to physical spaces like mosques, churches, temples, and synagogues, is now finding its way into the... Read more

Pluralism Shines Bright in the Heart of Times Square

Last updated on: April 28, 2025 at 4:19 pm By Rollie Olson

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Pluralism In Lights Ubiquitous in American imagery—this place, in its many moods, seasons, eras—stands as symbolic as any location on earth. Where dreams are chased, capitalism teeters on excess, the bustling overwhelm of modern life either wears you out or leaves you starstruck. It’s the crossroads of the world — okay, perhaps a bit ethnocentric—it’s America’s town square. It sounds like a riddle: the most quintessential backdrop in New York, where few New Yorkers care to go. You’re traveling from... Read more

Can AI Understand Religion? Students Put It to the Test

Last updated on: April 24, 2025 at 11:24 am By Ken Chitwood

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Artificial Intelligence and the Religious Studies Classroom Ask E.B. Tylor what religion is and he would say it is, “belief in Spiritual Beings.” Ask William James and he will tell you it is the “feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in their solitude.” Ask Catherine L. Albanese, and she would say it is “a system of symbols (creed, code, cultus) by means of which people (a community) orient themselves in the world with reference to both ordinary and... Read more

AI and Faith: Designing Digital Spaces That Heal, Not Harm

Last updated on: April 23, 2025 at 12:34 pm By Lisa Gable

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One of AI’s promises is to help us step back from the emotional weight we bring into conversations about faith—by educating us and helping us clarify what we mean to say when things get difficult. Faith, by its nature, involves belief in something that cannot be proven or measured—it asks us to trust in the unseen. Faith Shapes How We See the World Conversations about faith aren’t easy. Faith runs deep. It shapes how we see the world—our values, decisions,... Read more

Faith After DEI: Will Religious Inclusion Survive?

Last updated on: March 19, 2025 at 5:30 pm By Debbie Almontaser

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Faith and Inclusion After DEI: Media’s Role in Religious Representation In recent years, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have served as a beacon of hope for marginalized communities, providing platforms for underrepresented voices to be heard and fostering environments of equity and belonging. Among those who benefited from these efforts were religious communities, particularly those facing discrimination and misrepresentation in media and public life. However, with the growing pushback against DEI programs and the dismantling of such initiatives by... Read more

Why DEI Matters: Amplifying Muslim Voices in Hollywood

Last updated on: March 20, 2025 at 11:24 pm By Sue Obeidi

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Diversity Equity & Inclusion: The New Taboo & Curse Words As the Senior Vice President of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) Hollywood Bureau, my work is deeply rooted in my faith. Islam teaches me the importance of fairness, equity, and inclusivity. God tells us in the Quran (Islam’s scripture), that He could have created us all the same but instead, the Almighty says, “O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female and made you peoples... Read more

The Risk of Making Religious Freedom a DEI Issue

Last updated on: March 10, 2025 at 4:49 pm By Lisa Gable

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The Risk of Making Religious Freedom a DEI Issue As an executive at a large company, I struggled to feel at home. I couldn’t quite understand why until I took a personality test. I’ll never forget when the HR manager looked at my results, paused, and asked, “Did you grow up in a Southern religious home?” I was surprised—there hadn’t been any questions about religion, or so I thought. I said yes, and she walked me through my answers—inclusiveness, empathy,... Read more

Losing DEI May Cost More Than You Think—Including Faith

Last updated on: March 31, 2025 at 5:50 pm By Brian Grim Ph.D.

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Why is the Administration Cancelling Religion? The Trump administration is eliminating Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) programs from government agencies. DEI critics have a point. They contend that DEI initiatives sometimes emphasize superficial diversity over merit, resulting in hiring and promotions that prioritize identity over qualifications. At the same time, President Donald Trump set up a White House Faith Office. The office is charged with protecting communities of faith. This includes identifying “any failures of the executive branch to enforce... Read more