Source: Religion News Service

http://www.religionnews.com/press02/PR082506A.html

The Religion News Service published a press release, "Religion scholars Sheila Davaney of The Iliff School of Theology and Gary Laderman of Emory University are using a Ford Foundation grant to lay the groundwork for a religion opinion-editorial page on progressive values, religion and public affairs, titled 'The Religion Report: Research and Opinions on Religion in Today's World,' through a new web-based venue and subsequent outreach, they hope to change the landscape of religious discourse across the country. '"Progressive" in this case means not a singular ideological perspective, but widely inclusive views; we're committed to a diversity of ideas that are oriented toward just social and political outcomes for everyone,' says Davaney, Harvey H. Potthoff Professor of Christian Theology at Iliff and project director. 'Our goal is to widen and deepen the conversation about religion and public life in America and the world.' '9/11 was a watershed point for people to bring religion into the public arena,' says Gary Laderman, professor of religion and director of Emory's Graduate Division of Religion. 'Religion has always played a role in public life; we're trying to develop new ways to fairly and respectfully discuss religious and public policy issues that include all kinds of perspectives in the discussion.' Davaney and Laderman say the idea for an opinion-editorial page grew out of their frustration at the lack of depth, nuance or diversity in discussions involving religion on a range of pressing public concerns. Often, they say, views of various religious groups are lumped together, distorted or not heard at all... As scholars, Davaney and Laderman have witnessed the tremendous growth of academic interest in religion and research on religious issues across the country. Yet often that research doesn't appear in the public sphere for a variety of reasons, from academic wariness of popularizing research, to lack of funding or a reliance on a narrow range of, often non-expert, interpreters of religion. They believe that a progressive opinion-editorial page can serve as an antidote."