crosscut.com : Religion / Faith

Evolution of a think tank

Crosscut — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:00:01 PDT

A journalist comes of age with Bruce Chapman, watching him launch Seattle's Discovery Institute and the intelligent design movement.

Popping the question

Crosscut — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:36:01 PDT

It's the one question in my brief, unremarkable career as a pseudo-journalist that I've ached to ask, and the tempest over question screening at this afternoon's University of Washington convocation honoring His Holiness the Dalai Lama provides just the opening.

Getting the spiritual scoop

Crosscut — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:00:01 PDT

Coverage of the Dalai Lama's visit suggests a way Seattle newspapers can get out of their funk: try boosting our spirit.

Kudos to journalists and Cantwell, caution to Lama lovers and trolley lines

Crosscut — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Crosscut readers no doubt by now are ready to cry "uncle" regarding our absorption with The Seattle Times' financial problems and the perilous state of our city's daily newspapers.

Bring on Lama-Palooza

Crosscut — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:00:01 PDT

But please don't ask about independence for Tibet.

Here's a real dream ticket: Barack Obama and ...

Crosscut — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:00:01 PDT

Some say it's unfair that the U.S. Constitution stands in the way of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger running for president. Only the accident of his Austrian birth blocks his path.

Schwarzenegger's not the only one whose public service is stifled by the law of the land. A dream ticket awaits us, if we can just clear that Constitutional obstruction.

Is there any blarney in Hillary Clinton claims that she brought peace to Ireland?

Crosscut — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:00:01 PST

Tonight's debate was the second time I was struck by Sen. Hillary Clinton's claim about her role in the peace process in Ireland. As a Claddagh wearing son of Irish citizens, I took note. Her claim reminded me of a lunch I once had with a literary hero of mine, the Irish poet Seamus Heaney, who praised Bill Clinton for helping to bring peace to Northern Ireland. Alluding to the kneecappers and killers of the tribal wars, he said: "We take our politics seriously." I agree. Bill Clinton moved that process forward, to his lasting credit.

Political talk today in 46-1974: It's all about the O

Crosscut — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:00:01 PST

I got a sense of just how crowded today's Democratic Caucus would be when I stood outside Laurelhurst School and got that unmistakeable whiff of humidity from too many people in a room too small. Two generations ago, this neighborhood sat around and listened to a young Dan Evans make his pitch for the state House. Years later, this neighborhood was re-assigned from the 43rd District to the 46th District and, along with all of Seattle, its politics moved overwhelmingly into the Democratic camp.

Obama, Missouri, and God

Crosscut — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:16:01 PST

I wanted to find out what liberals of religious conviction think about Barack Obama's expression of faith, so I had to go outside Seattle. Not a single person I know here attends anything remotely like a house of worship, unless you count yoga studios, and since you have to pay to attend those, they shouldn't count. I contacted my friend Bridgett Wissinger, who is very active in her Catholic parish in urban St. Louis, Mo.

Paris, the joy of an organist's desire

Crosscut — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:00:01 PST

French cathedrals may be empty of all but the organist these days, but the glories of French organ music still ring out. A remarkable organist came to Seattle's St. James to prove the point.

Is trend-setting Seattle starting a new fad: year 'round Christmas lights?

Crosscut — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:00:01 PST

According to The Etiquette Answer, Christmas lights are supposed to be taken down "no later than Jan. 7, after the celebration of Three Kings Day." To do otherwise, was tacky. In Seattle, lights used to come down on or around New Year's Day. And in that, we were just as conventional as any other burb in America. But something happened. Now you notice more and more houses with lights left up longer.

The feminist fight over circumcision

Crosscut — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:13:01 PST

Last week I wrote an item about the recent court decision in Oregon on whether or not a 12 year old Olympia boy should be circumcised. The court ruled the lad should have a say in the matter. My concern was whether the dispute itself--public litigation between his divorced parents--could itself be psychologically damaging to the boy. My brief post quickly went to the top of the Crosscut charts. One reason: men arguing the pros and cons of the procedure. Emotions ran high: some men liken the experience to being raped. Now the debate has spilled over into feminist circles. That right, a girl fight over penises.

Oregon's circumcision decision: Calling Dr. Freud

Crosscut — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 10:05:01 PST

An Associated Press story on an Oregon court case should be put in the "What were they thinking?" file. An Oregon mother has taken her ex-husband to court over her ex's desire to have their 12-year-old son circumcised. This is part of an 8-year-long custody battle.

Just say 'none'

Crosscut — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:00:01 PST

Looking for values among America's least-churched — the people of the Northwest.

Rick redux â�� and now redemption

Crosscut — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:00:01 PST

I've always thought that the loathing for Rick Neuheisel was out of proportion to his misdeeds. Yes, the former Husky football coach broke rules and definitely lied about his interest in a job elsewhere. He earned the nickname Slick Rick even before he came to Washington.

2007 in review: The Seattle density debate

Crosscut — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 01:00:01 PST

Trying to find a saner, more just "ethic of place." Good luck with that, Seattle. Two important new books explain why.

A whiter-than-expected Christmas

Crosscut — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 09:15:01 PST

Christmas Day my partner and I decided to pass on various family Christmas doings and attend the Church of Nature. We left in the morning and drove north on a nearly empty I-5 up to the Sedro-Woolley turnoff to Highway 20 and headed into bald eagle country. This time of year, eagles flock to the Upper Skagit River and you can stop along the road from Concrete to Rockport on up to Marblemount and spot the splendid birds perched in the trees along the river like so many over-sized Christmas ornaments, or watch them feed on salmon carcasses along the river banks.

The dos and don'ts of Christmas cards

Crosscut — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 05:00:01 PST

Caution: trying to do something nice can be fraught with hazards, but don't give up on sending good cheer.

Turbo-power or higher power? You decide

Crosscut — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:15:01 PST

Seems that some mysterious force has decided to override Oregon’s wacky kicker tax that returns money to residents in flush years instead of saving it for statewide needs.

How the Christmas cookie crumbles

Crosscut — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:00:01 PST

An e-mail fracas at North Seattle Community College hits on why "the most wonderful season of all" causes us so much angst.