Social Science Research Council

Over the summer, a Turkish television station announced its plan for a new game show in which leaders from four world religions vie to convert atheists. Roughly translated as Penitents Compete, the show awards successful converts an all-expense-paid pilgrimage to a holy site of their new faith. At Sightings, Joseph Laycock considers what it might mean for the conversation about religion in Turkey.

In the Wall Street Journal, Rob Moll discusses the growing number of business missionaries, working outside traditional missionary organizations, as a result of the economic recession.

Andrew Sullivan commends the LDS Church’s decision to support legislation in Salt Lake City banning housing and employment discrimination against homosexuals.

At The Nation, John Nichols criticizes the media’s immediate focus on, and negative portrayal of, Major Malik Nadal Hasan’s religion following the soldier’s assault last week at Fort Hood.

At Newsweek, Lisa Miller reviews Collision, a new film featuring a series of debates between Christopher Hitchens and Idaho pastor Douglas Wilson, and calls for a reframing of the discussion about religious faith.

Peter Steinfels comments on a new report released by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, which claims to be “the most comprehensive analysis to date of global religious trends”.

In the Christian Science Monitor, Mark LeVine considers the significance of the recent Taliban bombing at the International Islamic University in Islamabad, and what it means for Islam.

At Politics Daily, David Gibson wonders whether the Pope’s plan to allow Anglicans to join the Catholic Church without renouncing their traditions or beliefs is a “welcome mat” or a “hostile takeover”.

At Slate, Jack Shafer comments on the Newseum’s decision to “make a shrine” of Tim Russert’s office.

At the American Prospect, Michelle Goldberg questions the extent to which we should read into President Obama’s decision to not meet with the Dalai Lama during his visit to Washington this week.