All Politics Is Religious: Speaking Faith to the Media, Policy Makers and Community (Walking Together, Finding the Way) - Softcover

Ross, Rabbi Dennis S.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1594733740 ISBN 13: 9781594733741

Publisher: SkyLight Paths, 2012

Synopsis

Faith grows when we speak of it in the public square and live out its vision for a better world. Here s how.

Religious forces are turning to schools, health care, media, the economy and more with the agenda of establishing one faith perspective and its restrictions as the rule for everybody. But the times call for a reinvigorated expression of a variety of religious outlooks, and that means more than talk of good faith, strong feelings and the facts. It relies on a working understanding of why we speak, who we speak to, what to say, how to say it and where.

All Politics Is Religious provides ideas and strategies for a clear, forceful, positive, effective and renewed religious expression that is all too often overlooked and under-represented. It identifies the religious themes in our great debates immigration, the needs of children and families, church-state separation and reproductive rights, including abortion and presents new language and methods for communication. In a voice that is warm, conversational and, at times, playful, it avoids attacking or ridiculing those who disagree. It steers away from the all-too-familiar political jargon left, right, liberal, conservative, socialist and instead relies on historical examples, current events and personal stories to illustrate the best ways to communicate the positive role faith can play in personal and public life.

About this title

About the Author

Dennis S. Ross, author and congregational rabbi, is director of the multifaith network Concerned Clergy for Choice. He also consults to Planned Parenthood on clergy organizing, religion in the media, and religious lobbying. He is a frequent speaker on the topic of religion and the media at houses of worship, college campuses, professional conferences, health centers and other venues. He is the author of God in Our Relationships: Spirituality between People from the Teachings of Martin Buber.

From the Back Cover

A practical and empowering resource. It provides ideas and strategies for expressing a clear, forceful and progressive religious point of view that is all too often overlooked and under-represented in public discourse. It identifies the religious themes in today's great debates--gay rights, the needs of children and families, church-state separation and reproductive rights, including access to sex education, contraception and abortion care--and presents new language and methods for effective communication with the media, policy makers and community. It steers away from the polemics and jargon of politics--left, right, liberal, conservative, socialist--and instead relies on factual historical examples, current events and personal stories to illustrate the best ways to communicate the positive role faith can play in personal and public life by reinforcing the separation of church and state.

From the Inside Flap

On issues like gay rights and abortion, prayer in the public schools, immigration and religious displays in the courtrooms, why does one religious viewpoint seem to get all the attention? This powerful and informative guide responds to that nagging question and provides the tools for bringing forward a variety of religious and spiritual voices in the public sphere.

Edition details

• Publisher: SkyLight Paths
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1594733740
• ISBN 13: 9781594733741
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192