The Conversation - Ancient wisdom for today’s problems

Dear Reader,

Religion is a through line in so many of today’s headlines: hate crimes, abortion debates, trans issues, India’s recent elections, the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and U.S. Supreme Court rulings.

But beyond the headlines, religion is an important part of daily lives and has a deep impact on politics, cultures and values − and just our way of being. But as newsrooms lay off journalists, and religion is no longer considered its own “beat,” it is quite likely that you are reading “religion” news sandwiched in sections between “business” and “international,” or “sports” and “culture.”

This means some crucial issues go unreported − or worse still, misreported. Lamenting the mainstream media’s disconnect with its readers, New York Times executive editor Dean Baquet noted the role of religion when he said in 2016, “We don't get the role of religion in people's lives. And I think we can do much, much better.”  That was the year many media outlets missed the pivotal role of white evangelical voters in deciding the presidential election.

The Conversation is one of those few places that has not one but two religion editors.

Each day, we help the public understand politically fraught topics, while also enhancing the religious literacy of our readers. We show how religious rhetoric can be used to divide but also to heal and unite. We also cover the absence of religion − those who call themselves atheists or “nones” − and unpack those beliefs. 

More than 1,000 scholars have produced more than 1,600 articles over seven years to inform the public, covering topics from atheism to Zoroastrianism.

This work is critical to moving to a less polarized and more tolerant world. Will you support it?

Our donors make our work possible − and empower us to fight misinformation and prejudice. If you donate today, we’ll give you an e-book of articles on ancient sacred texts, pulling together fascinating insights from lesser-known books, to show you our gratitude. And if you choose to join our major donor club with gifts of more than $1,000, we’ll thank you with the next book in our Critical Conversations series. It’s about work − its changing nature and its future.

With gratitude,

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