In his December 19 blog post, "You too can be a spiritual dilettante," Get Religion contributor Douglas LeBlanc shared his bemusement with self-admitted atheist Sally Quinn's helpful suggestions to Newsweek/Washington Post's "On Faith" readers about interfaith dialogue. LeBlanc noted that Quinn gave her readers this assignment:
Try a new faith (or non-faith) for one day. That exploration can include attending a different place of worship or an event hosted by another faith tradition, discussing faith with someone whose views differ from your own, or inviting someone of a different faith to experience yours.
Then come back to the site and tell us about your experience. What did you learn? What surprised you? What bothered you? What would you like to know more about? How did you experience with another faith impact your understanding of or appreciation for that faith or for your own? Take a picture and share that too.
That's when LeBlanc turned on the snark, lambasting Quinn as out of touch with religious Americans who most certainly are politely engaged in theological conversations with friends, family and neighbors on a regular basis (emphasis mine):
Asking questions about another person’s spiritual experience for one whole day? Such boldness!
On Faith’s venture is, in some ways, a creative effort at reader participation, and some valuable insights may somehow emerge from the experiment. What’s so off-putting about the venture, however, is the editors’ assumption that readers are not already engaged in civil and frequent conversations with people of other faiths (or non-faiths, to use On Faith’s pedantic formula).
That may be true of editors who inveigh against people to their political and theological right, but for many others of us in daily American life, such interaction is not only inevitable but something in which we rejoice.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
It shows how out of touch Sally Quinn really is
December 19, 2008 - 17:11 ET by c5thenShe assumes that "faith" is something that is put on like a coat or a scarf or maybe her own beliefs. Her qualifications as a religious journalist, or more specifically as a journalist who covers religious issues, are non-existant. Maybe she should try sports or medicine instead.
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
Alan Keyes / Sarah Palin - 2012
Agreed
December 19, 2008 - 17:38 ET by BKeyserFaith- by definition, requires a belief in something. Anyone with a moral compass could not simply realign their belief system to something previously seen as "unbelievable" ,"impossible", or even "unlikely" overnight, or for "a day"- regardless of what you choose to believe in. My guess is this woman has never taken her own advice, but is merely trying to get people to try on "non-belief" for size.
A poor attempt at persuasion.
Yeah, when it comes to
December 19, 2008 - 17:36 ET by Chris NormanYeah, when it comes to questions of spirituality and religion, my mind immediately turns to the fine and thoughtful mind of Sally Quinn, who best knows the deep answers to organizing seating charts for Georgetown dinner parties...
If another person's faith
December 19, 2008 - 17:34 ET by MidAmericaIf another person's faith is different than your own there is no way to experience it... ever. What you can do is observe and perhaps participate in their rituals. Suppose you are a nurse and you go and hang around a car repair shop all day. At the end of the day can you say you know what its like to be an auto mechanic?
Sally Quinn calling anyone
December 19, 2008 - 17:51 ET by fitzfongSally Quinn calling anyone a dilettante is a bit rich.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
fitzfong.blogspot.com
I don't think she did call
December 19, 2008 - 17:58 ET by Ken ShepherdI don't think she did call anyone that. That's what GetReligion's blogger described her as.
I wonder if Ms. Quinn plans
December 19, 2008 - 18:16 ET by HockeyKidI wonder if Ms. Quinn plans to attend a "house of worship" and have an honest and open discussion, or if she's just going to keep throwing rocks at supposedly uneducated religious people.
Speaking as a Christian, I for one have traveled to India and visited ashrams, had extensive theological discussions with a good Jewish friend, and traded notes with Muslim colleagues. I've studied the teachings of Jesus, Mohammed, the Buddha, and many others. Having "taste tested" the rest, I'll stick with The Real Thing.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
That was nothing new, Sally.
December 19, 2008 - 18:23 ET by Mike BrattonBut awfully mild.
Not that I even presumed I could forsake being a Christian, but back (yipes!) in the late 1970s, I spent a year of my life independently examining major religions--just to make sure I wasn't a Christian simply because of cultural influence.
Months per, Sally. Not merely a day.
At the end of the year, I came away with a number of realizations. Here's one that pertains to Sally's remarks:
Sally, there are no other "faiths."
There are religions, and then there is Christianity. It is unique in that it, alone, requires the investment of faith. Every other belief system on the planet, all the human-constructed religions, require effort to achieve a pleasant here-and-now and/or a beneficial afterlife; sometimes, the prospect of a beneficial afterlife isn't even guaranteed regardless of effort. But only in Christianity does one find faith.
You may speak of religions, or speak of the Christian faith, but it is deceptive to try and lump Christianity in with "other faiths." The phrase "other faiths" is an oxymoron, like "jumbo shrimp" or "moral atheist."
--Mike
www.thebrattonreport...
Well said, Mike. In every
December 19, 2008 - 18:37 ET by HockeyKidWell said, Mike. In every other religion, man relies on his own ability to "reach up" to whatever the goal may be. It is only within Christianity that man must have faith in God's promise to reach down and pull him up, not because of but rather despite his "merits".
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Thank you, HK.
December 19, 2008 - 18:48 ET by Mike BrattonI see we've both approached the issue from a clinical perspective.
--Mike
www.thebrattonreport...
With postmodern people like
December 19, 2008 - 21:24 ET by needleWith postmodern people like Sally Quinn there are no absolute values, principles, or truth, i.e., that which is required to have faith. All is relative. Interestingly, Sally and the her cohorts at Leftistweek seem to think a) that their relativism is of some value even though it anchored in shifting sand, and b) that others who actually have absolute values and principles are interested in Sally’s relativism. This is a little like someone who is autistic musing about mentoring physicists.
Even if I were a self-respecting Leftist, I would think twice about paying out useful cash for Leftistweek’s un-useful blather.
As for "Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone.” I do not think beautiful people’s liberalism is much more profound than skin-deep; but it is all relative, so who cares?
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Silly Sally soliciting
December 19, 2008 - 19:23 ET by bigtimerSilly Sally soliciting again...she just can't help herself.
Just stick to your parties..you have sold yourself enough...The Chosen One and Aunt Esther won't diss' you.
You're once again important...don't worry hon'.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
What Sally doesn't seem to
December 19, 2008 - 19:31 ET by andophiroxiaWhat Sally doesn't seem to understand is when someone has a faith, it resonates with their own internal values. Of course values can change over time due to a person's own experiences and input and we have seen liberals change to conservatives, and it does happen vice versa although not as much. It does happen. However, it's not like the newest Hannah Montana CD. It's done with a lot of self-introspection and thought. Very rarely do people swing back once they've made a genuine change.
With people that are truly principled, they do not change their values to "experience new things", sure you can study them, but don't give them this crap of trying a new flavor of religion of the day to be more "cultured". I have studied religions, but I have never just "tried one on" to be "different" or to be "diverse". Actually, it's made me appreciate my religion even more---just like traveling. It makes you appreciate your home all the more.
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ~ Winston Churchill
This old skank is the last
December 19, 2008 - 20:28 ET by ConservativeRexThis old skank is the last person you would go to for spiritual information.
Her religion is the government!
spare us sally
December 19, 2008 - 21:46 ET by candanceHaving spent all of my teens exploring different ideals, from Deism to Buddhism to Wicca to a love of Celtic and Native American mythology, I'm insulted by the notion that I now need to spend a day trying to gain some shallow 101 lesson.
Believe it or not, some of us weighed our options very carefully before committing to a religion. I wonder if Sally Quinn has ever done that?
I'm a typical white person.
Yeah, like we need religious advice from a fmr. newsroom floozy
December 19, 2008 - 22:02 ET by R D Helm-Dave
This nation is about to be brutally raped by the socialists, and the MSM will be a willing participant.
Dear Sally Quinn As a
December 20, 2008 - 05:20 ET by Jack BauerDear Matt
December 20, 2008 - 09:56 ET by Mike BrattonWas in my in-box by mistake, so I forwarded it to you.
--Mike
www.thebrattonreport...
Dear Sally,
December 20, 2008 - 11:38 ET by northoneDear Sally,
At this joyous time of year, not even a self-important, condescending, out-of-touch liberal like you can get me down.
I would just like to wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS, and I hope the joy of the season and the celebration of our Saviour's birth give you as much peace, happiness, and joy as it does to most Americans.
God Bless you, Sally, and have a wonderful holiday to help celebrate the spirit of Jesus.
Love,
Northone
Sally Quinn is a frivolous airhead.
December 20, 2008 - 17:23 ET by ThalpySally Quinn is a frivolous airhead. G-d knows what she believes in.
Wouldn't that be ironic if
December 21, 2008 - 12:09 ET by andophiroxiaWouldn't that be ironic if her readers did experiment with Christianity and then they converted en masse? Or if they did try what she said, got disgusted with her, and never read her column again.
Liberals are the masters of failing to see the laws of unintended consquences.
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ~ Winston Churchill
Have we had enough of this
December 21, 2008 - 09:40 ET by PeskyDaneHave we had enough of this already? I'm sick and tired of being condescended to by these women (Quinn, Huff, Steinem) who have reached their station in life by either being a member of the lucky sperm club, or simply getting on their backs for the right guy.
Ken, I know I've vulgered up your thread here, but sometimes the elephant in the room can be pretty vulgar. Hope you can see your way clear to giving me a pass on this one.
Well, the Obamabots call
December 21, 2008 - 12:17 ET by andophiroxiaWell, the Obamabots call everyone critical of Obama guilty of ODS...However, the gripes we have about Obama are valid, so HOW could it be some sort of Derangement Syndrome? It's like they are so desperate to keep the image of Obama untarnished to keep them from feeling bad about their choice.
So so, you're not vulgaring up this thread. Some of this is actually true, sad to say. I remember Dr. Laura mentioning that why on earth would a woman in her right mind support Hilary when she's essentially had no dignity for herself? (Bill's open, sordid, and repeat affairs.) Her either taking it and putting up with it, or staying married to a man to which she doesn't care about isn't awesome either--or another reason why she is staying...political gain and power.
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ~ Winston Churchill
Sally Has Nothing
December 21, 2008 - 17:32 ET by BW222Sally Quinn never had any talent, but was pretty good looking in her younger days. Ben Bradlee thought she was a good lay, so her career moved ahead.
Now she's just a joke.
BW222