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Steven Waldman

Beliefnet Columnist

Steven Waldman is co-founder, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief of Beliefnet.com, the largest faith and spirituality website. Previously, Waldman was National Editor of US News and World Report and National Correspondent for Newsweek. His writings have also appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Slate, the Washington Monthly, the National Review and elsewhere. He appears frequently on TV and radio to discuss religion and politics. His book on the Founding Fathers and religion will be published by Random House in early 2008. Waldman lives in New York with his wife, writer Amy Cunningham, and their children Joseph and Gordon.

Articles about Waldman include:

New York Times: "Keeping Faith In a Venture Built on Faith"

Time: "The Time 100: Spiritual Innovators"

USA Today: "Beliefnet gives spiritual melting pot new shape"

Columns and articles by Steven Waldman

Jerry Falwell: Bringing God into the Public Square May 15, 2007
Falwell changed the role of religion in U.S. history because he concluded that his own theological ancestors were wrong.

Most Americans Say It�s a 'Christian Nation' Dec 15, 2006
Alas, the Founding Fathers wouldn�t agree.

Evangelicals Sour on Politics Nov 9, 2006
A new Beliefnet survey reveals why many born-again Christians have cooled on Republicans and political fray.

The Smaller God Gap Nov 8, 2006
Democrats make progress with religious voters but now have to reassess their approach to abortion.

Welcome to the New Beliefnet Oct 11, 2006
Explore the website's new look and many new features.

Baby Boomers, Shopping for Faith Oct 2, 2006
The spirituality boom is fueled by aging Boomers seeking meaning in a world where traditional institutions have declined.

Separation of Church and State Sep 1, 2006
Katherine Harris' controversial statement called it 'a lie.' What does history tell us?

Our Mormon in Washington Jul 31, 2006
Orrin Hatch talks about allies who turned on him, stem cells, and his love for Ted Kennedy

Religious Left is Fruitful and Multiplies Apr 14, 2006

Jefferson, Madison & Their Evangelical Pals Mar 1, 2006
Religious freedom resulted from an unlikely alliance: evangelicals and skeptics

The Pearly Gates Are Wide Open Aug 19, 2005
A new Newsweek/Beliefnet poll shows a stunning level of acceptance of other people's faiths.

Careful What You Wish For Aug 9, 2005
Why schools should teach evolution, intelligent design, and creationism. And why some religious conservatives may regret it.

A Faithful Journalist Aug 8, 2005
Peter Jennings pushed hard for better press coverage of religion-and stood by Beliefnet when few others would.

Interview With Peter Jennings Aug 8, 2005
The anchor discusses Jesus, religion-and his own faith.

Faith Boomerang Jul 28, 2005
Some who now say Roberts faith shouldn't matter were saying the opposite a year ago

Righteous Anger Mar 1, 2005
In "God's Politics" Jim Wallis battles between two different visions of faith.

An Inspiring Moment for a Press Freedom Fighter Dec 6, 2004
Why we should treasure journalists who risk jail to safeguard First Amendment rights

How to Get a Democrat in Office Dec 3, 2004
News flash: Don't alienate the religious or they won't vote for you.

Perverted, God-Hating Frenchies vs. Inbred, Sex-Obsessed Yokels Nov 12, 2004
Why can't liberals and conservatives get along? Because they fundamentally misunderstand each other.

The Mixed Message of 'Moral Values' Nov 4, 2004
Christian groups are exulting that 21% of voters cited 'moral values' as key. But 79% of the American public did not.

Democratic Faith Delusions Nov 4, 2004
If all they do is dress up a liberal agenda in Biblical clothing, they won't succeed.

Misunderstanding the Christian Vote Nov 4, 2004
Bush did not have a clear moral policy agenda. So how did he connect with Christians so well?

John Kerry's Abortion Ban Oct 29, 2004
The campaign confirms that Kerry supports a measure that could ban thousands of abortions

If Bush Isn't Curious, It's Not God's Fault Oct 27, 2004
The idea that faith makes Bush close-minded is anti-religion. But it also lets Bush off the hook

10 Ways to Improve Your Religious Punditry Oct 27, 2004
A clip n' save election eve cheat sheet.

The Case for Imposing Religious Views on Others Oct 25, 2004
Politicians can embrace the idea that there's nothing wrong with legislating morality.

A Big Catholic Shift to Kerry? Oct 21, 2004
Two new polls show a sudden movement of undecided Catholics toward Kerry. A backlash against the Bishops?

Please, Don't Throw Me Into the Friar Patch Oct 19, 2004
Is it possible that the attacks by conservative Bishops are helping Kerry?

What Do They Really Believe on Abortion? Oct 15, 2004
Bush and Kerry aren't telling their full positions on this crucial moral issue

Kerry Losing Ground Among White Catholics Oct 7, 2004
Could the first Catholic presidential nominee since 1960 lose the election because of the Catholic vote?

Heaven Sent? Sep 14, 2004
The President's supporters have repeatedly implied that God was partly responsible for Bush's election

The Real Reasons Evangelicals Love Bush Sep 2, 2004
Persecution. Transformation. Calling. Clarity.

The Religification of John Kerry Aug 3, 2004
How the candidate found his soul.

Steven Waldman: 2004 Convention Blog Jul 23, 2004
Beliefnet Editor-in-Chief Steven Waldman writes daily dispatches from the 2004 political conventions.

Presidential Pilgrim's Progress? Jul 1, 2004
Why Kerry is shying away from religion--but shouldn't be.

The Rapture of Harry Jun 3, 2004
Despite the mutual mistrust of their core audiences, Left Behind and Harry Potter have much in common.

By Their Fruits Apr 12, 2004
How to be a Catholic president in the 21st century.

Making Sense of 'The Passion' Mar 19, 2004
A new tool to help you think about the movie and the Passion story.

The 'Passion' Gap Mar 1, 2004
How Christians and Jews misunderstand each other.

Pilate, Pilate, He's Our Man Feb 27, 2004
What we can learn from Mel Gibson's non-Biblical additions

The Path of Righteousness Jan 22, 2004
African-American voters are surprisingly conservative-and very religious

When Piety Takes Center Stage Jan 12, 2004
For talking about their faiths, the candidates should be praised not pilloried.

Why We Chose Archbishop O'Malley Jan 3, 2004
With humility and leadership, Boston's new archbishop has furthered the healing process for victims--and the Church.

A Common Missed Conception Dec 11, 2003
Why religious people are against gay marriage.

Christian 'Seeker' for President Nov 25, 2003
Presidential candidate Wesley Clark reveals a lifelong spiritual search in his interview with Beliefnet.

A Double-Win for Bush Oct 22, 2003
Yesterday's events helped instill passion for Bush in evangelical voters and have energized the pro-life movment.

Seven Myths About Faith & Politics Oct 21, 2003
The truth about the politics of evangelicals, Catholics and seculars

The Next Pope Oct 15, 2003
Will the next pope be black, Hispanic, American, a Jew?

Passion Misplay Sep 22, 2003
Who killed Jesus? Time for both Jews and Christians to fess up.

Not Such a Bright Idea Sep 5, 2003
Some nonbelievers are calling themselves 'Brights.' But is what they imply about religious people valid?

White House Word Play Jul 31, 2003
Does Bush's ambiguous phrasing reflect a growing acceptance of gay unions?

The New Politics of Gay Rights Jun 26, 2003
Want a clue of how the court ruling will play out politically? Look at parital birth abortion.

The Religion President Jun 13, 2003
How George W. Bush's faith shapes his politics and policies.

A Morality Scorecard May 13, 2003
So far, Bush is the one who has flouted ethics, but Gore may catch up.

Why Is Bush Afraid of Franklin Graham? Apr 1, 2003
If Bush wants to convince the world this isn't a war against Islam, he needs to tell the Christian leader to stay out of Iraq

Don't 'Pray American' Mar 26, 2003
When we pervasively dehumanize the enemy, we lose our moral rationale

Who Believes in the Devil? Feb 26, 2003
Contrary to media wisdom, a belief in the devil is widespread--even among the nation's best-educated.

Vouchers for Addicts Jan 24, 2003
Bush finally figures out the politics and substance of the faith based initiative.

Dec 2, 2002

Family Feud Nov 14, 2002
An escalating war of words threatens the Bush administration's ties to conservative Christians

Public Opinion vs. Islam Oct 25, 2002
A surprising new ABCNews/Beliefnet poll shows that after starting out tolerant, public opinion has turned against Islam.

'But Doctor, My Brother Is God' Oct 22, 2002
What's it like having a Messiah in the family? James, the brother of Jesus, discusses sibling rivalry with his therapist.

In Defense of Pat Robertson Sep 23, 2002
Pat Robertson and others are right about Islam being a violent religion. Look at the evidence for yourself.

The Gift of 9/11 Sep 3, 2002
The incongruous blessings of a horrible event.

Sloth: Look Where Hard Work Got Us Aug 9, 2002
Working harder only gives us more sloth-inducing gadgets.

A New Beginning Apr 12, 2002
Beliefnet's latest transition

Billy Graham: Talk Honestly About Your Past Views Mar 5, 2002
America's most beloved religious figure now has a choice

Common Enemies Find Common Ground Jan 15, 2002
Our working group on faith-based service was a failure--except on the issues that matter.

Why We Chose Flight 93 Dec 21, 2001
Rudy, Father Mike, Mattie--they all inspired
us. But Flight 93's passengers and crew changed us.

The Most Spiritually Important Entertainer of Our Time Nov 30, 2001
George Harrison transformed the spiritual landscape by making eastern spirituality cool

The Pilgrims vs. the Taliban Nov 16, 2001
What we can learn from our Founding Fundamentalists.

A Great Moment for Muslims Oct 11, 2001
Will we look back on Sept. 11 as the day Islam entered the American mainstream?

Are We Overprotecting Our Kids? Oct 3, 2001
I want my children to be shaped by this crisis--but in positive ways.

The New Question About Life Aug 9, 2001
The stem cell debate has forced us to ask a different question: when is life sufficiently precious to preserve?

Ballots From the Billets Jul 31, 2001
Members of our armed forces swear to defend the Constitution. Shouldn't they vote like it?

What Would Jesus Do With His Tax Cut? Jul 12, 2001
President Bush should encourage Americans to tithe 10% of their rebate checks to charity.

Stuart's Table Jun 22, 2001
Memories of a departed friend, captured in surprising places.

Dr. King and Baby Doll Feb 28, 2001
If young children don't know about racial differences, should we teach them?

What a Year It's Been Dec 29, 2000

What George & Al Can Learn From Azim & Ples Dec 13, 2000
Yes, there are inspiring people out there.

Arbitrary, Capricious & Fair Nov 27, 2000
A coin toss would make the winner feel blessed rather than entitled.

The Golden Age of Religious Pluralism Nov 8, 2000
In the long run, the election of Joe Lieberman may be even more important than the election of Al Gore

God Not Chads Nov 8, 2000
How George Bush used religious talk to woo evangelicals without alienating moderates.

The New Organ vs. The New Soup Kitchen Nov 4, 2000
Helping houses of worship do more.

Qur'an Studies, Answered Prayers, 'Great Faiths,' and More Oct 12, 2000
In an interview with Beliefnet in the final weeks of the election, George W. Bush discussed the separation of church and state

Why This Website Worries Me Dec 30, 1999
Whether the Internet helps or hinders religion depends on some crucial choices we all will make

Why Did God Kill All the Dinosaurs? Dec 5, 1999
And other questions that helped launch this website.