George Cornell, the late and revered religion writer for the Associated Press, did one of his best stories before he died in 1994: An account on how people spend millions on sports, but billions on religion.
He added up the gate receipts in a given year of the 10 most-watched sports in America and compared those with giving statistics in the country's 10 largest denominations. Religion outspent sports by far as peoples' biggest source of weekend entertainment.
Not only is religion big business, it's big news, which is why we felt it was about time this newspaper premiered a religion blog. It's not the first to do so in the secular media. About 30 outlets are ahead of us on this one. But, better late than …
Today, Dec. 3, is an appropriate launch date for Belief Blog, one day after the first Sunday in Advent and one day before Hanukkah. We did some mulling over the title and decided for alliteration and simplicity (although I do think one editor's suggestion of "Papal Bull" could have attracted attention a lot quicker.)
I plan to make this stand out amongst many of the current faith blogs, many of which are little more than daily religion digests with uplinks. Not here. I'm aiming at something closer to Ruth Gledhill's Articles of Faith blog in the London Times that has juicy details not in the dead tree version.
I plan to go behind the scenes, add more details and do some original reporting. I hope to spread a wide net and touch on a non-Christian religion at least once a week.
Why me? I've been the Times' chief religion writer since 2003 although I contributed many articles on the topic in my previous seven years previous at the paper. I also covered religion for newspapers in New Mexico, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania and Oregon, have a master's degree in religion and two of my three published books are on religion.
And I've done plenty of religion reporting from abroad, such as the 2005 election of Pope Benedict XVI in Rome and in 2006, an update on religious persecution in India. I hope you'll come to agree with me that religion is the queen of beats and worthy of a hallowed place in the blogosphere firmament.
--Julia Duin, assistant national editor/religion, The Washington Times
Comments (16)
Wishing you success in this venture, and that it may draw the diverse audience which you seek.
One topic that perks my interest is the dichotomy between religious purity and religious tolerance. Another would be how different world views approach "church/state" separation -- is the ideal state one religion, no religion, or many religions? Just food for thought.
Happy Hanukkah!
Posted by Dave | December 4, 2007 1:42 PM
I found you via GetReligion and look forward to follwing your new adventure and, as Dave stated, wish you much success. It will be good to have another outlet that offer more than "daily...digetst with uplinks." My interest is in the study of the relationship of religion in two places: the public square and its affects on public policy, locally and nationally and, at another extreme, religions role in the art world (literary, visual, etc.).
Thanks again for offering a new place for discussion.
Posted by Eric | December 4, 2007 3:02 PM
Always good to have another great reporter covering the religion beat!
I have always wondered why there is such a dichotomy in coverage of things which ultimately don't matter, such as sports, and things which do like religion and technology. If the typical science or religion reporter did the same job on real estate, they would be out of the job in a week, and on sports, by the end of the day. I have noticed that medical news is a bit better these days, but not much improvement in other areas.
Thanks for being here, and good luck!
Treg
Posted by Tregonsee | December 4, 2007 3:08 PM
Hi Julia, Great to see you online here in blog form, and it's interesting to hear your ambitions for doing substantive reporting -- I'll certainly add you to my RSS lineup!
Posted by Andrea Useem | December 4, 2007 4:38 PM
Good news, indeed! Having seen your work in the WT, I have bookmarked this and expect to be a daily reader.
Posted by R M Bragg | December 4, 2007 4:44 PM
Great to see another Religious blog. I look forward to following your daily thoughts of a Journalist who has reported on different religions in different countries with interest. As a student Journalist, one thing i am interested in, and something you may be able to address is, apart from the obvious answer of the variation in population. Why is Religion more acceptable in America that it is in the UK? Why can George Bush make references to being a Christian and get a sympathetic response where as Tony Blair is called a Nutter? and we have very few religious Journalist's in the press here because it's not seen as relevent in society.
Posted by Gareth Duffield | December 4, 2007 5:31 PM
Hi Miss Duin
This is great, congratulations
Joanna
Posted by Joanna | December 4, 2007 5:43 PM
Dear Julia,
Great stuff, and I would like to keep track, but i believe your RSS reader is mixed with Bellantoni's.
Posted by Tomer | December 4, 2007 8:04 PM
Many thanks for your first article, Julia, and for setting up your blog.
I was at a meeting last week in London where I commented that there were more people in Church on Sundays in England than at football matches on Saturdays. The economic factor you introduce is interesting.
How about investigating the numbers who attend American Football matches per week with American church attendance per week?
I've put a link into your blog on Fulcrum newswatch:
http://www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk/newswatch.cfm
Posted by Graham Kings | December 4, 2007 9:55 PM
Welcome to the blogosphere! I have enjoyed reading your articles in the WT and look forward to expanded coverage here.
Posted by Vaclav | December 4, 2007 10:25 PM
Julia,
Congratulations on your entry into the blogging world. Your blog is on my must read list. Blessings and peace,
Posted by Dan Crawford | December 5, 2007 1:27 PM
Congratulations, Julia. A great blog is quite a challenge and a lot of hard work. I read about your new venture over on TItus One Nine. I look forward to checking on you daily. I suspect you'll continue to keep an eye on the continuing unfolding of the reformation and realignment of North American Anglicanism.
Jim McCaslin+
Jacksonville, FL
Posted by Jim McCaslin | December 5, 2007 3:56 PM
Welcome as well to the blogsphere! You always have a place at the table at the Cafe, Julia. Planning to attend the CANA Council this week? If so, see you there!
bb
Posted by BabyBlue | December 5, 2007 5:36 PM
Welcome, Julia, to the circus. T-19 provided my link, and I will look forward to another Gledhill...on this side of the pond. May your reporting be concise, and your research true.
Posted by Chip Johnson+, cj | December 5, 2007 7:54 PM
Let me add my welcome as well!
Posted by Chuck Blanchard | December 5, 2007 9:56 PM
Hello my friends :)
;)
Posted by Bummosmorse | May 13, 2008 9:42 PM