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Sarah Posner

Sarah Posner is a Prospect senior correspondent and associate editor of Religion Dispatches, where she writes a blog about religion and politics. The author of God's Profits: Faith Fraud, and the Republican Crusade for Values Voters (PoliPoint 2008), her work has also appeared in the Nation, Salon, The Guardian, The Daily Beast, and other publications.

Recent Articles

The FundamentaList (No. 79)

This week in religion and politics: More evidence emerges of aggressive proselytizing in the military, and the religious right wants to cause trouble for Obama's Supreme Court nominee.

Sarah PosnerMay 05, 2009

1. "Christian Nation" Myth Is Gone. What Fills the Void?

President Barack Obama has made it perfectly clear: We're not a Christian nation. We're a nation made up of religious and not religious people with a secular government that respects all religions. But for a devotee of secular government, Obama appears to be giving a lot of weight to religious voices.

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THE "RELIGIOUS LEFT."

Sarah PosnerMay 01, 2009

Over at Politico, Ben Smith writes, "A person who follows religion and politics more closely than I tells me the decision of two major conservative Christian leaders, Joel Hunter and David Gushee, to sign on in support of legislation outlawing 'hate crimes' against gays and lesbians, is a pretty big deal." He's referring to Faith in Public Life's Wednesday press release, listing expressions of support for the hate crimes legislation that passed the House that day. (When a bill is a sure winner, why not go with it, eh?)

D.C. ANTI-GAY-MARRIAGE RALLY JUMPS THE SHARK.

Sarah PosnerApr 29, 2009

I've lived in Washington for 20 years, and I have to admit there are two people whose joint appearance on a dais I never contemplated: the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins, and current D.C. Council member (and former disgraced D.C. mayor) Marion "bitch set me up" Barry.

In a delicious coda, later in the day Perkins lauded the Supreme Court decision that upheld Federal Communications Commission "decency" rules, which permit the agency to fine broadcasters for even "fleeting expletives" on broadcast television.

The FundamentaList (No. 78)

This week in religion and politics: Religious drama surrounds Kathleen Sebelius' Cabinet confirmation, and the "religious left" seems to lean toward the right.

Sarah PosnerApr 28, 2009

1. Sebelius Confirmation Fight Shows What "Pro-Life" Means.

Though their attempts failed, Religious-right groups goaded Republicans to filibuster the nomination of Kathleen Sebelius to be Health and Human Services Secretary, who was confirmed yesterday with a 65-31 vote. But some early supporters of the former Kansas governor were oddly silent as the religious right renewed its opposition after Sebelius vetoed anti-choice legislation last week.

MEETINGS OF FAITH-BASED ADVISORY COUNCIL TO BE OPEN TO PUBLIC.

Sarah PosnerApr 24, 2009

One of the complaints of civil liberties groups about the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (OFBNP) advisory council is its lack of transparency. Yesterday, the Coalition Against Religious Discrimination (CARD) met with the Office's director, Joshua DuBois. Ron Millar, acting director of the Secular Coalition for America, was also present. According to Millar, CARD raised concerns regarding both faith-based hiring discrimination and transparency.

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