Cover Story: Diana Butler Bass Condemns Religious and Political Sexism

Bass and 700 women: ‘We cannot stand by …’

DIANA BUTLER BASS—In recent months, our magazine has published a series of articles about religion scholar Diana Butler Bass’s groundbreaking work on the environment. Now, she has joined with hundreds of women who are religious leaders to speak out against the disparagement of women both in this year’s toxic presidential campaign—but, even more importantly, within branches of the Christian church. Recent events have crystalized the need for women in American religious life to speak loudly on these issues, Bass and the others are insisting. This week, we are devoting our Cover Story to stories you can share about Bass’s latest prophetic work.

COVERING THE CALL TO ACTION—The Huffington Post has been covering the nationwide call to action by 700 Christian women. While this response came out of Christianity, this effort is broadly applicable to the thousands of women who are the heart and backbone of Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and other religious communities as well. Here is a link to the original manifesto with all of the signatures attached in PDF form. Then, on October 13, 2016, Huffington Post reported this news story about the effort. The next day, Huffington Post asked key women within the campaign, including Diana Buter Bass, to respond more fully. Yes, this campaign is specifically prompted by Donald Trump’s actions and rhetoric—but the deeper message within this campaign is that the world’s great religions need to take seriously the importance, value and leadership of women.

A ‘GROUNDED’ RENEWAL—Diana Butler Bass calls her new Grounded, “the first book of the second half of my life.” Read our in-depth interview with her about that book.

STUDY GUIDE—We welcomed Christian educator Debbie Houghton to help us write a five-week study guide to Grounded. Here is Part 1 of that guide, which you are free to use for individual inspiration or for small-group discussion.

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HOLIDAYS and FESTIVALS

Check out all the holidays! Tell friends about the simply Web address: www.InterfaithHolidays.com

CHALLENGING WEATHER FOR SUKKOT

FEED THE SPIRIT—Columnist Bobbie Lewis explains why Jewish families across the Northern Hemisphere are especially concerned about the forecasts for Sukkot. This colorful harvest festival is supposed to be celebrated in a make-shift shelter with a loosely thatched roof. That’s not ideal for cool and rainy forecasts! Bobbie explains why Sukkot is so late this year—and shares some delicious recipes. Enjoy!

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BULLYING
PREVENTION
MONTH

SHARE THE NEWS—Our column on Bullying Prevention Month is a one-stop web page for quickly gathering the information you’ll need to get friends involved in combatting bigotry and predatory behavior.

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RESTORING WOMEN’S SPIRITS

GODSIGNS—Suzy Farbman brings us another inspiring column about overcoming huge challenges with creativity, talent—and lots of compassion. She profiles Sherri Renee Romm, who has designed new approaches to restoring hair to women who have lost their own.

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FILM, FAITH
& POPULAR CULTURE

ED McNULTY—Enjoy all of the free resources from Ed McNulty’s faith-and-film website: VisualParables.org. Ed’s ongoing work is supported by the long-running Visual Parables Journal, the monthly magazine that’s packed with complete study guides for many of the movies Ed reviews. Please consider purchasing a subscription to the Journal. The current issue includes study guides for Sully, the new Beatles movie, Mr. Church, The Magnificent Seven and many others.

Among Ed’s latest movie reviews are:

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