Ancient wisdom for today’s problems

Especially now - support this crucial work No images? [Click here]( Dear Reader, Religion is a through line in so many of today’s headlines: hate crimes, abortion debates, trans issues, India’s recent elections, the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and U.S. Supreme Court rulings. But beyond the headlines, religion is an important part of daily lives and has a deep impact on politics, cultures and values − and just our way of being. But as newsrooms lay off journalists, and religion is no longer considered its own “beat,” it is quite likely that you are reading “religion” news sandwiched in sections between “business” and “international,” or “sports” and “culture.” This means some crucial issues go unreported − or worse still, misreported. Lamenting the mainstream media’s disconnect with its readers, New York Times executive editor Dean Baquet noted the role of religion when he said in 2016, “We don't get the role of religion in people's lives. And I think we can do much, much better.” That was the year many media outlets missed the pivotal role of white evangelical voters in deciding the presidential election. The Conversation is one of those few places that has not one but two religion editors. Each day, we help the public understand politically fraught topics, while also enhancing the religious literacy of our readers. We show how religious rhetoric can be used to divide but also to heal and unite. We also cover the absence of religion − those who call themselves atheists or “nones” − and unpack those beliefs. More than 1,000 scholars have produced more than 1,600 articles over seven years to inform the public, covering topics from atheism to Zoroastrianism. This work is critical to moving to a less polarized and more tolerant world. [Will you support it](? [Give monthly]( [Give once]( Our donors make our work possible − and empower us to fight misinformation and prejudice. If you donate today, we’ll give you an e-book of articles on ancient sacred texts, pulling together fascinating insights from lesser-known books, to show you our gratitude. And if you choose to join our major donor club with gifts of more than $1,000, we’ll thank you with the next book in our Critical Conversations series. It’s about work − its changing nature and its future. With gratitude, How to donate: On our website, please use the custom box to choose your contribution level, if it is different from the buttons above. - By credit card: [( (The online donation system has a minimum threshold of $5.) - By check: mail to The Conversation U.S., [303 Wyman St., Suite 300, Waltham, MA 02451.]( - With stock: Please write to priyanka@theconversation.com if you are considering a gift of stock or a gift from your IRA. The Conversation US, Inc. is a tax-exempt public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. All donations made are fully tax deductible if you itemize. Our tax ID number is 46-0906774. [Donate to The Conversation]( [Share]( [Share]( [Forward]( You’re receiving this email as a previous donor or newsletter subscriber to The Conversation U.S. Clicking the Unsubscribe link will cancel your newsletter subscription. If you would like to not receive these emails, please [respond to this email](mailto:us-donations@theconversation.com) and ask us to take you off the list. You would, however, also miss our invites to donor events, impact reports and other exciting updates. The Conversation U.S. 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 USA [Unsubscribe](