Preparing for a new National Press Club pilot series on RELIGION AND THE PRESS. Sally Quinn will be the first speaker on December 1.

Preparing for a new National Press Club pilot series on RELIGION AND THE PRESS. Sally Quinn will be the first speaker on December 1.



Religion is the most pervasive yet least understood topic in global life. From the caves of the Afghan-Pakistan border to the cul-de-sacs of the American Sunbelt, faith shapes and suffuses the way billions of people-Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and nonbelievers-think and act, vote and fight, love and, tragically, hate. It is the most ancient of forces. As Homer said, "All men need the gods." Even the most ferocious atheists find themselves doing intellectual battle on a field defined by forces of the faithful.

And so, in a time of extremism -- for extremism is to the 21st century what totalitarianism was to the 20th -- how can people engage in a conversation about faith and its implications in a way that sheds light rather than generates heat? At The Washington Post and Newsweek, we believe the first step is conversation-intelligent, informed, eclectic, respectful conversation-among specialists and generalists who devote a good part of their lives to understanding and delineating religion's influence on the life of the world. The point of our new online religion feature is to provide a forum for such sane and spirited talk, drawing on a remarkable panel of distinguished figures from the academy, the faith traditions, and journalism. Members of the group will weigh in on a question posed at least once a week, perhaps sometimes more often, depending on the flow of the news. We encourage readers to join the conversation by commenting on what our panelists have to say, offering their own opinions and suggesting topics for future discussions.

From the nature of evil to religious reformation, from the morality of fetal stem-cell research to the history of scripture, from how to raise kids in multi-faith households to the place of gays in traditional churches -- of the asking of questions, to paraphrase Ecclesiastes, there shall be no end. We think that the online world, with its limitless space, offers us a unique opportunity to carry on a fruitful, intriguing, and above all constructive conversation about the things that matter most.

Posted by Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on November 9, 2006 10:19 AM

Eastern Market Studios is preparing a digital motion picture titled Lady Logan Meets the Senator.

Only four bizarre and confused characters appear in this two-act drama about a cruise on a small exclusive cruise ship, The Botticelli, which sails around the east coast of Africa along the warm Indian Ocean. Bernard (Colin Davies), late forties, is taking his twelfth cruise. Bergthora “Boo” Brodersen, Boo (Mellicent Singham) , now on her tenth cruise, early forties five times married likes her gin. cognac, scotch, bourbon martinis, but anything will do. And Arthur (Jonathon Gadsden), the accommodating Somali waiter is very obliging toward both. They seem to like him too. Bernard proclaims he’s more than one person. She enjoys being on deck and reading her favorite novelist and philosophic guru, J. B. Roehard. Bernard likes her legs. Arthur seems secretive. They cruise toward dangerous ports facing revolutions, terrorists, and pirates. All rumors of course. And then there is that Captain Botticelli(Brian Doyle).
Jill Scharff (Narrator) guides the ship.

Charleston Revisited at Soldiers Home in DC

THE U.S. ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME
Located a few steps from the Lincoln Summer Cottage
AND THE SEVENTH STREET PLAYHOUSE
Presents
CHARLESTON REVISITED
By
Anthony E. Gallo
Tuesday, October 12, 6:15 PM Scott Stage

People of the past appear in various forms in this two-act mystery-comedy set on Logan Street in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina’s renowned Historic District. Indomitable Charleston matron Charlotte Butler raises thousands of flowers to the hum of classical music, cultivates birds, plays championship bridge, ballroom dances daily, sometimes cleans her own house, and spars with both her parrot Jacob and flighty neighbor Ginny (Gin) Middleton. Gin's latest flame is the distinguished former New Hampshire Senator Mark Smythe, now a Logan Street resident, who appears to have a curious interest in Charlotte. When Gin has to cancel one of her dates with Mark because of an emergency in Savannah, he slips in and visits Charlotte. The visit proves to be more than one of mere curiosity, as we discover that these two bizarre people have much in common. Charlotte makes Mark accompany her to St. Philip’s Cemetery at night where they encounter someone she does not want to see.

Cast:
Charlotte Butler - Bonnie Jourdan;
Mark Smythe - Colin Davies;
Gin Middleton - Helenmary Ball;
Jim Haywood - Bryan Doyle
Mr. Bluejay- Bruce Brennan
Madame Finch Meera
Jacob- John A. Miller
Radio Announcer John A. Miller

Armed Services Baldwin 202 730 3319 or christine.baldwin@afrh.gov Retirement Home, Washington, DC, 3700 N. Capitol St., NW. Washington, DC. The only way on or off the property is at the Eagle Gate which is located at the intersection of Rock Creek Church Road and Upshur Street, NW. No charge. Reservations Required: Christina