Discussion Group Moderated by Sally Quinn and Newsweek’s Lisa Miller Features Conversations in Women and Spirituality, Values
Maria Shriver, Rita Wilson, Melissa Etheridge Among Panelists Interacting With Users
WASHINGTON, November 19, 2008 – On Faith, the joint washingtonpost.com and Newsweek feature devoted to the intersection of religion and news, today launches an online reader discussion group on women and spirituality and values called “Women on Faith.”
“Women on Faith” will be moderated by On Faith co-founder and co-moderator Sally Quinn and Newsweek religion editor Lisa Miller, who have assembled a group of leading women of all faiths and no faith to participate and discuss how spirituality and values play into their lives. Each week, Quinn and Miller, along with the panelists, will pose and answer questions about faith impacting women, and will encourage people around the Web to join the conversation.
Main discussion participants include:
Award-winning journalist and First Lady of California Maria Shriver who, along with her family, attend mass each Sunday Actress and producer Rita Wilson and member of the Greek Orthodox Church whose Muslim Bulgarian father converted to Orthodoxy Melissa Etheridge, award-winning singer/songwriter who is also a champion for gay rights and breast cancer awareness Elsa Walsh, a journalist who explored the lives of women who attempt to balance family and career in her book Divided Lives TV journalist and author Janet Langhart Cohen who penned her memoir Love in Black and White which explores religion and race and the bonds in her interracial marriage Dr. Samina Ahmad, a scriptwriter, director, producer, and most recently the host of a global wellness feature on downtowntv.com CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour, an Iranian Christian raised by a Muslim father Susan Thistlethwaite, first woman head of the Chicago Theological Seminary Author and Vanity Fair contributor Maureen Orth, wife of the late Tim Russert and mother of NBC News Correspondent Luke Russert, plus more voices.
“Through our work with On Faith, it became clear to us that faith and values play critical roles in a woman’s life, especially when it comes to making decisions about family, relationships, careers as well as selecting the best presidential candidate,” said Quinn. “Creating ‘Women on Faith’ is an opportunity to have an honest, ongoing dialogue about these issues, and we’re delighted to have some of the most provocative women of our time participate.”
Some topics likely to be discussed include marrying someone of another faith, children choosing a different religion, spiritual inspiration and the true meaning of life.
At launch, “Women on Faith” will discuss whether the past U.S. presidential election was good for women or bad for women. For more information or to visit “Women on Faith”, go to http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/03/domestic_abuse_is_never_gods_w.html.
About On Faith As a global interactive online feature on washingtonpost.com and Newsweek.com, On Faith tackles one of the world’s most pervasive yet least understood topics by offering varied perspectives and open dialogue. Each week moderators Sally Quinn of The Washington Post and Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham post a question for On Faith’s more than one hundred panelists of varying faiths from around the world. The result is a global multi-denominational conversation that readers can join by offering their own opinions and by posting comments and questions at any time. On Faith is published by Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, the online publishing subsidiary of The Washington Post (NYSE: WPO).
