The SPI weekly policy report

by Edwina Rogers

The SPI World Future Guide 2016

coverAs the world’s largest and most prestigious secular think tank, the Secular Policy Institute produces reports several times a year, bringing you top academic thought, scientific evidence, and public policy analysis.

Perhaps you’ve read our Secular Resource Guide, proving that secular people are an important voting bloc in the US and worldwide, our Model Policy Guide, which gives comprehensive public policy advice on leading issues, or our shocking expose,┬áAbuse in AmericaÔÇÖs Faith-Based Initiative System.

Now we are pleased to announce the Secular Policy Institute World Future Guide 2016, our most┬áheavyweight guide to secularism yet. It connects our┬áprominent thinkers, including Taslima Nasrin, Elizabeth Loftus, A.C. Grayling, and John McWhorter┬áto┬áthe worldÔÇÖs leading decision-makers, and will be sent to politicians in the US Congress and government Parliaments around the world and used in our lobbying efforts to promote the secular view.

Its ten articles are written by SPI Fellows from seven countries, each committed to separation of church and state.┬áYou’ll learn┬áhow to spot a dictatorship before it forms, and to see how faith can encourage gender discrimination. You’ll learn about law, health, education, and how to adapt laws and policies for a more effective and happy society. You’ll even learn about defense technology and what to do in Syria.

ÔÇ£The worldÔÇÖs future is coming, whether you like it or not,ÔÇØ wrote Greg Neimeyer of SPIÔÇÖs Advisory Board.┬á ÔÇ£Here are the keys.ÔÇØ

See the press release and get the guide.

This Week’s Round Up On Religion

Expressing outrage at ISIS’ perversion of his religion, Dalil Boubakeur,┬áthe chairman of the Grand Mosque of Paris, said, “It is absolutely necessary” to send troops┬áagainst the group’s stronghold in Syria.

Republican hopeful Ted Cruz announced┬áthe formation of a “national prayer team”┬álast week.

The Church of England finds this lack of faith disturbing. Ahem.

This week NPR spoke with Pastor Russell Moore and Rabbi David Wolpe about how religious Americans are navigating the Syrian refugee crisis.

RNS’ Cathy Lynn Grossman reviews the film “Spotlight,” which chronicles┬áthe journalists who exposed Boston’s Catholic sex abuse scandal.