January, 2009

Logos Consulting Group has a significant practice helping multi-faith organizations lead, manage, and communicate during times of crisis and change.

State of Belief is based on the proposition that religion has a positive and healing role to play in the life of the nation. The show explains and explores that role by illustrating the vast diversity of beliefs in America – the most religiously diverse country in the world – while exposing and critiquing both the political manipulation of religion for partisan purposes and the religious manipulation of government for sectarian purposes.

Each week, the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy offers listeners critical analysis of the news of religion and politics, and seeks to provide listeners with an understanding and appreciation of religious liberty.

Through interviews with celebrities and newsmakers and field reports from around the country, State of Belief explores the intersection of religion with politics, culture, media, and activism, and promotes diverse religious voices in a religiously pluralistic world.

Helio Fred Garcia, president of Logos and a member of the board of trustees of The Interfaith Alliance, said, “Logos is proud to provide support for open discussion of the intersection of religion, politics, and culture. As we watch a transition of government in Washington, we note that the paradigm is now shifting: no one group has a monopoly of virtue, wisdom, or influence. At times like these, it is all the more important for there to be open, robust, and respectful discussion of the most significant issues of the day. We’re pleased to play a small part in making that discussion possible.”

January 10-11, 2009 

Logos’ sponsorship began with the January 10-11 program. Host Welton Gaddy spoke with William F. Vendley, Secretary General of the World Conference of Religions for Peace, about the recent violence in the Gaza Strip and the role religion can play in negotiating peace. Dr. Vendley has negotiated peace settlements in areas as diverse as Iraq, Indonesia, Sierra Leone and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

(Disclosure: The World Conference of Religions for Peace is a Logos client, but Dr. Vendley’s appearance was arranged completely independent of Logos, and the timing of his appearance during Logos’ sponsorship period was purely coincidental.)

The program also addressed the question of the use of the phrase “so help me God” in the president’s oath of office, and last-minute regulations issued by the Bush Administration that could pit doctors against patients in some controversial procedures.

Listen to the January 10-11 program or download a podcast.