30 Most influential religion blogs

Bloggers about religion blog religiously so Faith Central has compiled a list of the most influential among them. In no particular order, this is intended to evolve, so let us know your suggestions.

1. Informed Comment
Blog from the president of the Global Americana Institute, on religion and the Middle East.
Representative quote: Most of the militants appear to be ethnic Pushtuns and from the neo-Deobandi school of South Asian Islam that also produced the Taliban.

2. Austrolabe
Aussie Muslims discuss world events in a wide ranging and engaging blog.
Representative quote: "If you were a terrorist who wanted to harm Australians, would you pay $250,000 and jump through all the immigration hoops, or would you just get a tourist visa?

3. Jew School
Blog by Jews, about Jews, for Jews, interesting and compelling.
Representative quote: Judaism is explicit that there is one law for everyone - what is fair law for Jews is what we should also be dealing out to those among us who are not Jews.

4. Articles of Faith
Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent of The Times', fantastic blog offering expert comment and analysis of religious events. Incisive and prolific.
Representative quote: Our own University and College Union brings shame upon this country with the indefensible academic boycott currently under consideration.

5. Spirit Daily
OK, not strictly a blog, but the closest thing we have to The Drudge Report.
Representative quote: "Bizarre claim of Second Coming"

6. Black Hat Lama
Life as one of the most senior and revered figures of Tibetan Buddhism.
Representative quote: "Life is precious. Use that time or moment as best as you can to develop Compassion and Loving Kindness."

7. Freedom's Zone
Jews, Muslims and Christians blogging from around the USA, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, against religious extremism.
Representative quote: "The forces defaming Islam can only be stopped by those who know its teachings and are brave enough to defend them."

8. Get Religion
A blog on religious affairs and based on the premise that the press just don't get religion. Based in Washington D.C. this is the blogchild of the Oxford Centre for Religion in Public Life.
Representative quote: "What struck me was the blunt description of these fighters as 'Islamic militants'. This seems to me to be too direct a link between the faith of Islam and the actions of the militants."

9. Progressive Islam
Plenty of warnings to “weak souls” who might get easily offended in this blog but it does have some quirky pieces on modern Islam.
Representative quote:"The virtue commission [Saudi Arabia], if you hadn't figured it out, is the Religious Police. A complete misnomer, of course. Makes them sound like a group of choirboys. The reality is that they are the no-hopers, the social misfits, the failed Imams, the men who will never be married even though we have a surplus of eligible unmarried women."

10. Soma Review
A humourous review of religion and culture.
Representative quote: "Let churches deliver the Tridentine Mass not in Latin, but in Klingon."

11. No God Blog
A blog fighting to keep religion and state separate in America.
Representative quote: "Alabama Governor’s proclamation beseeching citizens to pray for rain was a waste of tax-payer’s time and money and probably violated the State Constitution."

12. The God Blog
Jewish Christian blogging about, amongst other things, being a Jewish Christian.
Representative quote: "Bush might be an unpopular politician among Republican Jews he remains a venerated figure. Why? Because Bush is seen as a proactive warrior in the fight against Islamic militants. And that, they believed, is good for Israel."

13. Ahmed Ismail
Blog on racism and Islamophobia in the press.
Representative quote:"Austria's mosques are edging closer to performing the real role of mosques in Islam, serving as a place of worship as well as offering educational classes, cultural events and other community services."

14. Alive and Young blogspot
Discussion of sex, religion, and politics from a blogger who claims to have no qualification for starting a blog about sex, religion, and politics. A conversation not a monoblog. Lots of videos and funny quotes.
Representative quote: "I pity the fool who don'€™t go to mass."

15. An Unsealed Room
Former Washington correspondent for the Jerusalem Post now living in Ra'anana takes a humourous look at life in Israel.
Representative quote: "At the mall, I'm amazed by the number of Israeli Arab women here -- in everything from completely western dress to full hijab. Utterly unlike London, where you feel the hateful glares from many traditionally-dressed Arabs on the street."

16. The Revealer
A daily review of religion and the press based on the premise that belief matters whether or not you believe.
Representative quote: "Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins takes the hard sell: Religion is bad science, he says, just plain wrong and rather stupid. Physicist Lewis Krauss goes for the soft sell: "Teaching is seduction," he purrs, with believers in mind."

17. Idol Chatter
A religion and pop-culture blog: From Paris Hilton "conversion" to religion reasons to watch Ocean’s 13.
Representative quote:"But this is bigger than Hilton having the opportunity to feign redemption for an hour on Larry King. The problem is that we deemed Hilton's story important enough to be considered nationally ground-breaking news."

18. Velveteen Rabbi
Rabbinic student Rachel Barenblat blogs on the Torah.
Representative quote: "We identify with the Jewish community by behaving, by believing, or by belonging."

19. God's Politics
A variety of bloggers headed by Jim Wallis of Sojourners, claiming to bring conversation after the monologue of the Religious Right.
Representative quote: "Muslim satisfaction with American life is a pleasant surprise."

20. First Things on the Square
Blog from the Journal of Religion, Culture and Public Life.
Representative quote: "Doctrinal clarity is lost when Catholics call Protestant heretics."

21. Archbishop Cranmer
Anonymous blog on religio-politics.
Representative quote:"Cranmer sympathises with the Catholic Church. Yes, you read correctly."

22. Muslim Wake Up Blog
Blog of the Muslim Wake Up association, interesting comment Muslim issues but only occasionally updated.
Representative quote: "Progressive Muslim is a redundancy. How can you be Muslim and not be progressive?"

23. Ekklesia blog
From the Christian think-tank Ekklesia a blog about religious events with a political bent.
Representative quote: "The attempt by the Vatican to get ordinary Catholics to stop supporting Amnesty International is causing hurt, disappointment and anger among many people."

24. Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
An "elaborate spoof" arguing against teaching creationism in schools.
Representative quote: From an Intelligent Designer: "The probability that humans have emerged from natural selection is the same as the probability that a monkey composes Hamlet by randomly typing on a keyboard".

25. Muslim Matters
Advice and guidance on living as a Muslim.
Representative quote: I'm sure others besides myself have noticed the increasing lack of chivalry amongst males, particularly the younger ones. I'm going to be picking on our dear Muslim brothers!"

26. The Cafeteria is Closed
Currently winning the Blogger's Choice Awards for best religion blog, mainly about Catholic affairs.
Representative quote: "That Episcopalian Muslim priestess – guess where she'll be teaching theology? Seattle University, a Jesuit school."

27. Virtually Islamic
Islam in the digital age, by a Professor of Islamic studies, round up of coverage of Islam on the net.
Representative quote: "Islamists in Germany say that al-Qaida are no longer radical enough and call them "non-believers."

28. Irene Lancaster
Blog by author and academic based in Haifa.
Representative quote: "...self-censorship, fear, cowardice, malice and appeasement of violence against Jewish staff and students; this boycott was inevitable."

29. JBlog Central
From the Bagel Blogger to Jewtastic a comprehensive compilation of Jewish blogs.
Representative quote: "I would never suggest that we should all cater to the most conservative voice in the way we live our lives. I think that diversity is what Judaism needs."

30. Daily Dish
Andrew Sullivan’s guide to politics with the occasional nod towards its interaction with faith.
Representative quote: "We know of almost no civilizations without religion; and even when religion did decline - in, say, Europe in the twentieth century - pseudo-religions emerged to replace it.

Comments

[Bob Green]

I notice the views of "grumpy atheists" mentioned by Libby Purves in the "Faith Central" heading aren't included here.

Why not add free thinking secular sites as well - just for a bit of balance?

As a couple of examples:-

The Freethinker at :-

http://www.freethinker.co.uk/

The National Secular Society at :

http://www.secularism.org.uk/
and check out the newsline posts.

But then I suppose balance and religion aren't necessarily compatable.

[Joanna Sugden]

Hi Bob, thanks for your comments. We thought you might say that but "No God Blog" and "Church of the Flying Spaghetti monster" seem to be quite secular.

Thanks for your site suggestions. I'll check them out, if they have a blog then they may well be added to the list.

[Bob Green]

Thanks Joanna - surely you aren't suggesting that those who worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster are not serious religionists? Come on - some claim to have seen it so it must be true.

I bet the next census will confirm the number of converts.

I've not gone to the No God Blog but your description implies that it is limited to the idea of keeping religion out of U.S politics , not to more fundamental issues with religious belief itself.

Even so - just 2 sites out of 30?

As my RE teacher used to say "try harder".

[Brien Comerford]

The soon to be retiring President of India, Abdul Kalam, is one of the most peaceful and inclusive Muslim leaders in the world. He is revered by India's Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians. Abdul Kalam admired Mahatma Gandhi's pacifism and reverence for all life. Like Gandhi, Abdul Kalam is a humane vegetarian who asserts that all people are children of God and all animals are creatures of God. Kalam proclaims that all life is sacred. He will be missed as President but it's certain that his good deeds will continue.

[Geoffrey Smith]

Tell me, Mr Green, if a free thinker thinks freely on the subject of religion and comes to the conclusion that a Deity exists, does he/she cease to be a free thinker? Think carefully now before you reply.
If your answer is yes, at what point does the thinking become non-free, and why?
If your answer is no, then freedom of thought can just as easily lead to a belief in religion as a disbelief in a Deity, can it not?
From which it would seem to follow that secularists do not enjoy a monopoly of free thought and should therefore abandon this pretence that they do.

[Rachel]

Thanks so much for the mention; I'm delighted that you think Velveteen Rabbi merits inclusion on this list!

[Geoffrey Smith]

"Abdul Kalam [President of India] is a humane vegetarian who asserts that all people are children of God and all animals are creatures of God. Kalam proclaims that all life is sacred."
- Brien Comerford, 13 July 2007, 16:08:12

Tell me, Mr Comerford, does the President regard plants also as living creatures of God? Or are they excluded from the general category of sacred life in order to meet Mr Kalam's dietary requirements?

[Tiggs]

Am I being terribly dense, or does "religious" in the title rather imply that the secularists don't need to be added?

we all know you hate and despise religion; it's ok, we don't mind... ;)

[Bob Green]

Hullo Geoffrey.

Another "jokey" contribution I see.

And I thought we atheists / secularists were supposed to be grumpy. I think Libby should amend her blog's heading.

Freedom of thought allows individuals to freely make up their own minds , based on evidence , theory , interrogation etc etc about all things and to work out their own positions as they so choose.

If an adult freely chooses to believe in a deity that is his/her choice. As it also is if he / she chooses not to. You can even believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster if you so wish. And good luck.

But freedom of thought would also allow that person to freely interrogate , review , amend or reject the position so reached. As it does for example to scientific theories.

People in other aspects of our lives change their minds or alter their positions if they so choose - why is that so difficult in faith matters?

Why should religious beliefs be largely unbending - except of course for Jonathan Edwardes.

If personal beliefs / scientific theories or political positions are publicly aired or used to influence others then they offer themselves for comment, interrogation etc

As is the case here when the Times devotes resources and regular space to faith and religious matters.

But that is surely what secular freedoms and rights , gained largely through a lessening in religious power and control in the UK , have allowed us all to do.

[Aidan Qasim]

You left out two pretty interesting sites:

http://muslamics.blogspot.com

and

the site "This American Muslim" which i dont remember the address to right now.

Should check out the post to see if they fit your standards.

Thanks,

Aidan

[Sunny]

Hi Libby,

One of the most influential American blogs on religion is by The Anchoress.
http://theanchoressonline.com/

[Cranmer]

His Grace is humbled and honoured to receive this accolade.

Blessings,

+Cranmer

[Monica Tabbet]

I would strongly recommend that UmmahPulse -
http://www.ummahpulse.co.uk/
should be included on this list.
It is an excellent site that seems to be the voice of the mainstream. Since seeing the link on here on Faith Central I have found it compulsory viewing. The blogs are insightful and well written. I really recommend it.

[Delilah, USA]

How could you possibly have left out Ship of Fools, the website of Christian unrest? Home of the Mystery Worshipper program, the Rev.Gerald Ambulance's Ministry Manual, and a running index of generous self-promotions on Dawkin's homepage. As well as lots of serious and not-so-serious debate.

www.ship-of-fools.com

[Colonel Bain]

Doctrine has been magnified and demagnified for 2000 years and still Divine Truth is not understood. The Trinitarian Monks tell it ( unending answers to bring peace) has to be for all the Children of Almighty YHWH. Man has yet to look for the Divine light and Divine Authority that revels the mysteries of Christ Immanuel not Christ Jesus.. Humm

[sbuxfan]

glad you are allowing various points of view, so refreshing what with the new Pope's exclusion view point.
Who needs all those other unholy religions anyway ?

[lindarobertsbaca@blogspot.com]

To nourish your soul, read Grace Notes in the Desert (via address above).

[m_]

The Jewish blogs that you mention are all very good, but not mentioning Jewlicious - http://www.jewlicious.com - is quite an oversight, at least I think so.

[Nio]

Not a single Pagan blog is listed. Why?

[peppylady]

Why aren't there any pagan listed?

[joe]

Seems to me to be a rather random collection of blogs. Can you tell me how you chose them?

[BE!]

Curious, how those who claim not to be religious want "non-religious" blogs to be posted on a column entitled "Faith Central!" Years ago I counseled an avowed atheist and her avowedly Christian husband and noted that she was a deep believer. She concurred. If they are willing to acknowledge that atheism and that catch-all secularism are religions then they honestly belong on the listing...if they are influential. That modern theologian, Martin Luther, long ago said "What is it to have a god?" and answered "upon which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god." Hence in the Introduction to Religion classes I offer I include not only the classic traditions but also communism, capitalism, nationalism....and atheism. To be sure, that may be considered a matter of definition, but, on the other hand, if it walks like a duck, flies like a duck, and quacks like a duck.... So those passionate missionaries of atheism declare themselves religious in the deepest meaning of the term. In the future welcome them fully into your list!

[Dr. Irene Lancaster]

Thank you very much for including me in your list. My friends in Haifa are thrilled about this.

Religious-wise, Haifa is the ideal place for co-existence.

There are at least 6 religions all working together and thriving in Haifa, including Jews, Christians (of various denominations, Muslims (ditto), Bahai, Druze and seculars.

It's a fascinating place to live, work and dream and I hope my blog reflects this.

By the way, I've added a few comments to some of your already-existing blogs.

[Malachi Rothschild]

Very nice list. It's hard to dig through all of the major religious/spiritual blogs. I don't think I've found them all yet and doing so might prove futile. I came here from a link back at the velveteen rabbi and think I may be the only blogger with the distinction of being both rather new and mentioned indirectly via an excerpt from an aggregated post. But as someone very fond of strange occurances I'm quite tickled. JBlog Central is a great aggregator (and the blogowogo engine in general) because it allows for a lot of blogger-driven ranking and many ways to view the compiled data. It's easy to read and hosts very diverse blogs. If anything my only criticism is that it's too inundated with political blogs. But then the spiritual/religious blogs are often very good.

[bill]

One thing about lists is that they ultimately rank popularity, not influence. In fact, influence can be positive from supposed negative forces and negative from supposed positive forces. I don't believe that most people have a clear idea of what has influence them. But they do know what they like and what they don't like.

There have been so many blog lists on the Internet over the past five or six years that one would expect that readers would have tired of it by now. But of course, there is more to listing than just writing names of category members, one per line in rank order. There is pride. There is in-grouping. And where there is in-grouping, there will be out-grouping. This is what bothers me about lists—and religion.

No matter the claims to the contrary, religion is always exclusive. Even the non-religious religions like Secularism.

Lists are in-grouping. They exclude by including. They fit religion very well. Listing and religion-ing go well together. But they shouldn't. Especially Christianity.

Christianity (my background) is supposed to be all about including the excluded; feeding the hungry; clothing the naked; visiting the imprisoned (the ostracized). But it has become an in-grouping industry. It is a list of lists, including tens of thousands of denominations world wide. It claims to be the fix for Judaism, but it started out by excluding the very Jews who started it.

In final analysis, listing is a bad idea because it includes some at the expense of many. But that's what religion is all about. Neither Secularism nor Atheism are any better.

Some of us are looking for a better way. An inclusive way that honors the wisdom of humanity without excluding any except those who exclude themselves. It's a Commons.