Search the site

We help professionals better understand religion in the lives of those they serve by:

•	Supporting ground-breaking research on how religion impacts people and encouraging its use by the appropriate professionals;
•	Creating resources and training to improve the religious literacies among professionals;
•	Developing and testing curriculum in religion for all disciplines;
•	Presenting public forums and other activities to increase the visibility of religion in the public sphere.

Our Mission What we do Why is it important? What is a professional? Religion's impact on professionals Affiliations • National board • On campus • Affiliated faculty Current projects Past projects Future projects Getting involved Staff Supporting us Contact us

We support MU’s core values. Read about these values and initiatives here.

American Muslims and U.S. Politics During Troubled Times

Lecture by Paul M. Barrett

7 p.m.
Feb. 4, 2008
Fisher Auditorium, Gannett Hall-Room 87
University of Missouri-Columbia
• See flier

Paul M. Barrett, senior special writer at The Wall Street Journal, is the author of "American Islam: The Struggle for the Soul of a Religion." The 2006 book is based on intimate profiles he wrote for the Wall Street Journal, showing a diverse portrait of American Muslims. The book was named a Best Book of 2007 by the Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor and Publishers Weekly.

Barrett won a Missouri Lifestyle Journalism Award in 2004. He received the honor for his article, "Radical Politics - Idaho Arrest Puts Muslim Students Under Scrutiny," which was published in the Wall Street Journal and became the basis for one of the chapters in his book.

Barrett’s lecture is part of the Center on Religions & the Professions' "Religion & Politics" series. He will talk about Muslims in America during troubled times, based on the people profiled in his book, and trends in American politics about Muslims and reflecting Muslim voters.

Dispassionate Journalism: Fairness, Objectivity, and Covering Controversial Topics in an Age of Media Hype

Noon
Feb. 4, 2008
Tucker Forum, Gannett Hall-Room 85

Barrett will also give a "brownbag" talk at the Missouri School of Journalism. His noon lecture will focus on how he does his brand of explanatory journalism in covering sensitive subjects. It will be based on his "American Islam" book and his book, "The Good Black: A True Story of Race in America," an account of a racial discrimination case brought by a Harvard-trained black attorney.

Barrett worked at the Wall Street Journal for 18 years as a reporter and editor before moving to BusinessWeek to direct the investigative reporting team from 2005-2007. He is now focusing on legal and investigative projects at the Journal. Barrett has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize three times in his 22 years as a journalist and author. He has received awards the Missouri School of Journalism for feature writing and editing, as well as the American Bar Association.

Barrett will sign copies of his book, "American Islam: The Struggle for the Soul of a Religion,” after both events. Copies of the book will be for sale.

Sponsored by the MU Center on Religion & the Professions

A blog about faith, values and spirituality in the media, from CORP faculty, staff and friends.

ReligiousLife@MU
A blog about religious life at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Curious about how religion affects your profession? Click on your discipline for some ideas.

Read the latest surveys and polls on religion, beliefs, trends and current events here.

See list of professional and faith organizations here.

Read scholarly and professional journals about religion and medicine, journalism, political science and more here.