Faith & Law Reading Groups
Although Faith & Law lectures are important, the best way to renew your mind is to cultivate a thoughtful worldview in community. Led by current or veteran senior staff from Capitol Hill, Faith & Law Reading Groups are for congressional staff. Congressional Staff are busy, so rather than reading through a whole book, we read and discuss a short essay or article at each meeting. You wonít fall behind if you miss a meeting. Reading Groups meet bi-monthly. For recently discussed articles, see below:
A Crime So Monstrous
"If pimping is a per se crime, however, prostitutes need only name their pimp. Game over. Ironically, if only ìcoercedî pimping is prosecuted, violence against prostitutes increases: Pimps have more incentive to abuse prostitutes so as to make testimony impossible..."The Next President
"From the beginning, so very long ago, of the 2008 presidential campaign, many of the horde of self-proclaimed independent journalists reported that the Democrats were strategically moving toward the center, seeking some sort of common ground even with pro-lifers..."The Coming Religious Peace
"Human beings have never lacked for things to fight over, but for the last two millennia, they have fought the most over ideas involving the divine.."Crime, Drugs, Welfare
-and Other Good News
"Fifteen years ago, a deep pessimism seemed to be stalking the American landscape. It arose from diverse quarters, took different forms, and cited a congeries of different symptomsómilitary, economic, social, cultural, and spiritualóin support of its dark diagnosi..."
The Evangelical Crackup
"The pendulum in the Christian world has swung back to the moderate point of view. The real battle now is among evangelicals..."How Would Jesus Vote
"As an evangelical who worked in Democratic politics before entering journalism, I'm used to getting looks from liberals who are embarrassed for me when I use the E-word to describe myself..."Deconstructing Dawkins
"McGrath is, if anything, too generous with Dawkins. The Dawkins Delusion? is written with a scholarly care and graciousness that Dawkins lacks. Dawkins's arrogance and contempt lead him to be sloppy with his opponents' arguments. McGrath, despite his flaws, takes Dawkins seriously..."Join a Reading Group
With a vision to cultivate a deeper understanding of what it means for congressional staff to be called to and serve in the public square, reading groups provide staff an opportunity to think more deeply about the themes and topics presented in the Faith & Law lectures and to build fellowship with like-minded believers.
Every other week, reading groups with approximately 15-20 members meet to discuss readings that illumine current political, cultural or theological issues. For reading group meeting times and locations:
Email the Reading Groups Coordinator Here
The History of Reading Groups
The Capitol Hill reading groups were borne out of the Faith & Law Lecture Series and its vision to cultivate a deeper understanding of what it means for congressional staff to be called to, and serve in, the public square.
Mark Rodgers started the original Faith & Law reading group in 1994 out of a desire to think more deeply about the themes and topics presented in the Faith & Law lectures and to build fellowship with like-minded believers. The original reading group still meets today and has grown to include about 60 participants, mostly composed of senior aides in the House and Senate.