The Ethics and Public Policy Center hosted its semi-annual conference on religion and public life with some of the nation’s leading journalists on December 5-7, 2004 at the Pier House in Key West, Florida.

The conference, “Toward an Understanding of Religion, Politics, and Public Life,” featured three presentations:

1. “Religion, Rhetoric, and the Presidency” by Michael Gerson of the White House;
2. “The Surge of the Shi’is in Iraq and its Implications for the Middle East” by Yitzhak Nakash of Brandeis University; and
3. “Bioethics and Human Nature: Exploring Some Background Issues” by Gilbert Meilaender of Valparaiso University.

Twenty-four reporters and journalists from major newspapers, magazines, television, and radio networks attended the conference and participated in the lively discussions.

The full participant list is available to the right.

SELECT PRESS AND BLOG COVERAGE

• "The Man Who Puts Words in the President's Mouth Defends His Style," Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times, January 17, 2005
• "The Log and the Speck," Ross Douthat, The American Scene, January 16, 2005
• "Gerson Talks Religion," Terry Eastland, The Weekly Standard, December 23, 2004
• "A Hot Line to Heaven," John Parker, The Economist, December 16, 2004
• "There's Power in the Words," Terry Mattingly's "On Religion," December 15, 2004
• "White House Speechwriter Talks About the Bush Code," Ted Olsen, Christianity Today blog, December 14, 2004
• "Bush's References to God Defended by Speechwriter," Alan Cooperman, Washington Post, December 12, 2004
• "Bush Hardly a Zealot," Kathleen Parker, Orlando Sentinel, December 8, 2004

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CONFERENCE AGENDA

SUNDAY, DEC. 5, 2004

5:00 - 7:15 -- Reception (Havana Docks Sunset Deck)
7:30 -- Dinner (Harbor View Room)

(All meeting sessions will take place in the Cayman Room, in the Caribbean Spa Building.)

MONDAY, DEC. 6, 2004

• 7:45 - 8:45 -- Breakfast (One Duval Dining Room)
• 9:00 - 9:40 -- The Surge of the Shiites in Iraq and its Implications for the Middle East”  - Yitzhak Nakash, Brandeis University
• 9:40 - 10:05 -- Response — Franklin Foer, The New Republic
• 10:05 - 10:45 -- Q & A/ Discussion
• 10:45 - 11:00  -- Break
• 11:00 - 12:15 -- Q & A/ Discussion
• 12:30 - 2:00  -- Lunch (One Duval Deck)
• 2:00 - 2:40 -- “Religion, Rhetoric, and the Presidency”  - Michael Gerson, The White House
• 2:40 - 3:05 -- Response  - Carl Cannon, National Journal
• 3:05 - 3:45 -- Q & A / Discussion
• 3:45 - 4:00 -- Break
• 4:00 - 5:00 -- Q & A/ Discussion
• 5:00 - 7:00 -- Free Time
• 7:00 - 8:00  -- Cocktail Reception (Havana Docks Sunset Deck)
• 8:00  -- Dinner (Havana Docks Sunset Deck)

TUESDAY, DEC. 7, 2004

• 7:45 - 8:45 -- Breakfast (One Duval Dining Room)
• 9:00 - 9:40  -- “Bioethics and Human Nature: Exploring Some Background Issues”  - Gilbert Meilaender, Valparaiso University
• 9:40 - 10:05 -- Response  - William Saletan, Slate
• 10:05 - 10:45 -- Q & A/ Discussion
• 10:45 - 11:00 -- Break (Please check out before eleven)
• 11:00 - 12:15 -- Q & A/ Discussion
• 12:30 - 2:00  -- Lunch (One Duval Deck)