Getting started
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- September
- 25
Welcome to my blog. “On Religion,� I’m calling it.
I approach the whole thing with trepidation.
Why? First off, I’ve grown quite comfortable writing in the detached, pseudo-objective, third-person voice of a newspaper reporter. An article may have my byline on it, but I’m removed from the words. Like a narrator you hear but don’t see, I suppose.
Now I’m blogging. I still have to write what I see and hear and observe. But I can no longer pretend I’m not there. I have to be part of it. Like a host or a guide. Gary Stern in first person. “I. I. I. Me. Me. Me.�
Second, writing about religion, as a journalist, isn’t always easy. I’ve been on the beat for almost 10 years, trying to explain and interpret events in the religious realm. I do so while trying hard not to (unintentionally) offend any group, denomination, movement or sect.
I have a feeling that it will be easier to offend by blog.
If I write in my own voice while trying to make sense of some conflict, I can see partisan-types taking my observations as signs of bias or an agenda.
But maybe not. We’ll see.
Journalism evolved from the keeping of journals, right? Maybe a blog is just a modern journal. That’s how I’m going to look about it.
I’m writing notes and thoughts in my journal. But instead of translating them into newspaper-ese, my notes – succinct, pithy and insightful – become this blog.
The world of religion is an awfully big place. I’ll try to touch on events and trends, people and ideas, that are important or interesting (or even, on a good day, both). Let’s see how it goes.
This entry was posted
on Monday, September 25th, 2006 at 11:10 am by Gary Stern.
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The world of religion, we don't have to tell you, is vast. The purpose of this blog is for Stern to note, flag and comment on some of the more interesting religious developments on the scene – weighty and quirky, somber and laughable, far away and just down the road. He won't interpret Scripture, take sides in conflicts or judge anyone. But he will take advantage of the journalist's license to observe.
Gary,
Good Luck. Politics and Religion are the “touchiest” subjects in the world. I Enjoy discussing the good and bad in all the major religions. You have peaked my interest mildly. I will wait to see how things develop.
Just do me a favor, stay true to your “feeling” on whichever subject. ;-]