Walker selected for 'Newsweek'/'Washington Post' panel

Brent Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee, has been named a panelist for a joint project of The Washington Post and Newsweek magazine.

“On Faith” is an online conversation on religion and its implications led by Newsweek’s editor, Jon Meacham, and author and journalist, Sally Quinn.

Walker said, “I am very excited about this opportunity to amplify the voice of the BJC.”

Panelists are posed a question each week and are invited to respond on their individual blogs at newsweek.washingtonpost.com. Readers are encouraged to comment on the panelists’ essays.

According to the “On Faith” Web site, “We think that the online world, with its limitless space, offers us a unique opportunity to carry on a fruitful, intriguing, and above all constructive conversation about the things that matter most.”

Meacham and Quinn said the site provides a forum for “sane and spirited talk, drawing on a remarkable panel of distinguished figures from the academy, the faith traditions, and journalism.”

Walker joined the conversation on the sixth anniversary of 9/11, in response to a question concerning religious extremists.

“Our goal should be the greatest amount of religious freedom and zero tolerance for violence in the name of religion,” Walker said.

Relating to John McCain’s assertion that the United States is a Christian nation, the October 1 question asked panelists whether or not they would consider a candidate’s religious background in deciding for whom to vote. Walker responded, “The fundamental inquiry for our leaders should be who can lead best and uphold our Constitution —not who is the most devout Christian or devotee of any other religion for that matter.”

— Staff