Beliefnet
Encyclopedia
Beliefnet is a large multi-faith e-community that aims to provide a free forum for religious information and inspiration
, spiritual tools, and discussions and dialogue groups. Beliefnet provides information about various religious and spiritual beliefs, ranging from Christian denomination
s to atheism
to smaller faiths like Zoroastrianism
. It interviews religious figures, offers articles and blogs on various creeds, has collaborated with Newsweek and Time and has partnerships with The Wall Street Journal, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and Fox Faith. Beliefnet is not affiliated with any spiritual organization or movement.
The side businesses were abandoned in 2001. In April 2002 the company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy
, a month after co-founder Steven Waldman
became its chief executive. It emerged from bankruptcy in October 2002.
In July 2005, the company reported that it had raised $7 million in new funding, and that "The site's traffic patterns more or less mirror the [U.S.] population as a whole," with roughly 70% of the site's traffic related to Christian interests, and about 70% of the site's visitors being women, mainly in the age range of 35 to 45 years old.
Beliefnet at one time co-sponsored a series called "Beliefnet Guides to...," including books on Evangelical Christianity and Kabbalah.
On December 4, 2007, Beliefnet announced it had been acquired by the Fox Entertainment Group
for an undisclosed amount of money. Waldman, who became editor-in-chief of the company after its acquisition by Fox, left in November 2009.
By May 2010 traffic to the site had dropped from 2.8 million unique visitors to 2.4 million and NewsCorp was seeking a buyer for the site.
On June 25, 2010, Beliefnet was acquired by BN Media, an entity that includes the investors behind Cross Bridge and Affinity4.
Biblical inspiration
Biblical inspiration is the doctrine in Christian theology that the authors and editors of the Bible were led or influenced by God with the result that their writings many be designated in some sense the word of God.- Etymology :...
, spiritual tools, and discussions and dialogue groups. Beliefnet provides information about various religious and spiritual beliefs, ranging from Christian denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
s to atheism
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
to smaller faiths like Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
. It interviews religious figures, offers articles and blogs on various creeds, has collaborated with Newsweek and Time and has partnerships with The Wall Street Journal, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and Fox Faith. Beliefnet is not affiliated with any spiritual organization or movement.
History
The site, launched on December 28, 1999, initially included side businesses such as an online store and building Web sites for houses of worship. Between the fall of 1999 and the spring of 2000, the company raised $26 million in funding.The side businesses were abandoned in 2001. In April 2002 the company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
, a month after co-founder Steven Waldman
Steven Waldman
Steven Waldman is Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, serving out of the Office of Strategic Planning. Previously, Waldman was the Editor-in-Chief, President, and co-founder of Beliefnet, a multi-faith spirituality website....
became its chief executive. It emerged from bankruptcy in October 2002.
In July 2005, the company reported that it had raised $7 million in new funding, and that "The site's traffic patterns more or less mirror the [U.S.] population as a whole," with roughly 70% of the site's traffic related to Christian interests, and about 70% of the site's visitors being women, mainly in the age range of 35 to 45 years old.
Beliefnet at one time co-sponsored a series called "Beliefnet Guides to...," including books on Evangelical Christianity and Kabbalah.
On December 4, 2007, Beliefnet announced it had been acquired by the Fox Entertainment Group
Fox Entertainment Group
The Fox Entertainment Group is an American entertainment industry company that owns film studios and terrestrial, cable, and direct broadcast satellite television properties...
for an undisclosed amount of money. Waldman, who became editor-in-chief of the company after its acquisition by Fox, left in November 2009.
By May 2010 traffic to the site had dropped from 2.8 million unique visitors to 2.4 million and NewsCorp was seeking a buyer for the site.
On June 25, 2010, Beliefnet was acquired by BN Media, an entity that includes the investors behind Cross Bridge and Affinity4.
Site contents
Beliefnet offers eCards, discussions, quizzes, meditations, prayers, and "Soulmatch." Discussions are oriented toward specific groups of people, such as couples and teens, topics ranging from abortion to sexism, and dozens of religious faiths. Specific discussion "boards" exist to ask questions about religions and engage in interfaith dialogue as well as debate and criticism. Boards are hosted by volunteers and supervised by Beliefnet producers.Awards
Beliefnet received the National Magazine Award for General Excellence Online back in 2007 under its founder.Notable contributors
- Elliott AbramsElliott AbramsElliott Abrams is an American attorney and neoconservative policy analyst who served in foreign policy positions for two Republican U.S. Presidents, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. While serving for Reagan and in the State Department, Abrams, Paul Wolfowitz, and retired U.S. Marine Corps officer...
- Sam HarrisSam Harris (author)Sam Harris is an American author, and neuroscientist, as well as the co-founder and current CEO of Project Reason. He received a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Stanford University, before receiving a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA...
- Andrew SullivanAndrew SullivanAndrew Michael Sullivan is an English author, editor, political commentator and blogger. He describes himself as a political conservative. He has focused on American political life....
- Marcus BorgMarcus BorgMarcus J. Borg is an American Biblical scholar and author. He is a fellow of the Jesus Seminar, holds a DPhil degree from Oxford University and is Hundere Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture, an endowed chair, at Oregon State University, from which he retired in 2007...
- Rod DreherRod DreherRod Dreher is an American writer and editor. He was a conservative editorial writer and a columnist for The Dallas Morning News, but departed that newspaper in late 2009 to affiliate with the John Templeton Foundation. He has also contributed in the past to The American Conservative and National...
- David Kuo
- Jim WallisJim WallisJim Wallis is an American evangelical Christian writer and political activist. He is best known as the founder and editor of Sojourners magazine, and of the Washington, D.C.-based Christian community of the same name....
- Nell MinowNell MinowNell Minow is a film reviewer and writer who writes and speaks frequently on film and media, and corporate governance and investing.-Personal:...
- Michael A. O'DonnellMichael A. O'Donnell (author)Michael A. O'Donnell is an author, researcher, and international lecturer with a Ph.D. from Kansas State University and is best known for his Adolescent Wellness Research Project, co-conducted with family strengths scholar Nick Stinnett, Ph.D., a professor with the University of Alabama...