Boston Bureau

Sally Quinn Talks to Harvard

Writer Sally Quinn Wows Harvard Audience on Faith

 From atheist to believer, she describes her journey

By Libby Hughes, Boston Bureau of Cape Cod Today

Under a tent behind the Harvard Yard, students of all faiths gathered to celebrate the end of Ramadan for Muslims, who fast from dawn to sunset during the ninth month. When sunset turned to evening on September 23, Arab food of hummus, salad, nan (bread), rice, and samosas, along with fruit and brownies, was provided cafeteria style. It was open to anyone who wanted to join the festivities. The young Muslim men were ravenous after fasting and stood in line two and sometimes three times to fill their plates.

Harvard has 36 chaplains of every denomination to cater to the spiritual needs of all students. Some of them were there throughout the day to answer questions and welcome those of their own denomination.

Entertainment first

But the evening was filled with entertainment before the featured speaker. A large chorus sang Goombah, Jamaican music, reminiscent of the 1890 blues in America in the "call and response" of plantation workers. "Everything will be All Right" was the theme repeated again and again. Then a band played and a guitarist sang.

Sally Quinn shares her story

It was time for Sally Quinn to make her debut. They had signed her up a year ago for this occasion. She had a captive audience under the tent. In Arab terms, a tent is where only hospitality is expressed even to bitter enemies (perhaps American politicians should take note of this custom).

Rebellion and Bribery

Quinn, who is married to Harvard-educated Benjamin Bradlee-famed editor of The Washington Post during the Watergate Scandal-stepped forward in her desert sand pantsuit and riveted her audience with her personal evolution from atheist to a maverick believer. The young listeners were shocked to hear her admission that she had been an atheist since the age of six. There were childhood encounters with her military father (one of the originators of the CIA) that may have ignited these early feelings. Her parents were Episcopalians. At the age of thirteen, her father brought her a pair of exotic high heels from London and would only give them to her if she would go to church. She succumbed to bribery and sat in the front pew, so everyone would see her new shoes.

Journalist by accident

After graduating from Smith College, Quinn headed into Ben Bradlee's office to apply for a job. When he asked if she had ever written anything, she said "no." His reply was a simple, "Well, nobody's perfect" and hired her. She became a feature writer for the Style Section and had an acerbic turn of phrase that was compelling to readers.

Marriage and a challenging child

Obviously Bradlee was smitten with this Smith beauty and married her. They moved in high-powered circles. Once their child, Quinn Crowninshield Bradlee was born, she gave up her job for sixteen years to attend to his physical and mental disabilities. Sally continued to wear her badge of atheism, leaving her neighboring parents to read Bible stories to their grandson.

Gradual conversion

While young Quinn made his way through special needs schools and attended Landmark College for those with learning disabilities, he declared that he believed in God. His mother was still struggling with her own beliefs. Several years ago, she suggested to Jon Meacham, editor of Newsweek and a religious scholar, that they do a blog on faith. He turned it back on her and said that she should do it. "I'm an atheist," she replied. "I couldn't." His reaction was that the word "atheist" had a negative connotation. Quinn mulled over his comment. She had always been a positive person and this analysis gave her pause. Meecham gave her a pile of books on religion and away she went to read.

A crash course

Quinn went around the world to 13 countries and interviewed everyone about their religions. When she came back, she went to California and was invited to walk within a labyrinth. At the center, she found the most beautiful tree with branches that reached out to embrace. To her this special tree represented her son, Quinn. She felt at peace. At her farm in Maryland, she built a labyrinth of concrete, where she can go to meditate.

Discussions about religion in D.C.

When Jimmy Carter became president, religion, which was once taboo in D.C. social circles, came back into conversations. Then, George W. Bush and the evangelicals hi-jacked religion away from the Democrats, according to Quinn. In the recent campaign, Democrats seem more relaxed in talking about religion. "I think that you have to be educated about all religions in the world to have an intelligent discussion about religion," Quinn observed. Young people of all faiths nodded their heads in agreement.

Her grown son today

The Bradlees'  24-year-old son has written a book called "A Different Life" about his life as someone with learning disabilities, which will be published in February of 2009. He will be starting a website soon. Naturally, his mother is especially very proud

Blog "On Faith"

Now, Sally Quinn writes a blog, called "On Faith" for Newsweek and The Washington Post. Although her growing faith doesn't have a denominational name, she says, "I wake up every morning grateful. Gratitude. I am grateful."

To resounding applause, her talk to Harvard students was over. This reporter asked her if she were planning to write a book about her own spiritual evolution. "I'm not there yet," she answered. Obviously, she is thinking about it.