Charles Kimball is Presidential Professor and director of religious studies at the University of Oklahoma. He is the author of When Religion Becomes Evil: Five Warning Signs, and his most recent book is When Religion Becomes Lethal: The Explosive Mix of Politics and Religion in Judaism, Christianity and Islam (April 2011).

The Rev. Robin Meyers is a United Church of Christ pastor, syndicated columnist and professor of rhetoric at Oklahoma City University. Books he has written include Why the Christian Right Is Wrong: A Minister’s Manifesto for Taking Back Your Faith, Your Flag, Your Future.

A poll of nearly 500 college students, reported in the January-February 2006 issue of Skeptical Inquirer magazine, found that college seniors and graduate students were more likely to believe in paranormal concepts than freshmen.

In Oklahoma a bill was introduced in 2005 that would have replaced Columbus Day with Native American Day. The bill did not receive a committee hearing.

Toby Jenkins is the executive director of Oklahomans for Equality, based in Tulsa, Okla. The organization seeks equal rights for the LGBT community.

Rep. Frank D. Lucas, R-Okla., chairs the House Agriculture Committee.

May 29, 2013, NewsOK op-ed written by Oklahoma state representative and practicing physician Dr. Doug Cox stating his opposition to laws that restrict a woman’s right to contraception and an abortion.

May 4, 2013, Tulsa World article about the opening of the National Rifle Association’s annual convention and its vice president’s declaration of a “culture war” that includes gun rights.

Shmuel Shepkaru is an associate professor of Judaic history at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, where he teaches a course on Jewish mysticism.