story by Laurie McLaughlin
photo by Matt Brown
Back in the late ’80s, James Griffith and James Rietveld trekked to campus from their apartments on the other side of the Orange (57) Freeway. Along the way, they’d discuss big plans for the future.
“As we were walking through the arboretum on the way to class, we would throw ideas back and forth,” says Griffith ’92 (B.A. history). Fifteen years later, one of these ideas became a reality when Sacred History Magazine, with Griffith as publisher and Rietveld ’91, ’98 (B.A., M.A. history) as editor-in-chief, hit newsstands across the nation in November 2005.
From the Da Vinci Code book, movie and attendant controversy to the questions surrounding the religion of Abraham Lincoln, Sacred History is designed to explore the issues related to religion – in all its forms – and its history and fulfill a demand by an audience interested in entertaining and authoritative reporting. “We are in print what you would find on the History Channel, Discovery or A&E,” says Griffith. “More than ever before, people are interested in the idea of sacred history.”
“Star Trek and Religion,” “The Theology of Coffee,” “Sayings of Jesus in Islamic Culture,” “Mary and Isis: Two Versions of the Virgin” – from pop culture and global events to fresh views on conventional religious history – the goal Griffith and Rietveld are pursuing with their glossy is to “bring the conversation from academic circles to the general public,” says Rietveld. His father is CSUF’s popular professor of history, Ronald Rietveld, who serves on the Sacred History academic editorial staff with Charles Frazee, professor of history, emeritus. “There’s so much high drama within the intersection of history and religion, and there was a huge gap in the marketplace,” Rietveld adds.
Sacred History was selected as one of the best magazines of 2005 by The Library Journal www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6328044.html and as one of the best start-up magazines by Mr. Magazine www.mrmagazine.com/30notable.html. “The public craves this information,” Rietveld says. “We’ve taken the intimidation out of the topic and created a magazine for everyone.” 
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