Monthly Archives: August 2008
Evangelicals pleasantly surprised with McCain’s VP
By Tracy Gordon — August 30, 2008
Though stunned like everyone else, evangelicals are praising Sen. John McCain’s pick for vice presidential nominee as a woman who agrees with their anti-abortion views. Introducing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at an Ohio rally Friday (Aug. 29), McCain called her “someone with strong principles, a fighting spirit and deep compassion.” Palin, a conservative Christian, has […]
Israel authorities begin digital conservation of Dead Sea Scrolls
By Tracy Gordon — August 30, 2008
JERUSALEM-Sixty years after the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Israeli authorities have begun the process of conserving the precious pieces of ancient parchment through digital technology.
Update: Dalai Lama is in good health
By Tracy Gordon — August 30, 2008
The Dalai Lama is in good health, said doctors in Mumbai, India, according to the exiled Tibetan leader’s office.
Danny Glover seeks prayers for Louisiana
By Tracy Gordon — August 30, 2008
DENVER-Actor Danny Glover spoke to Louisiana’s Democratic National Convention delegates Thursday (Aug. 29), leading them in a prayer that New Orleans be spared from Tropical Storm Gustav’s fury.
Evangelicals pleasantly surprised with McCain’s VP choice
By Adelle M. Banks — August 30, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Pleasantly surprised evangelicals are praising Sen. John McCain’s pick for vice presidential nominee as a woman who embodies their values _ particularly on abortion. Introducing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at an Ohio rally Friday (Aug. 29), McCain said she is “someone with strong principles, a fighting spirit and deep […]
COMMENTARY: Pelosi flat out wrong on abortion
By Tracy Gordon — August 30, 2008
People will use practically anything for politics, but when they use their religion it’s a bit breathtaking. Nancy Pelosi left a lot of Catholics gasping Sunday morning (Aug. 24), when she skewed Catholic teaching on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and erroneously suggested the church did not always oppose abortion. The House Speaker went well beyond […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — August 30, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service UpDATE: Dalai Lama is in good health (RNS) The Dalai Lama is in good health, said doctors in Mumbai, India, according to the exiled Tibetan leader’s office. “The doctors attending on him have given assurances that there is absolutely no cause for concern,” the Dalai Lama’s office said in a […]
September Ramadan means long days of fasting
By Jeff Diamant — August 30, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service NEWARK, N.J. _ Fasting from sunrise to sunset for 30 days, as Muslims begin doing early next week to mark the Islamic month of Ramadan, is never easy. But some years are harder than others. That’s because Islam’s lunar calendar guarantees that, over a 33-year cycle, Ramadan will occur in […]
GUEST COMMENTARY: Pelosi flat out wrong on abortion
By Sister Mary Ann Walsh — August 30, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) People will use practically anything for politics, but when they use their religion it’s a bit breathtaking. Nancy Pelosi left a lot of Catholics gasping Sunday morning (Aug. 24) when she skewed Catholic teaching on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and erroneously suggested the church did not always oppose abortion. […]
Praying in a multicultural world
By Adelle M. Banks — August 30, 2008
As the election season continues to unfold, there are new ways of giving benedictions in our multicultural world. Florida megachurch pastor Joel Hunter broke the mold by interrupting the final benediction of the Democratic National Convention to request that all who prayed with him “close this prayer in the way your faith tradition would close […]
Poking the Buddha
By Daniel Burke — August 29, 2008
If St. Augustine can have a Myspace page, then I guess it’s cool if the Buddha’s on Facebook. Also, I’m told you can send someone good karma via Facebook. Here’s the Facebook version of a Zen sesshin: Q: Why can’t I use a limited edition karma that my friend just sent me? A: You can […]
Palindrome
By Mark Silk — August 29, 2008
First thought: Gilgoff’s right to draw attention to Richard Land’s enthusiasm for Palin as Veep in his CBS interview of a few weeks ago. So she’s the ticket’s energizer bunny: activated evangelicals plus Alaska oil. See Sarah run. Second thought: Palin gives religious right leaders–real, supposed, or would-be–all the grounds they need to jump on […]
Mile High Civil Religion
By Mark Silk — August 29, 2008
For connoisseurs of religion in American public life, last night’s stadium extravaganza offered a couple of tasty morsels. Let me begin with Rev. Joel Hunter’s benediction, which ended with the novelty of asking all attendees to pray in the name of whatever they pray in the name of. Or as he put it: Now I […]
We all make sacrifices
By Kevin Eckstrom — August 29, 2008
Big news out of the Empire State, yesterday, where police in Greenburgh, NY, nabbed a father-son duo they say mistreated animals with the intent of sacrificing them in Santeria rituals. From our friends at the Lower Hudson Journal-News: “Authorities found a pen containing about 30 goats and sheep; a half-dozen crates full of chickens, pigeons […]
Muslims find welcome at Democrats’ party
By David Finnigan — August 29, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service DENVER _ Muslim leaders here say the Democratic National Committee is welcoming their rising profile in the party, even as Democrats’ presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, battles false rumors that he is Muslim. As the Democratic National Convention draws to a close tonight with Obama’s official acceptance of the nomination, […]
Page 1 of 22
