Monthly Archives: December 2008
Riddle me this
By Mark Silk — December 18, 2008
Pastordan wants his friends in the RIC to “explain why, despite all evidence to the contrary, they thought it was a good idea to mainstream Rick Warren as a “moderate Evangelical.” Brody, meanwhile, has got scads of pro-lifers raging at Warren for being willing to anoint a pro-choicer president. Obama, for his part, claims this […]
Faith in Things Unseen
By Mark Silk — December 18, 2008
A few days ago, Anne Applebaum ululated on Slate that the Madoff affair portends the crippling of capitalism as we know it. Why? Not because the $50 billion that’s gone up in smoke is irrecoverable but because this pyramid scheme to end pyramid schemes will finally have destroyed the trust that has permitted us, or […]
Metropolitan Jonah
By Nicole Neroulias — December 18, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) As the new leader of the New York-based Orthodox Church in America, Metropolitan Jonah has inspired the group’s estimated 100,000 adherents to hope for a brighter future after years of financial mismanagement and scandal at the highest levels of their church. Born James Paffhausen, the 49-year-old convert who had […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — December 18, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service Warren and Lowery to deliver blessings at Obama inauguration (RNS) Megachurch pastor Rick Warren and civil rights leader Rev. Joseph Lowery will deliver the invocation and benediction, respectively, at President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration next month (Jan 20). The roles of Warren, a best-selling author and leader of Saddleback Church in […]
COMMENTARY: New year brings new fears, new hopes
By Phyllis Zagano — December 18, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Every year it’s the same. The final frenzy of gifts and guests moves to a crescendo, fades, then rebuilds with one last blast of noisemakers and confetti. And there it is: a bright spanking new year. This year it’s the same but different. You know, it’s the economy thing. […]
I’m dreaming of a green Hanukkah
By Nicole Neroulias — December 18, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Every December, the Sadeh family tries to bring Hanukkah back to its roots: a Jewish festival of lights that, technically, celebrates conservation. While others dream of a white Christmas, the Sadehs and other environmentally-conscious Jews strive for a green Hanukkah. It’s natural to turn a holiday about a one-day […]
You’re fired, God
By Daniel Burke — December 17, 2008
Sued by German creditors, Donald Trump is relying on an “Act of God” clause in his contract as an excuse from paying. Now, if he could just find the guy who makes that hair-piece. h/t: Sojo.
If the shoe hits
By Daniel Burke — December 17, 2008
When the Iraqi journalist threw a shoe at President Bush last week, was that a special Muslim, or Arab insult? Or was it simply the nearest weapon at hand? Dan Gilgoff explores that question in this piece. Money quote: “It’s one of those cases where we’re trying to make it a lot more alien and […]
RNS Weekly Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — December 17, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News ServicePalin’s church seriously damaged by suspicious fire(RNS) The Alaska evangelical church that former Republican vice-presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin calls home was severely damaged Friday (Dec. 12) by a fire that has been ruled suspicious by authorities.“Our building was damaged by a fire, and will need repairs before we can resume […]
Obama turns other cheek
By Mark Silk — December 17, 2008
Rick Warren to invoke at Inaugural. Jeez. Update: But at least Joe Lowery’s benedicting.
Boomer Faith
By Mark Silk — December 17, 2008
I’ve set Pastordan on a tear with my little shout-out on Mike McCurry’s version of How the Democrats Got Religion. While it’s always fun to bait him whether or not it drives up traffic (but thanks, Dan), let me essay a serious response. Soft-headed boomer that I am, McCurry’s account rings true in a way […]
Blackwell’s Play
By Mark Silk — December 17, 2008
Ambinder’s got a good line on former Ohio secretary of state Ken Blackwell’s alliance with Texas party chair Tina Benkiser; to win: Most significantly, this union gives evangelical Christians on the national committee a single ticket to join. Blackwell’s the all-out social conservative whose clock Ted Strickland cleaned in the 2006 gubernatorial race. Benkiser has […]
Testimonial
By Mark Silk — December 17, 2008
Maybe I’m missing something here, but yesterday’s letter from some prominent evangelicals paying tribute to departed National Association of Evangelicals governmental affairs VP Richard Cizik seems pretty weak tea. As in: “We know you had to fire his ass but he’s a great guy and we hope his replacement won’t just be doing abortion and […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — December 17, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service First Muslim congressman makes pilgrimage to Mecca (RNS) The first Muslim elected to Congress has become the first sitting member of that body to travel to Mecca for the hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest sites. “It was transformative. It was a wonderful experience,” Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., told […]
Religion shaped 2008 in big, dramatic ways
By Kein Eckstrom — December 17, 2008
Barack Obama may have chosen Joe Biden, and John McCain may have turned to Sarah Palin, but in the end the most sought-after running mate in the 2008 campaign never appeared on a single ballot. God, it seems, couldn’t be entirely wooed by either party. The unprecedented and extraordinary prominence of religion in the 2008 […]
