Thursday Godbytes

As riots continue to ravage the U.K., Forbes (and the Daily Mail) offers a report on how Sikhs and Muslims are protecting their houses of worship from looters: “A number of people have suggested that the Tottenham riots are the fault of ‘multiculturalism’ (read: brown-skinned people). The facts on the ground tell a much different […]

As riots continue to ravage the U.K., Forbes (and the Daily Mail) offers a report on how Sikhs and Muslims are protecting their houses of worship from looters:

“A number of people have suggested that the Tottenham riots are the fault of ‘multiculturalism’ (read: brown-skinned people). The facts on the ground tell a much different tale, and suggest that while rioting and looting may be equal opportunity acts of violence, so too are the forces of order and compassion.”

I know we mentioned this little video in the morning’s Roundup, but it’s funny enough to bear repeating: Religious people are nerds.

“The great ‘What is a nerd?’ debate might be tired, but this video makes the whole argument worthwhile just by having a really great kicker.

After laying out in pretty convincing detail the ways in which religious people are, in fact, nerds, it ends with the most convincing piece of evidence. (We’ll let you watch to find out what that is – zing!)”

Still, maybe nerdom and religiosity go hand-in-hand: CNN reports that a new study finds more educated people to be more religious:


“After analyzing data from a large national survey, University of Nebraska-Lincoln sociologist Philip Schwadel found that people actually tend to become more religious – by some definitions, at least – as they further their education.”

Meanwhile, Politico reports that Rep. Peter King ((R-N.Y.) – who made waves this year for his hearings investigating Muslim extremism in the U.S. – is apparently a bit skeptical of a new film chronicling the death of Osama bin Laden:

“House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King on Wednesday demanded an investigation into a report that the White House is cooperating with a film on the mission to kill Osama bin Laden.

In a letter to the Defense Department and the CIA, King asked for a probe and classified briefing about any cooperation or consultation between the agencies and the producers of the film, set to be directed by Kathryn Bigelow, who in 2008 made ‘The Hurt Locker,’ which won six Oscars, including best picture and best director.”

Some folks at The Guardian think Christianity in the US is collapsing:

“The better class of evangelical preachers these days – those who aim to attract a more upscale clientele to their suburban megachurches – don’t say much about salvation. Like the secular self-help gurus they promise personal growth, ‘recovery’ and other this-worldly benefits. But the message is the same: it’s all about you. The church provides you with uplift, recipes for successful living, community, consolation, and encouragement – to meet your needs and satisfy your wants.”

And Sojourners’ God’s Politics blog offers a take on new media and the church:

“In our time, the explosion of new media – and in particular the ability of digital media to collapse time and space and to create real-time global connections – offers a 21st century model that may helpfully supplement older paradigms for understanding the church. We now have vivid examples of the ‘universal body of Christ’ that never before existed. The instantaneous global interactions made possible by new media provide us with tangible analogies of God’s transcendence – and immanence – that have the potential to lead to profound new insights and understandings about the very nature of God and God’s realm on earth.”

Oh, and since yesterday’s Tweet of the Day came from Stephen Colbert, it’s only fair that today’s should come from Jon Stewart and the folks at The Daily Show. They offer the following prediction about tonight’s GOP presidential debate in Iowa:

@TheDailyShow – #GOP 2012 hopefuls are heading to Iowa! Best Biblical justification for ethanol subsidies wins!

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