Thursday Religion News Roundup: Rick Warren: Obama unfriendly to religion; Cairo court sentences seven Christians; Pussy Riot extremist

Rick Warren says President Obama is unfriendly to religion. A Cairo Court sentences to death seven Coptic Christians for participating in an anti-Islam video. Pussy Riot video too extremist for web.

First, the bad news. Unless you’re one of two people who bought winning tickets in Arizona and Missouri, you’re out of luck. The $587 million Powerball jackpot has been claimed.

President Obama is “absolutely” unfriendly to religion and his administration's policies have “intentionally infringed upon religious liberties,” says megachurch pastor Rick Warren, who gave the invocation at the president’s 2009 inauguration.

Pat Robertson criticized those who believe the Earth is only 6,000 years old. He says scientific evidence shows it’s much older.


Evangelical support for Fox News is even stronger now than before the election, according to a survey taken by Southern Baptist researcher-in-chief Ed Stetzer. This despite the network’s pundits who predicted a big win for Mitt Romney.

Speaking of Romney, he'll be lunching with the president today.

The teenage star of “Two and a Half Men” apologized Tuesday (Nov. 27) for calling his show unbiblical “filth.”

Onto international news, where there have been a rash of court rulings:

A Cairo court on Wednesday sentenced to death seven Coptic Christians tried in absentia for participating in an anti-Islam video that was released on the Internet in September and prompted violent protests in Muslim countries. Fortunately for them, the seven live abroad.

A Moscow court has ruled that the video of punk band Pussy Riot's performance in Russia's main cathedral is extremist and ordered it to be removed from the web.

A Polish court ruling that animals must be stunned before slaughter has Jewish groups up in arms, saying it could halt the production of kosher meat. Kosher law says the animal’s throat must be slit.  (The same applies to Muslim halal slaughter, btw).

Girls will be able to wear the headscarf during Quran instruction in Turkey, the government there has decided.


In the U.S., a judge has mostly rejected Crystal Cathedral founder Robert H. Schuller’s bankruptcy bid.

Bosnian Muslims are largely well integrated and often thriving in American society, reports Omar Sacirbey. But that hasn’t diminished the sense of injustice they feel over how the war ended.

The financially struggling (Thomas) Merton Institute for Contemplative Living is closing its doors after 17 years, reports Peter Smith of the (Louisville) Courier-Journal.

Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar has died.

There are more Muslims from America than any other country on this year’s “The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims.”

The Texas attorney general's office announced today that it was taking steps to try to seize the ranch of polygamous leader Warren Jeffs.

Finally, it’s not yet Advent (though Hanukkah is around the corner), but seasonal stories are multiplying. To wit:


First Lady Michelle Obama has unveiled the 2012 decorations in a special ceremony for selected military families and their children.

In the western Austrian region of Tyrol, people are dressing up like demons, wearing head to toe animal skins and wooden masks. It’s all part of an ancient pagan rite to scare off the ghosts of winter.

And, closer to home, international Dickens expert Elliot Engel has said Dickens’ writings did more to define current Christmas traditions than any other modern author.

For more seasonal stories, and a healthy dose of news, type in your email address and we’ll keep you updated:

 

 

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