Monthly Archives: February 2006
The Controversial Cartoons
By Kevin Eckstrom — February 8, 2006
The BBC’s Magdel Abdelhadi has an illuminating take on why the Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad have proved so controversial. Abdelhadi says it’s not the cartoons per se that have upset Muslims around the world. The money quote: There seems to be a confusion between two issues: the Islamic ban on any pictorial representation […]
Cross Ministry founder won’t be seeing “Brokeback Mountain”
By Tracy Gordon — February 7, 2006
Quote of the Day: Tim Wilkins, Executive Director of Cross Ministry “I will avoid the movie like a slug avoids an overturned saltshaker and for the life of me, cannot understand why any evangelical would see it.” -Tim Wilkins, founder and director of Cross Ministry, a Wake Forest, N.C.-based organization that believes gays can leave […]
Moderate Muslims, Christians Worry Hamas Will Restrict Religious Freedom
By RNS Blog Editor — February 7, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service JERUSALEM _ Moderate Muslims and Christians in the West Bank and Gaza say they fear that Hamas, which scored a stunning victory in last month’s Palestinian elections, will apply a strict interpretation of Islamic law that will hinder religious freedom. But so far, Hamas has not acted on promises to […]
Global Islamic Anger Swells Over Caricatures of Prophet
By RNS Blog Editor — February 7, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Islamic anger over published caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad continued to erupt Monday (Feb. 6), leading to deaths in Afghanistan and a Muslim-American defense of economic boycotts, while Danish cartoonists hid in fear. Religious and political leaders called for calm, with some Muslims alleging Islamic extremist groups were fomenting […]
Bible’s Most Erotic Book Elicits Passion _ and Discomfort
By Adelle M. Banks — February 7, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) When Denise and Roger Friesen planned a Valentine’s Day dinner for their Omaha, Neb., church, they immediately knew their theme: the Song of Solomon _ sometimes called the Song of Songs _ the sexiest book in the Bible. “O, that you would kiss me with the kisses of your […]
Excerpts From Song of Solomon, the Bible’s Sexiest Book
By RNS Blog Editor — February 7, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Here are some excerpts from the Bible’s Song of Solomon: “O that you would kiss me with the kisses of your mouth! For your love is better than wine.” _ Chapter 1, verse 2 “My beloved is mine and I am his.” _ Chapter 2, verse 16 “How fair […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — February 7, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service Burned Alabama Churches Vow to Rebuild as Search for Arsonist Continues BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS) Parishioners on Sunday (Feb. 5) returned to five Alabama churches that were set afire, with promises to rebuild and offers of forgiveness for the arsonist who is being sought by investigators. Three churches were completely destroyed […]
COMMENTARY: Stop Tarring Faiths as `Terrorist’
By RNS Blog Editor — February 7, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) A Protestant and a Catholic murdered in a pub because they were friends having a drink together. A young woman killed in her bed. A journalist assassinated. All crimes committed by loyalist paramilitary forces in Northern Ireland who are fervent in their self-identity as Protestants. Acts of Christian terrorism? […]
Danish cartoon controversy; Apprehension over Hamas election; Song of Solomon
By RNS Blog Editor — February 7, 2006
Islamic anger over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad continues to swell across the globe, report London correspondent Al Webb and Washington correspondent David Barnes: Islamic anger over published caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad continued to erupt Monday, with deadly violence in Afghanistan and a defense of economic boycotts in the U.S., all while Danish cartoonists […]
Bono has high praise for “worship leaders”
By Tracy Gordon — February 7, 2006
Quote of the Day: U2 Singer Bono “I believe being a worship leader is the highest of all art forms, to worship and call people into the presence of God.” –U2 frontman Bono, discussing Christian and secular music with a small group of reporters after the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday (Feb. 2).
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — February 6, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service Conservative Christians in Canada Heartened by Election TORONTO (RNS) Conservative Christians in Canada are expressing cautious optimism about the Monday (Jan. 23) federal election of political leaders that could be receptive to their issues. Led by Prime Minister-designate Stephen Harper, the Conservative Party won a minority government with 124 seats […]
Pat Robertson explains recent comments
By Tracy Gordon — February 4, 2006
Quote of the Day: Religious Broadcaster Pat Robertson “I’ve been doing TV for years and years. And the problem is, I ad-lib.” -Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, explaining in a Thursday (Feb. 2) interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America” why he suggested the United States should assassinate President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and later implied Israeli […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — February 4, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service Bankrupt Diocese Offers Settlement in Sex Abuse Suit (RNS) The Roman Catholic diocese of Spokane, Wash., has offered a $47.5 million settlement package that includes several unprecedented nonmonetary concessions to victims’ demands. The diocese will institute new policies on behalf of sex abuse victims, including referring to plaintiffs as “victims” […]
Artists Try to Make Gulf Coast Stained-Glass Windows Whole Again
By Doug MacCash — February 4, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service METAIRIE, La. _ The Attenhofer Stained Glass Restoration and Design Studio, housed in an unremarkable brick storefront, would seem an unlikely place for the spheres of heaven and earth to intersect. Yet in the post-Katrina cosmos, that appears to be the situation. Hurricane Katrina devastated sacred as well as secular […]
COMMMENTARY: A Beatle’s Surprising Spirituality
By Amanda Greene — February 4, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Apart from sharing a Feb. 25 birthday with former Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, singer, songwriter and former Beatle George Harrison never had much to do with politics. One of his few overtly political acts took place in 1992, when he came out in support of John Hagelin, […]
