Monthly Archives: May 2006
Door-to-Door Soliciting Pays Off for Orthodox Jews
By Jeff Diamant — May 10, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service TEANECK, N.J. _ They are part of the scenery every Sunday in this city’s Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods _ Israeli, Russian and Brooklyn Jews going house to house asking for money. In an uneven stream, poor widows, parents of ill children, men out of work, and emissaries for Israeli schools and […]
Technology Emerges as Salvation of Christian Music Industry
By RNS Blog Editor — May 10, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Not long ago, illegal downloads flattened CD sales and sent the music industry into a panic. But that seems forgotten now, or nearly so, as Christian labels and artists and their mainstream counterparts are looking to technology to revolutionize how they reach listeners. Technology, once decried as the music […]
Christian music revived by technology; Orthodox Jews collect door-to-door
By RNS Blog Editor — May 10, 2006
In Tuesday’s RNS report Beau Black reports on how technology is reviving the Christian music industry: Technology, once decried as the executioner of the music business, is now seen by many as its salvation. Not long ago, illegal downloads flattened CD sales and sent the industry into a panic. But that seems forgotten now, or […]
COMMENTARY: Why I’m Nervous About `United 93’
By Hesham Hassaballa — May 10, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Sept. 11, 2001 was one of the darkest days of my adult life. The memories of the pain and fear I felt on that day are still vivid more than four years later. As an American Muslim, the attacks of Sept. 11 hurt me twice over: first, it hurt […]
COMMENTARY: Customer Service 101 for Churches
By Tom Ehrich — May 10, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Listen up, church leaders. This parable is for you. Dell Computer Corp. is losing a repeat customer, because their process and data requirements overwhelmed my need to buy their product. Last week I wanted to order a $39 USB memory key. Dell’s Web site required me to locate a […]
Episcopalians Sidestep Crisis Over Potential Gay Bishop
By Piet Levy — May 9, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) The Episcopal Church sidestepped a potential crisis Saturday (May 6) when a married father of two was elected bishop of San Francisco over three openly gay contenders. The Rt. Rev. Mark Handley Andrus, 49, the suffragan (assistant) bishop of Birmingham, Ala., won a seven-person race to replace Bishop William […]
Is Pop Culture’s Favorite Rabbi the Next Dr. Phil?
By Ansley Roan — May 9, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service NEW YORK _ Reality TV star and rabbi _ not words that are often used to describe one person. Unless that person is Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, star of the show, “Shalom in the Home.” This is a rabbi, after all, who has been described as Dr. Phil with a Yiddish […]
Corts Leave Samford After Surviving Baptist Battles
By RNS Blog Editor — May 9, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service BIRMINGHAM, Ala. _ One longtime observer of Thomas Corts says the perfect parting gift for Samford University’s 17th president would be a balancing pole of the type used by high-wire walkers. The 64-year-old Corts, who will retire at the end of May, would never be mistaken for the late Karl […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — May 9, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service Six Muslims Charged in U.K. Cartoon Riots LONDON (RNS) Six Muslims have been charged in connection with angry demonstrations in London more than three months ago over cartoons published in Europe lampooning the Prophet Muhammad. The six face charges ranging from soliciting to murder and stirring up racial hatred, to […]
COMMENTARY: The Proper Role for Religion in State Affairs
By RNS Blog Editor — May 9, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) I have always been wary of those who claim to be sure of the truth about the biggest questions. If God has a plan, it will be carried out. That is heaven’s jurisdiction, not ours. If, however, one believes that Creation has given us both life and free will, […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — May 6, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service Southern Baptist Group Repents of Church’s `Triumphalism’ (Editors: Reccord in 8th graf is CQ) (RNS) A gathering of about 30 Southern Baptist conservatives has drafted a declaration that repents of “triumphalism” within their ranks and says their denomination’s unity is threatened by a “narrowing” of cooperation with fellow Christians. The […]
Irreverent Journal Spreads `Holy Mischief’
By RNS Blog Editor — May 6, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Open a copy of Geez, and you’ll find “postmodern drivel,” as one reader ranted, or “great joy and comfort,” as another raved. You’ll also find: _ A running excerpt from Thor Hyerdahl, the author of “Kon-Tiki,” on how, at 22, he and his new wife found Eden on a […]
Germany Prepares for World Cup _ And Prostitutes
By Rachel Cohen — May 6, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ As they prepare for next month’s World Cup and the arrival of millions of soccer fans, German authorities are taking every precaution to guard against terrorist threats, hooligans and other potential problems. But Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., and a coalition of religious and human rights organizations charged this […]
Small Churches Find They Must Change or Die
By RNS Blog Editor — May 6, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service CHELSEA, Ala. _ When Leonard Irvin became pastor of Mount Signal Baptist Church in 2003, only about 10 people were attending its Sunday services. At its peak in the late 1960s, the church drew an average of 125. Attendance may never return to that level, but it has almost doubled […]
Germany prepares for prostitutes at World Cup; Small churches adapt to survive; and Geez
By RNS Blog Editor — May 6, 2006
In Friday’s RNS report Robert Cohen reports that religious and human rights organizations are complaining about Germany’s preparations to accommodate sex workers during the World Cup: As they prepare for next month’s World Cup and the arrival of millions of soccer fans, German authorities are taking every precaution to guard against terrorist threats, hooligans and […]
