Monthly Archives: September 2008
Citizen John McPaine
By Mark Silk — September 24, 2008
“THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from putting their country first; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and votes of man and woman. A credit crunch, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with […]
When the Irreligious Come to Shove
By Mark Silk — September 24, 2008
The latest SUSA poll of Washington State serves as an excellent example of how having a big religiously indifferent population works for Obama. Regular worship attenders constitute 37 percent of the population and so do those who attend almost never. Occasional attenders weigh in at 25 percent. The latter divide evenly, 48-48, between McCain and […]
Smoked
By Mark Silk — September 24, 2008
The news is beginning to sink in that Obama has not managed to change the voting preferences of the most religious white voters, evangelicals especially.To explain why Obama’s “much vaunted religious outreach campaign…isn’t working,” pastordan has recourse to the idea that it’s just very difficult to move socially conservative evangelicals. I agree with that, but […]
Honest and Trustworthy
By Mark Silk — September 24, 2008
According to the latest Post/ABC poll, over the past two weeks Obama has gone from two points down to 9 points up (47-49 to 52-43). The WaPo headline attributes the shift to the economy, which is now the top concern of 50 percent of respondents, up from 37 percent. And, indeed, Obama’s edge on handling […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — September 24, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service Priest scraps plans for anti-abortion society of priests (RNS) An outspoken Catholic priest has scrapped plans to build a religious society of priests dedicated solely to fighting abortion, just two years after its founding. The Rev. Frank Pavone said the religious community he founded in 2006, the Missionaries of the […]
Rabbis use high holidays to make ethics a part of kosher
By Nicole Neroulias — September 24, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service NEW YORK _ At the Jewish supermarket closest to Rabbi Gerald C. Skolnick’s synagogue in Queens, N.Y., all the groceries are certified kosher, including rows of refrigerated chicken legs and hamburger patties. But Skolnik checks the poultry labels carefully, avoiding cuts from Agriprocessors, the Iowa meatpacking plant charged with more […]
Taxi drivers mark Ramadan with Iftar-on-the-go meals
By Peter Sachs — September 24, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service CHICAGO _ Each evening at about 6:30 p.m., Idrees Muhammad sets out a modest feast in Shan Foods, a part-eatery, part-convenience store on the city’s north side. A fleet of taxi cabs pulls up to the strip mall soon after. Sweetened milk, a container of dates, a tray of fruit […]
Taxi drivers mark Ramadan with Iftar-on-the-go meals
By Tracy Gordon — September 24, 2008
CHICAGO-Each evening at about 6:30, Idrees Muhammad sets out a modest Iftar feast in a part-restaurant, part-convenience-store on Chicago’s north side. Sweetened milk, a container of dates, and a tray of fruit tossed with cumin and cinnamon await hungry cab drivers who come each day to this seemingly unlikely gathering spot during the holy month […]
Anti-Muslim, Anti-Jewish views on rise in Europe
By Tracy Gordon — September 24, 2008
A growing number of Europeans have negative views of Jews and Muslims, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center.
Presbyterians launch fast to build solidarity with poor, hungry
By Tracy Gordon — September 24, 2008
WASHINGTON-The Presbyterian Church (USA) is inviting all Presbyterians to participate in a monthly church-wide fast for “repentance, reflection, and coordinated actions” to empathize with those suffering from hunger and famine around the world.
Priest scraps plans for anti-abortion society of priests
By Tracy Gordon — September 24, 2008
An outspoken Catholic priest has scrapped plans to build a religious society of priests dedicated solely to fighting abortion, just two years after its founding.
COMMENTARY: The competency gap
By Tom Ehrich — September 24, 2008
For years now, the putative “best and brightest” have been going into business and finance. It’s where the money is-seven-figure salaries, as opposed to $35,000 to teach children. It’s where to find exciting challenges like creating an enterprise from scratch. It’s where a determined leader can make a difference. Why, then, is our economy such […]
COMMENTARY: The competency gap
By Tom Ehrich — September 24, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) For years now, our putative “best and brightest” have been going into business and finance. Graduates of the finest colleges and universities, whose resumes are litanies of preparation for leadership, have sought employment in banking, business consulting, corporate law and technology. It’s where the money is _ seven-figure salaries, […]
Nones
By Mark Silk — September 23, 2008
Barry Kosmin has posted the preliminary profile of America’s religious “Nones” from the new American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS II), including the finding that the proportion of Nones now identifying as Republicans has sunk to 12 percent.
Taking the Pledge
By Mark Silk — September 23, 2008
The Interfaith Alliance is taking on the Alliance Defense Fund’s Pulpit Freedom Initiative with a clergy petition drive swearing off endorsements from the pulpit.
