Monthly Archives: October 2010
Study: Fox News watchers more likely to believe NYC mosque rumors
By Tracy Gordon — October 16, 2010
(RNS) Fox News watchers are more likely than other Americans to believe dubious claims about the proposed Islamic community center near Ground Zero, according to a new study. “The results are very clear: the more people use Fox News, the more rumors they have heard and believe,” said researchers at Ohio State University’s School of […]
At nuns’ college, extracurriculars take on new meaning
By Tracy Gordon — October 15, 2010
MEDHAM, N.J. (RNS) At first, the place looks like an artist’s — or marketer’s — conception of an ideal college campus. More than 100 acres of groomed and wooded land, just now bearing the red and yellow tinges of fall. Out of the natural beauty rises an imposing central building, its white cupola directing approaching […]
GUEST COMMENTARY: Why we can’t forget the Gulf
By Tracy Gordon — October 15, 2010
(RNS) Six months ago, we watched in horror as an offshore drilling rig exploded and five million barrels of oil began pouring into the Gulf. As people of faith — called to care both for God’s creation and for our brethren in need — we were inspired to respond immediately to the disaster. Faith communities […]
Friday’s Religion News Roundup
By Kevin Eckstrom — October 15, 2010
There’s a bit of a kerfuffle brewing in Memphis, Mich., where signs at First Baptist Church have ticked off the locals, especially Catholic priests. The newest one: “God calls pastors to have their own wife thus avoiding fornication.” Someone get that church an editor. [Our apologies to the good folks at First Baptist in Memphis, […]
Why evangelicals dislike Mormons
By Mark Silk — October 15, 2010
As a footnote to the previous post, I should add that the Logan trip provided some new insight into why Mormons drive white evangelicals–especially Southern ones–crazy. Here’s a bunch of people who represent everything evangelicals aspire to, the ideal evangelical type: clean-cut wonderful looking people, polite, dedicated to family, who don’t drink or screw around, […]
Canadian court says judges will decide on veiled witnesses
By Tracy Gordon — October 15, 2010
TORONTO (RNS) Ontario’s highest court has ruled that female witnesses may testify in court while wearing a face-covering burqa or niqab, but such decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis by the presiding judge. In a 3-0 ruling released Wednesday (Oct. 13), the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that witnesses’ right to freedom of […]
European bishops establish Christian rights watchdog
By Tracy Gordon — October 15, 2010
WARSAW (RNS/ENInews) Roman Catholic bishops from across Europe have set up an organization to defend the rights of Christians and monitor prejudice across the continent. “Our first task will be to provide people around Europe with objective and reliable data about the anti-Christian discrimination which is taking place,” Thierry Bonaventura, media officer of the Council […]
After Teen Suicides, Christian Gay Opponents Look Inward
By Kevin Eckstrom — October 14, 2010
Huffington Post (RNS): When Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi killed himself after his roommate allegedly broadcast his sexual encounter with another man, the Rev. R. Albert Mohler wondered if anything could have prevented the 18-year-old’s suicide. Read more.
American Shariah? That’s news to Muslims
By Tracy Gordon — October 14, 2010
(RNS) Oklahoma state Rep. Rex Duncan expects his “Save Our State” referendum to keep Islamic law out of state courts to pass easily on Nov. 2. He’s less certain a similar measure could pass in Michigan. The reason? Muslims have already established a foothold in and around Detroit, and wield enough political power to stop […]
Can a country be fully Islamic and fully democratic?
By Tracy Gordon — October 14, 2010
MALE, Maldives (RNS) Can a nation that considers itself 100 percent Muslim also be a democracy without risking its Islamic identity and ideals? That’s what this tiny island nation off the southern coast of India is trying to do. Two years after the country embraced democracy, a literary festival imported from the West shows the […]
COMMENTARY: The real price of religious illiteracy
By Tracy Gordon — October 14, 2010
(RNS) It’s no secret that the United States is falling behind other nations in Asia and Europe in teaching math and science — necessary subjects and skills if America hopes to compete successfully in the 21st century. However, there was always one category where we remained a leader. Americans, as the most religious society among […]
Thursday’s Religion News Roundup
By Kevin Eckstrom — October 14, 2010
Sen. Sam Brownback, the likely next governor of Kansas, is putting some distance between himself and controversial Lou “God, the avenger of blood” Engle. In New York, Orthodox Jewish rabbis say GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino “folded like a cheap camera” when he backed off remarks (written by the rabbis) that called gays “dysfunctional” (that’s […]
Back from Logan, Utah
By Mark Silk — October 14, 2010
I’m back from my little sojourn at Utah State University–the former agricultural college that is now a splendid city on a hill at the Cache Valley end of beautiful Logan Canyon. They reckon that of its 15,000 undergraduates, 85 percent are LDS. The Mormon equivalent of a Catholic Newman Club and a Jewish Hillel House […]
Stem cell agency apologizes for `blasphemous’ poem
By Tracy Gordon — October 14, 2010
(RNS) The California agency that distributes public funds for stem cell research has apologized for honoring a poem that appropriated language from the sacrament of Holy Communion. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine held a poetry contest to promote Stem Cell Awareness Day and draw attention to the complex and controversial field of medical research. […]
Survey: Jewish disapproval of Obama rising
By Tracy Gordon — October 14, 2010
(RNS) President Obama’s approval rating among U.S. Jews has dropped in the past year, while opinions of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu have improved, according to a new survey released by the American Jewish Committee. The global advocacy organization pegged Jewish approval of Obama’s performance as president at 51 percent, down from 57 percent in March, […]
