Monthly Archives: September 2011
Religion writing awards wrap-up
By Kevin Eckstrom — September 21, 2011
A big shout-out to over very own Adelle M. Banks for taking home third place in the Religion Reporter of the Year awards contest sponsored by the Religion Newswriters Association. Adelle picked up her prize this past weekend at the RNA annual shindig in Durham, N.C. A few blurbs from her pieces (that’s her at […]
Tuesday Godbytes
By Jack Jenkins — September 21, 2011
The By Way of Beauty blog explores the spirituality of Paul Simon, calling his new album – which Boomers everywhere will soon be rocking out to during morning commutes – his “most spiritual” yet. Turns out he even did some spiritual “sampling” on the album, just like they do in the music those crazy teenagers […]
Many Americans see God’s hand in economy
By Tracy Gordon — September 20, 2011
(RNS) The way you see God tells a lot about how you see the U.S. economy, according to a new national survey. About one in five Americans combine a view of God as actively engaged in daily workings of the world with an economic conservative view that opposes government regulation and champions the free market […]
Does meditation help fuel entrepreneurial success?
By Tracy Gordon — September 20, 2011
(RNS) Entrepreneurs behave just like most Americans when it comes to religion — but with one spiritual twist. They’re significantly more likely to pray several times a day or to meditate, said sociologist Kevin Dougherty, a co-author of the Baylor Religion Survey that was released Tuesday (Sept. 20). The survey can’t answer whether prayerful, peaceful […]
Atheists press to ban creationism from U.K. schools
By Tracy Gordon — September 20, 2011
LONDON (RNS) A group of 30 leading scientists, including a Nobel laureate and a prominent atheist professor, are pressing the British government to ban all teaching of creationism in the nation’s publicly funded schools. The scientists delivered a petition to the coalition government of Prime Minister David Cameron as part of a new campaign to […]
Capitalism and Religion
By Mark Silk — September 20, 2011
Religion, according to Marx, is the opium of the people, and the sociologists at Baylor would be hard pressed to disagree. In their latest survey of Americans’ values and beliefs, disembargoed at 12:01 a.m. today, they find that the 41 percent plurality who “strongly agree” that “God has a plan for me” are disproportionately poorer […]
Tuesday’s Religion News Roundup
By Daniel Burke — September 20, 2011
After 18 years, the military’s Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell policy officially ended at midnight, and, as you can see from this AP video, gays and lesbians in San Diego had quite the party. Not partying: The LDS-owned Deseret News, which says there are still “significant concerns” about chaplains’ rights to oppose homosexuality on religious grounds. Americans […]
The ‘Protestant Ethic’ still works for Americans, and American politics
By Tracy Gordon — September 20, 2011
(RNS) Back in 1905, Max Weber’s landmark treatise on “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” argued that a Calvinist belief in God’s plan for the saved was crucial to the rise of capitalism because it inspired individuals to work hard and earn money as a sign of divine blessing on their lives. More […]
COMMENTARY: This is what desperation looks like
By Tom Ehrich — September 20, 2011
(RNS) What does it look like when the richest 5 percent of Americans grab 82 percent of economic growth while the middle class loses ground? For one, a surge in diaper rash. According to Advertising Age, parents are economizing by changing their babies’ diapers less frequently, as shown by a 9 percent drop in disposable […]
A History of Faith and Reason
By Mark Silk — September 20, 2011
Or, the Enlightenment and its aftermath. (Courtesy Googlebooks Ngram)
Monday Godbytes
By Jack Jenkins — September 20, 2011
Guess what? Iceland, which is about 80% Lutheran, apparently also has a lot of people who believe elves and ghosts totally exist. And by “a lot of people” I mean “about half the country.” No word on whether the elves are of the “Orlando Bloom” or “Santa’s Little Helper” variety: “Only 13 percent of participants […]
Atheists target clergy housing tax break
By Tracy Gordon — September 19, 2011
(RNS) A long-standing tax break for clergy and other “ministers of the gospel” is facing the newest in a string of challenges in federal court. The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation filed suit on Sept. 13 to challenge the constitutionality of tax deductions that clergy are allowed to claim on their housing expenses. The tax […]
Groups press Obama on religious hiring
By Tracy Gordon — September 19, 2011
WASHINGTON (RNS) Dozens of religious and civil rights organizations challenged President Obama to fulfill a campaign promise to end religious discrimination in federally funded jobs. “Mr. President, we have been patiently waiting,” said the open letter sent on Monday (Sept. 19). “If you have reversed your policy position on the issue of government-funded religious discrimination, […]
Monday’s Religion News Roundup
By Daniel Burke — September 19, 2011
Yr hmbl aggregator is exhausted and inspired after two days of shop talk with 200 fellow scribes at the Religion Newswriters Association conference in Durham, N.C. Special congrats to the awardees, especially the fetching Cassels Award winner, who holds a special place in this aggregator’s heart. The winning work will soon be posted at RNA.org. […]
Failing churches find new life as outposts for megachurches
By Tracy Gordon — September 19, 2011
PELHAM, Ala. (RNS) Five years ago, Living Word Church had dwindled to 40 members, had lost its founding pastor and was unable to pack more than about 80 people into its 280-seat sanctuary and unsure of the future. Now, it’s part of one of the nation’s largest megachurches — and could serve as a model […]
