Monthly Archives: October 2013
No turning away, or back, after seeing ’12 Years a Slave’
By Cathleen Falsani — October 28, 2013
LOS ANGELES (RNS) Those scenes of slave owners using the Bible as a spiritual weapon against their slaves, weren’t poetic license. They actually happened. And it begs the question: How are we using the Bible today to enslave the “other” or each other?
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly Video: Catholic college identity
By Sally Morrow — October 28, 2013
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly asks, "What does it mean for a school to be Catholic?" The answer may be different for each university, particularly when it comes to homosexuality and abortion.
Is yoga religious? An Indian court mulls mandatory school exercises
By Vishal Arora — October 28, 2013
(RNS) India’s school policy considers yoga an integral component of physical education. But the court has expressed caution, and is considering arguments that yoga has a religious component.
Quote of the Day: President Obama
By Ron Ribiat — October 28, 2013
“C’mon guys, I’m going to church!” — President Obama, responding to reporters’ questions about problems with the government’s health care website, while walking to St. John’s Episcopal Church near the White House.
Quote of the Day: Southern Baptist leader Al Mohler
By Ron Ribiat — October 28, 2013
“I do not believe that we are going to heaven together, but I do believe we may go to jail together.” — The Rev. R. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in a speech to Mormon-owned Brigham Young University
Evangelical Pullback/Retreat
By Martin E. Marty — October 28, 2013
The public is getting used to headlines like these: “Evangelical Leader Preaches Pullback from Culture Wars” and “Southern Baptists Sounding Full-scale Retreat in Culture War?” The former is from The Wall Street Journal and the latter from Renew America. The theme has become a constant in the blog world and among public media, just as it has become a topic of conversation in churches, and wherever “culture wars” have been standard unsettlers, and where innocent bystanders have been unsettled.
Mega-church pastor Craig Groeschel says men need to learn how to fight
By Jonathan Merritt — October 28, 2013
The pastor of one of America's largest churches says men should "man up."
Redskins protests * Hookah menace * Honor oath: Monday’s Religion News Roundup
By Yonat Shimron — October 28, 2013
Hundreds of people rallied in Denver to protest the name of the Washington Redskins. Kuwait hard-liners want to ban shisha cafes. Air Force Academy cadets may no longer be required to say "So help me God."
Driving Miss Saudi * Rihanna’s #burqaswag * Atheist invasion: Religious Freedom Recap: Oct. 21 – 28
By Brian Pellot — October 28, 2013
Saudi women get behind the wheel. RiRi gets booted from an Abu Dhabi mosque. And London’s atheists take a shot at world domination.
The Mormon Themes in Elizabeth Smart’s Memoir
By Jana Riess — October 26, 2013
Elizabeth Smart did not lose faith, despite crushing circumstances. “The human spirit is resilient,” she says. “God made us so.”
Fifty years later, C.S. Lewis’ legacy shines in US, not his homeland
By Trevor Grundy — October 25, 2013
(RNS) C.S. Lewis may be the most popular Christian writer in history, but his influence is far greater in the U.S. than in his native Ireland. A conference on the 50th anniversary of his death will examine why.
UPDATED: Atheists step in to help Ohio pastor assaulted by ‘militant atheist’
By Kimberly Winston — October 25, 2013
(RNS) "This shouldn’t have happened," says atheist blogger Hemant Mehta. "We disagree with Christians all the time but that is not how we resolve our debate.”
D.C. clergy join push to change Redskins name
By Erik Brady — October 25, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) The Rev. Graylan Hagler, senior minister of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington, has been speaking out for more than 20 years against what he calls the "R word."
“Can You Read My Manuscript and Give Me Some Advice?”
By Jana Riess — October 25, 2013
People don't assume that accountants will do their taxes for free, or that a doctor will diagnose them for free. Why do we ask writers to give advice for free?
Our Papi * Dangerous Communion * New RNS Editor : Friday’s Religion News Roundup
By Kevin Eckstrom — October 25, 2013
There's a new sheriff in town here at RNS, and he's taking his cues from Mark Driscoll's tough-guy view of Jesus. But he's not spreading hepatitis A at Communion, or having dreams of Cardinal Bernardin. Find out more in today's Roundup.
