Monthly Archives: January 2015
In France, comedian’s trial suggests mocking religion has its limits
By Elizabeth Bryant — January 29, 2015
PARIS (RNS) Dieudonne faces a charge of inciting terrorism for posting on Facebook that he felt like "Charlie Coulibaly" -- a reference to the gunman who killed four Jews at a kosher supermarket in Paris, just two days after the Charlie Hebdo attack.
Everyone should be able to have their First Amendment cake & eat it too (GUEST RESPONSE)
By Tobin Grant — January 29, 2015
Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Jeremy Tedesco offers a rebuttal to my recent posts on the so-called 'baker wars'
LicenSing Online Expands Music Catalog Through Augsburg Fortress Partnership
By Religion News LLC — January 29, 2015
PORTLAND, Ore., January 29, 2015 – Augsburg Fortress, the ministry of publishing of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), added their extensive collection of hymns to LicenSing Online’s music service this month. Now more than 800 of the most popular and loved songs in the Lutheran tradition are available to share with the world […]
When a non-sectarian college calls the faithful to prayer
By Mark Silk — January 29, 2015
Inclusiveness has its limits.
Avi Weiss, the rabble-rouser rabbi, takes stock after an activist career
By Lauren Markoe — January 29, 2015
BRONX, N.Y. (RNS) “There was a time when it was fun. I enjoyed mixing it up,” said Rabbi Avi Weiss. “But it got to a point where it was not fun at all.”
Mormon garment survey
By Jana Riess — January 29, 2015
Hats off to the LDS Church and to Beehive Clothing for sponsoring a detailed survey on what Mormons like and dislike about temple garments.
‘Sniper’ studio condemns anti-Muslim rhetoric
By Andrea Mandell — January 29, 2015
(RNS) Since the film opened, some tweets have referred to "ragheads," "vermin scum" and hatred of Muslims.
Bread for the World Launches Campaign to Reauthorize Child Nutrition Programs
By Religion News LLC — January 29, 2015
Washington, D.C. – Bread for the World launched its 2015 Offering of Letters: Feed Our Children campaign today, urging Congress to strengthen national child nutrition programs when the law governing them comes up for reauthorization this year. “One in five children in the United States lives at risk of hunger,” said Christine Melendez Ashley, senior domestic […]
Farewell, Faitheist
By Chris Stedman — January 29, 2015
When I started writing this column, I set out with the goal of lifting up frequently overlooked nontheist perspectives—the atheist voices that are generally ignored by those who are only interested in narratives of conflict and certainty.
Maryland diocese asks bishop involved in fatal DUI to resign
By Reuters — January 29, 2015
(Reuters) Bishop Suffragan Heather Cook, the diocese's first female bishop and second highest official, is charged with manslaughter in the hit-and-run death of cyclist Tom Palermo in Baltimore.
The Occasional Pilgrim: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, Thailand
By Brian Pellot — January 29, 2015
Step inside Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with stunning views overlooking the city.
Science vs. religion? There’s actually more of a three-way split
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — January 29, 2015
(RNS) Sociologists say one in five Americans know and value both their science and their Bible -- and are less predictable than you might think when faith and science collide.
Mormon leaders advocate gay rights . . . with protections for “religious freedom”
By Jana Riess — January 28, 2015
I’m proud of my Church’s statements yesterday affirming equal rights under the law for all LBGT persons. So why do I not feel 100% jubilant? Where they lost me is in playing the victim card.
Deadline — One week for 2015 Wilbur Awards
By Religion News LLC — January 28, 2015
Secular media producers, writers, publishers and bloggers can submit work for the 2015 Wilbur Awards. The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) will accept entries through Feb. 4 (postmark date) for one of the oldest recognition programs for religion coverage by secular communicators. Submissions must be produced during 2014. Entry forms are available online. Award categories include […]
Top Catholics and evangelicals: Gay marriage worse than divorce or cohabitation
By David Gibson — January 28, 2015
NEW YORK (RNS) Growing acceptance of same-sex marriage will undermine society by eliminating any moral compass except that which the state declares to be the norm, leading Catholics and evangelicals say.
