faith
NEWS ANALYSIS: Episcopal Church weighs question of doctrine in heresy trial over gays
By Carl Anderson — February 29, 1996
c. 1996 Religion News Service WILMINGTON, Del. (RNS)-For a generation, Episcopalians have struggled with the issue of how gays and lesbians fit into their denomination, especially the ranks of the clergy. Over the years, the debate has produced a flurry of studies, resolutions, statements and counter-statements along with a handful of controversial ordinations of non-celibate […]
TOP STORY: THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH: Historic heresy trial of Episcopal bishop gets under way
By Carl Anderson — February 28, 1996
c. 1996 Religion News Service WILMINGTON, Del. (RNS)-Invoking Scripture, age-old tradition and even speed-limit laws, a pair of secular lawyers Tuesday (Feb. 27) thrashed out the question of whether the Episcopal Church has a “doctrine” forbidding the ordination of homosexuals to the priesthood. The day-long argument before a panel of nine bishop-judges was the first […]
TOP STORY: THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH: Heresy trial could be dividing line for Episcopalians
By Judy Peet — February 23, 1996
c. 1996 Religion News Service NEWARK, N.J. (RNS)-The Rev. Barry Stopfel, rector of St. George’s Church in Maplewood, N.J., a Newark suburb, opens his packages cautiously these days. He worries that his address is in the phone book and that his car is too accessible. He hopes his fears are unfounded, but given the quality […]
Pope urges resolve on celibacy among African priests
By RNS Blog Editor — February 22, 1996
c. 1996 Religion News Service VATICAN CITY (RNS)-Reflecting his concern about the failure of many priests to fulfill the rigors of their chosen lives, Pope John Paul II on Tuesday (Feb. 20) urged Tanzania’s bishops to”foster an unfailing commitment to holiness and a renewed dedication to the apostolate.” The pope, whose message appeared to be […]
COMMENTARY: The KKK and a little girl’s prayer
By RNS Blog Editor — February 22, 1996
c. 1996 Religion News Service (Samuel K. Atchison is an ordained minister and has worked as a policy analyst and social worker to the homeless. He currently is a prison chaplain in Trenton, N.J.) (RNS)-“Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength,”wrote David in Psalm 8. I was reminded of this […]
A covenant on racial reconciliation
By RNS Blog Editor — February 17, 1996
c. 1996 Religion News Service ATLANTA (RNS)-Leaders of Promise Keepers, an evangelical Christian men’s movement, signed an”Atlanta Covenant”at the close of a conference for clergy Thursday (Feb. 15). The covenant, cast as an agreement between God and the pastors, is an expansion of the seven promises members of the movement are asked to embrace. Many […]
Promise Keepers focusing on racial reconciliation
By Adelle M. Banks — February 17, 1996
c. 1996 Religion News Service ATLANTA (RNS)-For five years, the evangelical Christian movement known as Promise Keepers has preached a gospel of contrition and reconciliation, urging men to become better husbands and fathers and more committed members of their churches. Now the movement, which has drawn hundreds of thousands of men to stadiums and convention […]
TOP STORY: RELIGION AND RACE: Promise Keepers focusing on racial reconciliation
By Adelle M. Banks — February 16, 1996
c. 1996 Religion News Service ATLANTA (RNS)-For five years, the evangelical Christian movement known as Promise Keepers has preached a gospel of contrition and reconciliation, urging men to become better husbands and fathers and more committed members of their churches. Now the movement, which has drawn hundreds of thousands of men to stadiums and convention […]
TOP STORY: RELIGION AND CULTURE: `Celestine’ sequel means more meditating
By Greg Garrison — February 15, 1996
c. 1996 Religion News Service BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS)-Being married to the author of one of the most successful spiritual novels ever has given Salle Merrill-Redfield a high profile for promoting feminine spirituality and women’s issues. “My mission is to help women feel good about themselves,”she said.”There’s so much depression, so much anger and sadness.” By […]
Finding Buddha’s birthplace, faith and fact converge
By RNS Blog Editor — February 12, 1996
c. 1996 Religion News Service (RNS)-For a religion that asserts belief in a process of spiritual perfection over multiple lifetimes, the birthplace of a Buddhist might be considered an unremarkable thing. But an international team of archaeologists announced in Nepal this week that it had uncovered the site where the Buddha himself was born. It […]
Discovery of Buddha’s birthplace reveals more mysteries
By RNS Blog Editor — February 9, 1996
c. 1996 Religion News Service UNDATED (RNS)-For a religion that asserts belief in a process of spiritual perfection achieved over multiple lifetimes, the birthplace of a Buddhist might be considered an unremarkable thing. But an international team of archaeologists announced in Nepal this week that it had uncovered the site where the Buddha himself was […]
COMMENTARY: In a standing-room-only synagogue, there’s dancing in the aisles
By James Rudin — February 9, 1996
c. 1996 Religion News Service (Rabbi Rudin is the national interreligious affairs director of the American Jewish Committee.) (RNS)-As the sun began to set on a recent Friday evening, the wind- chill factor on Manhattan’s West Side was minus 18 degrees. And even though bitter gusts were blowing in from the Hudson River, more than […]
TOP STORY: CHRISTIANITY: Was—and is—Jesus divine? Scholars clash over his identity
By RNS Blog Editor — February 6, 1996
c. 1996 Religion News Service (RNS)-Notebooks ready, 1,000 students pack the LaSells Stewart Center at Oregon State University. The midweek, evening event isn’t required coursework, but the topic is so intriguing, only balcony seats remain. “Who is Jesus?” On the left of the stage, both literally and figuratively, stands OSU’s Marcus Borg, representing Jesus scholars […]
TOP STORY: BIBLICAL SCHOLARSHIP: Did James, `the brother of the Lord,’ write the epistle attri
By RNS Blog Editor — January 30, 1996
c. 1996 Religion News Service (RNS)-Is a brother of Jesus the real author of a letter attributed to him in the New Testament? Luke Timothy Johnson, a Catholic who teaches at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, is bucking conventional wisdom by proposing that James-called the”brother of the Lord”by the apostle Paul in the New […]
TOP STORY: RELIGION IN INDIA: Sunset falls on an ancient Jewish community
By Tim Murphy — January 26, 1996
c. 1996 Religion News Service COCHIN, India (RNS)-“There was no need for it to come to an end, but now the party’s over,”Lily Koder said as she stood looking down Jewtown, a narrow lane leading to one of Asia’s oldest synagogues. Koder’s father, Samuel, who started Cochin’s first electric company and ferry service, was a […]
