Monthly Archives: April 2006
Pro-Hindu Party Pushes Laws to Restrict Christian Conversions in India
By RNS Blog Editor — April 27, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service CHENNAI, India _ Religious conversion has emerged as a volatile social and political issue in India, where a pro-Hindu ruling party in several states is pushing legislation to restrict what it characterizes as forced Christian conversions that disrupt national harmony. The moves have prompted an outcry from Christian leaders, who […]
COMMENTARY: For Victims of Priestly Abuse, No Limitations on Pain
By RNS Blog Editor — April 27, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service The statute of limitations is the legally established time period in which criminal charges can be brought against an accused person. This is a basic provision of the U.S. Constitution to protect the basic rights of all citizens. This rule says that time runs out for victims as it does […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — April 27, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service Reform Judaism Leader Speaks to Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University (RNS) Relations between American Jews and evangelical Christians have warmed in recent years, with the two backing Israel amid the latest intifada. But an address Wednesday (April 26) by the head of American Jewry’s largest movement at the Rev. Jerry Falwell’s […]
James Dobson: guru
By RNS Blog Editor — April 27, 2006
Quote of the Day: Evangelical Author Tony Campolo “You dare not go against Jim Dobson these days. This is the guru, the new pope. He is infallible. Anybody that contradicts him is obviously out of the will of God.” -Evangelical author and social commentator Tony Campolo, offering sarcastic criticism of conservative Christian radio talk show […]
Christian conversions in India; and religious blogs
By RNS Blog Editor — April 27, 2006
In Wednesday’s RNS report Achal Narayanan reports from India where a pro-Hindu ruling party may restrict Christian conversions: Religious conversion has emerged as a volatile social and political issue in India, where a pro-Hindu ruling party in several states is pushing legislation to restrict what it characterizes as forced Christian conversions that disrupt national harmony. […]
More than 20,000 Celebrate Pentecostalism’s 100th Birthday
By Christa Brown — April 26, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service LOS ANGELES _ At least 20,000 people from more than 100 countries have converged here to mark the 100th anniversary of the modern Pentecostal movement. For five days, beginning Tuesday (April 25), Pentecostal and charismatic Christians are commemorating a revival at a converted stable on Azusa Street that launched the […]
Preventing Shiite-Sunni Civil War Tall Task of New Iraqi Leader
By James Palmer — April 26, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service BAGHDAD, Iraq _ Jawad al-Maliki’s appointment Saturday (April 22) to head Iraq’s national assembly ended a four-month stalemate among politicians here, and opened a passage to forming a new government to tackle the country’s overwhelming troubles. Al-Maliki, 55, a member of Daawa, Iraq’s oldest Shiite political party, served on the […]
COMMENTARY: Juries Don’t Give Verdicts on Larger, Systemic Issues
By Tom Ehrich — April 26, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service DURHAM, N.C. _ In criminal court, my jury duty in a murder trial lasted eight days. Outside, television crews awaited arrests in an alleged gang-rape at Duke University. Each case illuminated the other. Selecting a “fair and impartial” jury in our case took longer than anticipated, because its issues _ […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — April 26, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service S. African Bishop Calls Condom Use to Prevent AIDS `Ethical Imperative’ VATICAN CITY (RNS) Welcoming news that the Vatican is studying the issue of condom use by those with AIDS, a South African bishop fighting the pandemic said Tuesday (April 25) that the church must look beyond its teaching on […]
Religious Leaders Rally Behind Gay Marriage Amendment
By RNS Blog Editor — April 26, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ America’s top Roman Catholic leaders have joined a broad national push against gay marriage one month before the Senate is set to consider a constitutional amendment to ban such unions. Fifty religious leaders have signed a petition, released Monday (April 24), that urges the Senate to approve the […]
Pornography at the forefront
By RNS Blog Editor — April 25, 2006
Quote of the Day: Institute for the Future Director Paul Saffo “The simple fact is porn is an early adopter of new media. If you’re trying to get something established … you’re going to privately and secretly hope and pray that the porn industry likes your medium.” -Paul Saffo, director of the Institute for the […]
U.S. Senator and Former Mormon Bishop Pours Out Lessons of Son’s Suicide
By Don Colburn — April 25, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Garrett Lee Smith, the son of Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., killed himself in his college apartment in Utah on Sept. 8, 2003. It was the day before his 22nd birthday. “Put me in the ground and forget about me,” Garrett had written in his suicide note. “Remembering Garrett: One […]
U.S. Senator and Former Mormon Bishop Pours Out Lessons of Son’s Suicide
By Don Colburn — April 25, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Garrett Lee Smith, the son of Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., killed himself in his college apartment in Utah on Sept. 8, 2003. It was the day before his 22nd birthday. “Put me in the ground and forget about me,” Garrett had written in his suicide note. “Remembering Garrett: One […]
COMMENTARY: In This Biblical Story, I Am the `Rich Man’
By RNS Blog Editor — April 25, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Biblical scholar David Lull was discussing the Gospel passage in which Jesus tells a wealthy man asking the path to eternal life to sell all he has and give the money to the poor. When the man walks away sad, according to the passage in Matthew, Jesus turns to […]
COMMENTARY: In This Biblical Story, I Am the `Rich Man’
By RNS Blog Editor — April 25, 2006
c. 2006 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Biblical scholar David Lull was discussing the Gospel passage in which Jesus tells a wealthy man asking the path to eternal life to sell all he has and give the money to the poor. When the man walks away sad, according to the passage in Matthew, Jesus turns to […]
