Monthly Archives: January 2008
Obama and the Churchgoing
By Mark Silk — January 27, 2008
In South Carolina, the more frequently Democratic primary voters said they went to church, the more they were likely to vote for Barack Obama. This represents something of a departure from New Hampshire, where he won both the most and the least frequent attenders. What I think it mostly means is that black church mobilization […]
Huckapenury
By Mark Silk — January 26, 2008
Since the Los Angeles Times reported on MIke Huckabee’s fundraising woes–staff cuts, minimal ad buys in Florida–a few days ago there’s been little sign that things are picking up for him. What I’ve been puzzling over is why. Sure, the Washington Post described the rank and file of the religious right as “poor, uneducated and […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — January 26, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service Protestants object to rosaries in Anglican cathedral LONDON (RNS) The dean of the Anglican St. Patrick’s cathedral in Dublin says his church will continue selling rosary beads despite opposition from Protestants in neighboring Northern Ireland who claim it should not peddle “things that are Roman Catholic.” The Very Rev. Robert […]
Killers hooked on crocheting as a `small part’ of atonement
By Ashbel S. (Tony) Green — January 26, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service SALEM, Ore. _ Pepe Rivas uses his thick fingers to work a plastic crochet hook through some yarn as he sits in a folding chair at the end of a drafty concrete room. Like the two dozen men sitting around him, Rivas, 38, didn’t pick up a crochet hook until […]
GUEST COMMENTARY: The religious test failed by voters and candidates
By Randall Balmer — January 26, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Eight years ago, when George W. Bush declared that Jesus was his favorite philosopher, suppose someone had asked a follow-up question. “Mr. Bush, Jesus invited his followers to love their enemies and to turn the other cheek. How will that guide your foreign policy, especially in the event, say, […]
Jim Martin: Fire John Gibson
By Kevin Eckstrom — January 26, 2008
Jim Martin over at the America magazine blog takes issue with Fox’s John Gibson’s comments following the death of actor Heath Ledger: Ledger’s most famous role was playing Ennis Del Mar, the gay cowboy in “Brokeback Mountain,” for which he received an Academy Award nomination. In the film, he says aloud to his dead friend, […]
Preaching without Politics?
By rvineis — January 25, 2008
Newsweek has an interesting interview with mega-church pastor Joel Osteen who has remained a neutral figure in the presidential election. While Osteen yields enormous power from his 40,000 plus congregation and television following, he does not believe it prudent to mix faith and politics. Osteen: "If one of the presidential candidates were to attend, they […]
On the Other Hand
By Mark Silk — January 25, 2008
Focus on the Family’s new online candidate guide is must-see for anyone following religion and the campaign. As Michael Scherer points out on Time Magazine’s Swampcast blog, the thing amounts to a kick in the rear for Mike Huckabee and a covert endorsement of Mitt Romney. (McCain gets serious criticism on campaign finance, though moderated […]
McCain-Huckabee
By Mark Silk — January 25, 2008
My take-away from the oh-so-genteel Republican debate last night is that we’re headed for a McCain-Huckabee ticket. If the GOP is, as Beltway folks like to say, a three-legged stool, that would give them two of the three (the foreign policy and the religious conservatives), leaving Romney with the third (economic conservatives). I presume that […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — January 25, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service Creationists launch scientific journal (RNS) Answers in Genesis, the Christian ministry that founded the $27 million Creation Museum in Kentucky last year, has now launched an online technical journal to publish studies consistent with its biblical views. The Answers Research Journal will disseminate research conducted by creationist theologians and scientists […]
COMMENTARY: Combatting, communicating and creating at Sundance
By Dick Staub — January 25, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service PARK CITY, Utah _ I’m writing from Sundance 2008, and opening night illustrates why some religious folks hate this film festival while others love it. The “combatants,” Christians who bemoan the deterioration of American civilization as reflected in today’s films, will be disgusted that Sundance opened with the dark comedy […]
Jesus wants your vote _ and he needs a running mate
By Matthew Streib — January 25, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ He walked on water, he turned water to wine, and now he wants to be your candidate for president. That’s right, it’s Jesus, ready to lead the free world after President Bush leaves the White House next year. There’s only one hitch: he doesn’t have a platform. Or, […]
Jesus wants your vote _ and he needs a running mate
By Morgan Jarema — January 25, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) In spite of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder that have nagged her since she was a teenager, 20-year-old Krissee is determined to keep the self-destructive manifestations of both conditions in check. It hasn’t been easy, says Krissee, who asked that her last name not be used. “To this day, I […]
The hardest job in the world
By RNS Blog Editor — January 25, 2008
Episcopal bishop keeps her cool in the hot seat RNS’ Dan Burke writes about Episcopal presiding bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, in this week’s full text article, linked above. Quote: “She has the hardest job in the world,” said Diana Butler Bass, an Episcopalian and author of “Christianity for the Rest of Us,” who had high […]
Mercury Caution as Lent Approaches
By Adelle M. Banks — January 24, 2008
Just in time for Lent-which starts Feb. 6-Oceana, a Washington-based conservation group, has issued a new report called “Hold the Mercury: How to Avoid Mercury When Buying Fish.” The group notes in its news release that the food of choice for practicing Catholics on Lenten Fridays could have mercury levels that pose health risks. So, […]
