Monthly Archives: August 2008
Muslims say they find welcome at Democrats’ party
By Tracy Gordon — August 29, 2008
DENVER-While presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama battles false rumors that he’s Muslim, Muslim leaders here say the Democratic National Committee is welcoming their rising profile in the party. As Democratic National Convention draws to a close tonight with Obama’s official acceptance of the nomination, faith has assumed a new prominence in the party’s proceedings. Just […]
Gay pride advocacy group sues Birmingham mayor
By Tracy Gordon — August 29, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-A gay rights group has filed a federal lawsuit against the mayor of Birmingham, accusing him of refusing to allow pro-gay banners for religious reasons.
Music to bond Katrina interfaith service
By Tracy Gordon — August 29, 2008
NEW ORLEANS-Representatives of New Orleans’ major faiths, and of some small local faith communities, will gather Friday evening to mark the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a rare offering of common musical prayer rising from Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Bahai and Sikh communities.
British court convicts Muslim man for involving teens in violent ritual
By Tracy Gordon — August 29, 2008
LONDON-A British court has convicted a Muslim man of child cruelty for allowing two teenagers to flog themselves as part of a religious rite.
COMMENTARY: Census report shows the times they are a-changing
By Tracy Gordon — August 29, 2008
While politicians argue whether “change” is coming to America, there’s no doubt real demographic change is happening right now. What emerges from the Census report is an American population less and less linked to Europe as the U.S. becomes a truly multi-racial and multi-ethnic country. These changes will dramatically impact every aspect of national life: […]
RNS Daily Digest
By RNS Blog Editor — August 29, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service British court convicts Muslim man for involving teens in violent ritual LONDON (RNS) A British court has convicted a Muslim man of child cruelty for allowing two teenagers to flog themselves as part of a religious rite. Prosecutors accused Syed Mustafa Zaidi of ordering the boys to whip themselves with […]
Holiness camps still draw a crowd
By Janet Fillmore — August 29, 2008
WADSWORTH, Ohio _ The rains came. Not for 40 days and 40 nights, but for 40 steady minutes, which turned the winding, dirt road leading to the Sharon Center Holiness Camp into mud and then caused it to flood. Not good for the opening weekend of camp meeting. For more than 100 years, the faithful […]
COMMENTARY: Census report shows the times they are a-changin’
By James Rudin — August 29, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) While politicians argue whether “change” is coming to America, there’s no doubt real demographic change is happening right now. The Census Bureau recently reported that ethnic and racial minorities are rapidly growing in numbers. In just 15 years, the bureau predicts, the majority of America’s children under the age […]
Film title in dispute
By Adelle M. Banks — August 29, 2008
The Council on American-Islamic Relations has asked Warner Bros. to reconsider naming an upcoming film “Towelhead,” but the movie company does not plan to back down, reported Moviemaker.com. “The title … is of great concern to us, since the word is commonly used in a derogatory manner against people of the Muslim faith or Arab […]
Brad Pitt, space Jesuit
By Daniel Burke — August 28, 2008
The Washington Examiner carries news today that Brad Pitt has signed on to play Father Emilio Sandoz, a Jesuit priest who travels to some make-believe world, like Kyrgyzstan, but with more vowels. The movie is based on Mary Doria Russell’s novel “The Sparrows.” As usual, the Rev. Jim Martin asks the most pressing question: Is […]
Devotion in a forsaken land
By Daniel Burke — August 28, 2008
(Matthew Streib is traveling across the country on his bicycle exploring religious sites that are inspiring and uniquely American. You can read more about his travels at http://www.americanpilgrimage.com.) BYRNESVILLE, Pa. – The term “ghost town” generally conjures up images of tumbleweeds and abandoned saloons, not picturesque green hillsides in central Pennsylvania. But other than ominous […]
Pope slams crucified frog
By Francis X. Rocca — August 28, 2008
I know a blog should add some value, but I just can’t improve on the headline that the Italian wire service ANSA chose for this story.
THIS WEEK’S COLUMNISTS
By RNS Blog Editor — August 28, 2008
Ten Minutes with … Eileen Guenther
By RNS Blog Editor — August 28, 2008
The Shack
By RNS Blog Editor — August 28, 2008
