Monthly Archives: September 2008
Pearson’s `gospel of inclusion’ finds new home in Unitarian church
By Tracy Gordon — September 26, 2008
Bishop Carlton Pearson, who has been publicly criticized for teaching that all people will go to heaven, has folded his Oklahoma church into a Unitarian Universalist congregation.
COMMENTARY: A six-day creation that isn’t “very good” at all
By Tracy Gordon — September 26, 2008
“Now God saw all that had been made, and it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning; the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31). While many people question the accuracy of the biblical description of creation, there is no doubt a new economic world was recently created in about six days, and no […]
Setting a rich table for the Jewish holidays
By Joe Crea — September 26, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) For Jews the world over, Rosh Hashana heralds a time of prayer and hope. Hope for a sweet new year. Hope for peace in the year ahead. Nowhere would such prayers and hope seem more poignant than in Israel, the Jewish homeland. Since earliest history, Israel has been one […]
Setting a rich table for the Jewish holidays
By James Rudin — September 26, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service (UNDATED) “Now God saw all that had been made, and it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning; the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31). While many people may question the literal accuracy of the biblical creation account, there is no doubt a new economic world was recently […]
White Catholics
By Mark Silk — September 25, 2008
The latest CBS/NYT poll, which has Obama ahead 47-42, shows McCain leading among white Catholics 48-41. In 2004, Bush won them over Kerry by almost double that margin, 56-43. In 2000, Bush took white Catholics by seven points, 52-45. Obama’s deficit is now identical to Gore’s. It’s worth noting as well that Obama trails McCain […]
Olympic toilets
By Daniel Burke — September 25, 2008
Preparing for the 2012 Olympic Games, British planners say a certain percentage of toilets will face away from Mecca, according to the London Telegraph. The Telegraph says Islam forbids Muslims from facing Kiblah, the direction of prayer, when they, um, visit the lavatory. It is not the first time toilets have changed direction to accommodate […]
Palin’s Jeremiah Wright moment?
By Kevin Eckstrom — September 25, 2008
We’ve been trying to keep tabs on Sarah Palin’s Pentecostal roots, and asking the questions (if not always finding the answers) about how those beliefs might (or might not) impact her governing decisions should she become the most powerful woman in the world. There’s been chatter about Thomas Muthee, a fiery Kenyan pastor linked to […]
“A complete denial of Protestant orthodoxy”
By Francis X. Rocca — September 25, 2008
As if he didn’t have enough dissent to deal with in the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s visit to Lourdes has elicited the expected protests.
Update on the Jewish Vote
By Mark Silk — September 25, 2008
The American Jewish Committee’s annual survey of Jewish opinion, taken Sept. 8-21, has Obama up over McCain 57 percent to 30 percent. Apportioning the undecideds, that’s 65-35–higher than I’m predicting but not by a lot. The survey period includes McCain’s current high water mark; he’d be doing a few points worse if the entire survey […]
NEXT WEEK’S COLUMNISTS
By RNS Blog Editor — September 25, 2008
RNS-PHELPS-GAYS
By RNS Blog Editor — September 25, 2008
RNS-MUSLIMS-LABOR
By RNS Blog Editor — September 25, 2008
RNS-MAHER-FILM
By RNS Blog Editor — September 25, 2008
The Faith of Palin
By Mark Silk — September 25, 2008
Max Blumenthal, scourge of the religious right, has come up with a Wasilla Assembly of God video of a Kenyan pastor, Thomas Murthee, laying hands on Sarah Palin prior to her gubernatorial run in 2005, praying that God make a way for her in politics on a number of fronts, including by protecting her from […]
Pastors launch challenge of IRS rules on endorsements
By Adelle M. Banks — September 25, 2008
c. 2008 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ Pastor Gus Booth remembers when he used to simply encourage his congregation of 150 in Warroad, Minn., to vote each Election Day. Now, he thinks it’s important to tell them which candidate should get their vote. On Sunday (Sept. 28), as part of the “Pulpit Initiative” organized by […]
