TuesdayâÂ?Â?s Religion News Roundup: Primary faith, Ex nihilo, Santorum a ‘New Yorker’?

In case you hadn’t heard, the New Hampshire primary is today. Actual people casting real votes. What a concept. But the Granite State is not the Bible Belt, and religion won’t play a factor the way it will in South Carolina in 11 days. So let’s move on: Evangelical leader Gary Bauer argues that voters […]

In case you hadn’t heard, the New Hampshire primary is today. Actual people casting real votes. What a concept.

But the Granite State is not the Bible Belt, and religion won’t play a factor the way it will in South Carolina in 11 days.

So let’s move on:


Evangelical leader Gary Bauer argues that voters should consider a candidate’s religion. Now that’s more like it…

And a new survey of Protestant pastors show they overwhelmingly believe Adam and Eve were “literal people” and God did not use evolution to create humans.

The only issue the pastors split over was whether the Earth is 6,000 years old or not.

Speaking of something out of nothing, theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss argues in a new book that it could have happened, and without God.

Jeff Weiss asks whether Rick Santorum is a “hypocrite on abortion” because of his wife’s experience inducing an early delivery for health reasons. Spoiler: Weiss says “no.” But it’s a very interesting read.

Santorum’s various policy statements may be best understood as New Yorker cartoons.

New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond has asked a seminarian to withdraw from the seminary after learning he is accused of helping a mortgage company bilk customers. And no, that does NOT automatically qualify the seminarian for the New Hampshire primary, no matter what Newt says about Mitt.

Speaking of Mormons, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is getting some bad ink in Harlem for selling an old church and lot to developers rather than keeping it for community purposes.


American Jews are kvelling now that President Obama has named Jacob (Jack) Lew, an Orthodox Jew, as the new White House Chief of Staff.

Greece declares pedophilia a disability that merits up to 35 percent disability pay, according to a new list of state-recognized disability categories. The list also includes exhibitionists, kleptomaniacs and pyromaniacs.

Can’t really add much to that.

The Bible is a bestseller in Norway – yes, Norway. It’s the first Norwegian translation in 30 years; it is a “literary” version with no chapters or verses and it “reads like a novel.” Which may explain something.

Comedian Stephen Colbert plays it straight talking about his Catholic faith.

It’s Tim Tebow Time, all the time! Can’t remember when it wasn’t, actually.

There is a heartwarming angle to it all: Wrestling star “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, who has a famous “Austin 3:16” logo that he used to humiliate opponents, tells TMZ:

“If Tebow can throw for 316 yards again this weekend then hell, he can have the numbers and I’ll have no problem with it.”

That’s what it’s all about.

— David Gibson

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