Captain America’s turban * A Jewish Pope? * Shutdown Theology: Wednesday’s Religion News Roundup

(RNS) Pope Francis faces a backlash, Billy Graham faces a fading legacy, and Latinos move toward the mainline. Sikhs get a superhero and Hobby Lobby faces heat over Hannukah.

Evangelist Billy Graham, who preached the gospel for more than seven decades, has written his 32nd book: “The Reason for My Hope: Salvation.” Photo courtesy Thomas Nelson publishing
Evangelist Billy Graham, who preached the gospel for more than seven decades, has written his 32nd book: “The Reason for My Hope: Salvation.” Photo courtesy Thomas Nelson publishing

Evangelist Billy Graham, who preached the gospel for more than seven decades, has written his 32nd book: “The Reason for My Hope: Salvation.” Photo courtesy Thomas Nelson publishing

In Washington, the government shutdown continues, and Morgan Guyton finds a theological concept behind the move by the GOP’s right wing: Dominionism. Agree? Disagree? No idea what he’s talking about?

Meanwhile in the Vatican the government overhaul continues. “If only I were pope,” muses President Obama in a quote I just made up.


Francis’ quotes from his latest selfie-scoop — this time he gave an interview to an Italian newspaper — continue to reverberate. (Your Holiness, our RNS operators are standing by…)

Not everyone is happy about Pope Francis’ commentary – like the eminent moral theologian (and John Paul II fan), Germain Grisez:

“I’m afraid that Pope Francis has failed to consider carefully enough the likely consequences of letting loose with his thoughts in a world that will applaud being provided with such help in subverting the truth it is his job to guard as inviolable and proclaim with fidelity … (H)e is self-indulgent enough to take advantage of the opportunity with as little care as he might unburden himself with friends after a good dinner and plenty of wine.”

Whoa. And Father Z in the WaPo:

“My e-mail is filled with notes from people who need to be talked off the ledge,” says the popular conservative blogger.

So will the Catholic right try to shut down the church over Franciscare?

It’s not like Francis is the first pope to engage critics and others – though Mark Silk has to go back centuries to find a precedent. Others wonder if he is as much Jewish as he is Catholic. Or should be.

Even some of the evangelicals who initially joined in the swoon over Francis may be having second thoughts – such as Southern Baptist big Russell Moore, who calls Francis latest interview “a theological wreck.”

But that doesn’t mean Dr. Moore dislikes the pope, mind you.

Then there’s this:

And this:

Go figure.

As Francis increases, Billy Graham decreases? Ken Garfield looks at the “fading” legacy of America’s pastor — a fate I never imagined could happen, not after seeing him in Madison Square Garden in the ’60s. But I’m getting older too. Check out the Best of Billy excerpts, too.

The Texas textbook wars are heating up, with another Creationism v. Evolution smackdown brewing.

Alan Rudnick piles on and argues that “Mainline Protestants” need a new label

…While a new poll show Latinos may be repopulating the Mainline pews. Q: So how do you say “WASP” in Spanish? A: You don’t. Let’s come up with something else. Candidates?


Reuter’s award-winning FaithWorld blog has a photographer’s essay on India’s capital of surrogacy pregnancy.

Andrew Sullivan points to a study about American ignorance of Sikhism

…And to this rare photo of Captain America in a turban. Must-see.

So the evangelical-owned Hobby Lobby chain has the world’s oldest Jewish prayer book — but doesn’t sell Hannukah-themed merchandise.

After seeing Hobby Lobby owner Steve Green in action last week, my sense is that policy could change. He seems like that kind of guy.

Stay tuned to this station for those and other developments in the world of religion — which means just about everything in the world, as you can tell from our Daily Religion Roundups. Sign up in the box below!

David Gibson

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