Religion Dispatches
…way from the hard work of repentance, who tickle our ears with promises of cheap grace, and offer a vision of the cross of Jesus that has nothing to say to the crosses, and lynching trees, of history. But, if we do, we will be settling for the gospel of Caesar, not the good news of Jesus Christ. Perhaps it is time to put down the chalk, stop drawing pyrotechnical conspiracy theories that play into our worst fears and listen, instead, for the diffi…
Read More…m with those who will do the job.” Vic Walczak, the legal director for the Pennsylvania ACLU and a lead attorney for the Hazleton plaintiffs said, following the ruling: Divisive laws like these destroy communities and distract from the very real problems that local governments are facing across the country. Immigration reform needs to come from the federal level. Local ordinances like these have a toxic effect on the community, injecting suspicion…
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…p; 45% approval is enough to win re-election, but it’s not great. For what it’s worth, my thoroughly unscientific prediction is that Democrats will take back Michigan and Pennsylvania, with a good shot at North Carolina and Arizona. Florida and Wisconsin? Maybe God knows. I sure don’t….
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…ressional Prayer Caucus, (AKA the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation’s Pennsylvania Prayer Caucus Network, of which Abildness is the State Director. The latter also comprises the Pennsylvania Legislative Prayer Caucus, which advances the Dominionist legislative program formerly known as Project Blitz.) Abildness explains in a Facebook video how these networks seek to “bring transformation—from Pennsylvania to the nations.” She continues: “We a…
Read More…Florida’s permit is the most widely accepted (some 30 states recognize the Florida permit and Florida even issues non-resident permits to non Floridians that are accepted in many states). Florida’s permit is also really easy to get: I called the gun shop up the street that offers the classes and was told you must be 21, have a drivers license, a “clean record,” and take a $49 two-hour course that doesn’t even include any real shooting. Moreover, M…
Read More…istian Reconstructionist Rocky Bayou Christian School (RBCS) in Niceville, Florida to add significantly to their student numbers by attracting students who could not otherwise effort to attend. They also have an entire program to support home schoolers. RBCS uses Rushdoony’s work in their high school classroom and Rushdoony was their first graduation speaker; they teach only young earth creationism and a version of American history that resembles…
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…We have an unprecedented access to cheap goods, yet we must recognize that cheap goods are cheaply made. I am not speaking of quality, I am speaking of cheap labor. We must recognize that through the act of shopping, whether it is for an article of clothing, a toy, a pint of strawberries, or even our morning cup of coffee, we participate in a global economy that values profit over people. Disposable goods are made by disposable people, faceless in…
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…y. But as I reported this morning, pastors listed as members of Gingrich’s Florida Faith Leaders Coalition were surprised to learn their names were included as members of the coalition. This could prove damaging to Gingrich as he seeks the support of other religious leaders. Among evangelical voters, who made up 40% of primary voters, Gingrich took 38% to Romney’s 36%. That’s a tiny margin for Gingrich, and smaller than his margin in South Carolin…
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…e success either. The opening weekend saw sales of more than $6 million in tickets. That’s the kind of number that will inspire others to try and figure out the formula for the faith-and-family blockbuster. Yet, with the cost of the film reportedly exceeding $30 million, it’s an open question whether or not the Left Behind reboot will get a second installment. The marketing problem of evangelical movies is still, stubbornly, a problem. The general…
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…ou’ll read an excerpt below—has surprised me, too. I wish I could find my airline companion and give him this book, to surprise him, too—in a good way. (I would accept Lakers tickets in lieu of apologies, but I think that particular era is done.) This whole book is a result of a profound evolution, and needs to be seen as such. American Muslims have gone through a lot over the last few decades. We were never the caricature Islamophobes made us ou…
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