Religion Dispatches
…why some progressive economic policies like boosting the minimum wage draw high and cross-cutting support. Religious conservatives are far more likely than religious progressives to say religion is the most important thing in their lives. This is an answer to the “what’s the matter with Kansas?” question. Many evangelicals and religious conservatives don’t agree with right-wing economic policies, but those concerns are trumped by social issues wh…
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…politics and Christian supremacy. And it’s only just getting started. This article is adapted from an early draft manuscript of the author’s new book, Weaponizing Religious Freedom, due out next year….
Read More…ning a Qu’ran, the Florida pastor decided last week to ride the wave of ill-gotten publicity by going to Dearborn, Michigan to protest outside the Islamic Center for America. But following a hearing Friday in Wayne County, Jones was arrested and put in jail for refusing to post a $1 “peace bond.” The judge issued the bond requirement to keep Jones from inciting a riot, I guess, by outraged Muslims. What’s most disturbing about the case was that Jo…
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…ve coverage, which many Catholic hospitals are already providing on a state-by-state basis where required, and in some cases voluntarily. Though it’s not the same as acting in bad faith, the CHA is probably not unhappy that the accommodation seems unworkable as it would much prefer to get another bite at the apple and make the case for religious status. Unless organizations like Catholic hospitals are allowed the same status as the religions thems…
Read More…l, an Al-Jazeera producer who read my original post suggested adding ‘Iftar-B-Q,’ which is like lighting things on fire, except you’re delusional and starved of nutrition. Only good can come of this. Khutzpah: ‘Can you believe the Imam went on and on for 45 minutes in his Friday sermon (Khutbah)? How’s he not dying of thirst?’ 1. Friday is the Muslim Sunday (er, Saturday), except it’s spelled differently. 2. The Imam probably died in his office wh…
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…with public funds” when necessary. It excoriates “neoliberalism,” the greed-is-good creed of the right wing. Maggie Thatcher used it, and when she entered office 1 out of 10 Britons was in poverty; when she left, 1 out of every 4 (1 in 3 children) was impoverished. Reagan was married to it—as are his worshiping successors—and the 99% continue to lose while the 1% gorge and the economy sinks. It’s not complicated. It’s dumb. And, as the Vatican say…
Read More…ool funding is based on attendance, they advocated keeping students out of the classroom for the explicit purpose costing the school money to “prevent the Day of Silence” and/or “punish” school administrators that “allow” students to remain silent. Calling the event an “immoral takeover” and “in-your-face sexual indoctrination,” SaveCalifornia claims that some students (being allowed to) keep silent for all or part of the day “make it difficult fo…
Read More…ct every human being. It is only natural that such a reminder will exist in Tel Aviv-Yafo – a city that warmly embraces all groups and minorities.” Haaretz reported last month on the construction of the memorial park. Hong Kong: Polls Show Widespread Support for LGBT Rights, Not Marriage Equality Researchers from the University of Hong Kong released polling data that showed strong public support for moves toward greater LGBT equality, but only…
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…rd to the Colin Kaepernick controversy. The sentiment of so many people I knew was that these protests—against black death, for black life, for justice and freedom for all people—were disrespectful, disruptive. They shouldn’t inconvenience others by blocking interstates, interrupting games. Yet in Luke 4, Jesus stood in the synagogue, echoed the words of the prophet Isaiah that the oppressed shall be free, and proceeded to be disruptive. In respon…
Read More…tories she knew. “I was…considerably less amused and moved by the character-free Big Bang story (‘something exploded’) than by the twisted and picturesque misadventures of Eve and Adam and Cain and Abel and Abraham,” she writes. Because she doesn’t really understand evolution, and because she finds the Biblical account so much more compelling, Heffernan opts for creationism. The outrage from science-minded writers isn’t surprising. What’s unfortu…
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