Religion Dispatches
…be noted that in a kind of harmonic convergence of BS, the “Biblical Money Code” appears as a fake news article, or “advertorial,” on Newsmax, the semi-fake news website. Hyman in fact seems to work for the website, although his actual role is unclear—a recent bio says that he is part of its “Financial Brain Trust.” “A wise man looks well into a matter,” Proverbs, and Hyman, reminds us. While I wouldn’t make any claims to wisdom, I will say that I…
Read More…pposes youth center proposed by radical Muslim cleric Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre is opposing efforts by a radical cleric to open an Islamic youth center in the city, reports the National Post. Mr. Coderre, who met with spiritual leaders Wednesday in hopes of fostering dialogue in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris, said he will consult with borough mayor Réal Ménard about the plan. But Montreal’s mayor said he rejects Mr. Chaoui’s r…
Read More
…no one to turn to. Nepal: Activists call for changes in civil and criminal code Pahichan reports from Kathmandu that local human rights activists have submitted a memo to Speaker Onsari Gharti calling for changes to provisions of the civil and criminal code that violate the rights of women and gender and sexual minorities. Albania: Activists seek to build on LGBT progress with partnership recognition Kristi Pinderin, head of PRO LGBT, announced th…
Read More
…all of the 47 other comments. We had no idea we were racing Witherington’s apparent growing awareness that his agreement with a call for the lynching of a Member of Congress and others might catch up with him—and that he’d have to scramble to cover his tracks. “I have not called on anyone to be hanged,” Witherington protested when he was called out by another commenter in the thread. But he had no response when confronted with a screenshot of his…
Read More
…isitors to the province. In September 2014, the Aceh provincial parliament approved the Principles of the Islamic Bylaw and the Islamic criminal code, which created new discriminatory offenses that do not exist in the Indonesian national criminal code. The bylaws extend Sharia to non-Muslims and criminalize consensual same-sex sexual acts as well as all zina (sexual relations outside of marriage). The criminal code permits as punishment up to 100…
Read More
…ng violence onscreen. In 1930, the Association of Motion Picture Producers approved a new production code that would support “the maintenance of social and community values in pictures.” For the next 38 years, that code shaped Hollywood’s output. The Production Code insisted that movies were primarily “to be regarded as entertainment” that would “improve the race.” As such, movies should avoid explicit images that would be upsetting or play to “th…
Read More
…ing to terms with her homosexuality, and her current work on the Our Bible app—a devotional app “for the rest of us”—which is one way in which Cheatham is reclaiming Christianity for members of the LGBTQ community. Chastain has also hosted Science Mike, whose work reconciling faith with scientific inquiry was recently profiled here on RD. In addition to progressive Christians, Chastain does invite thoroughgoing nones on the show, occasionally even…
Read More
…cal limitations, or other circumstances. Sun Dial: A Mobile Call to Prayer application available for the iPhone assists Muslims around the world in participating in daily prayer by tracking “the sun’s gentle movement through the sky.” According to the designers of the app, the image-focused technology is a particularly important spiritual aid for Muslims practicing in the United States, most of whom don’t speak Arabic and for whom the practice of…
Read More
…against reproductive freedom When Rev. Ken Peters left Covenant Church and appointed Shea as his successor in order to plant a Patriot Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, he explained, “This is God moving generals around.” There are now Patriot churches in Lynchburg, VA and Spokane as well. Shea’s Covenant Church in Spokane is an “affiliate.” Peters pioneered the tactic of staging events they call The Church at Planned Parenthood which takes the form…
Read More
…agement with new media. But even given difficulties defining necessary and appropriate boundaries of personal, professional, and institutional transparency, we can see the virtue of transparency overall as having a stabilizing ethical function that invites openness and honesty while discouraging secretiveness and duplicity. When Lennon Cihak felt moved to share his opposition to the proposed Minnesota marriage inequality amendment, he may have bee…
Read More