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“Jack” Willke, Pro-Life Demagogue Dies at 89

By Daniel Silliman

…The turning point, he said, was when, at a marriage counsellors retreat in California, a Catholic priest asked him “What are you guys doing on abortion?” Willke realized the answer was, “not enough.” When the Willkes did get involved, they committed completely. Willke stopped delivering babies to focus on opposition to abortion and eventually closed his practice in 1988, the 40th anniversary of his practice and his marriage. “My husband said if we…

Why Republicans Don’t Think Obama Is Christian

By Sarah Posner

Alex Theodoridis, a political scientist at the University of California, Merced, conducted a survey last fall of Americans’ understanding of President Obama’s religious beliefs. Remarkably, he found that in response to the question, “Which of these do you think most likely describes what Obama believes deep down? Muslim, Christian, atheist, spiritual, or I don’t know,” 54 percent of Republicans said Obama is Muslim. Only nine percent said he is C…

My Childhood Hobby Was Satanic, Or So They Told Me

By Joseph Laycock

…you had to leave out? Surprisingly little. My editors at the University of California Press gave me a lot of freedom. However, there are a lot of really fascinating psychological experiments going on right now concerning religion and the imagination. There was a lot of discussion in the blogosphere this summer about a study published in the journal Cognitive Science suggesting that a religious upbringing affects the way children discern fantasy fr…

Anti-Vaxxers Illustrate Danger of Overly Broad Religious Freedom Laws

By Kara Loewentheil

…here have been recent calls to remove the “personal belief” exemption from California’s vaccine law on the grounds that it is being abused and is destroying the herd immunity that is required to protect people who actually cannot be safely vaccinated, like young babies, or immuno-compromised individuals. (“Herd immunity” refers to the idea that a population can support a small percentage of unvaccinated individuals as long as the proportion of vac…

Too Hot for Shul: Rabbis Seek Healthy Israel Dialogue After Gaza

By Sarah Posner

…asadena Jewish Temple and Center, a Conservative congregation in Pasadena, California, and another member of the J Street Rabbinic Cabinet, the Israeli left has always been more critical of the Israeli government than American Jews. “I think American Jews continue to still have a desire and a belief and a strong sense that Israel is a land of peace and does want peace,” said Grater. He added that American Jews have “blinders,” and that “we have a…

Gambian Prez Rails Against Gay ‘Evil Empire’; Irish Priest Comes Out During Mass; Trans Talk on Tunisian TV Sparks Debate; Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…nselor is the head of an anti-equality organization, the Coalition of Baja California Families. According to this report, the mayor has been under pressure by Bishop José Isidro Macias. The couple has filed a complaint against the mayor, who could reportedly be removed from office for contempt of court. India: State Official Plans Training Camps and Drugs to Make LGBT Youth ‘Normal’ Ramesh Tawadkar, the minister of sports and youth affairs in the…

Andraé Crouch, “The Greatest Hymn Writer of Our Age,” Dies at 72

By Anthea Butler

…ng a service a few years ago at the New Christ Memorial Church in Pacoima, California, where he and Sandra Crouch co-pastored. He was warm, cordial, and most of all, humble. It was just like hanging out with someone you had known all of your life, who did not hold over you that fact he was more famous than you could ever hope to be. Perhaps that is why Andrae’s music has touched millions around the world: his humility and grace. Andraé’s passing i…

10 Noteworthy Yoga Developments to Recall in 2015

By Andrea R. Jain

…testified in a high-profile court case against allowing yoga in Encinitas, California public schools since it, according to Brown, promotes Hinduism—in support of his own argument that yoga is dangerous for Christians. In an op-ed published in John Brown University’s newspaper, The Threefold Advocate, faculty member Deborah Dana warned students about yoga, arguing “yoga has its roots in the worship of demonic Hindu gods.” And, in County Donegal, I…

Snake-Handlers, False Messiahs, and a Few Great Souls: 14 Who Died in 2014

By Daniel Silliman

…s died at 80. Raised Mormon, Hinkins was a high school teacher in Southern California when he discovered “soul consciousness.”He founded MSIA—pronounced “messiah”—in 1971, teaching one could achieve a totally positive state of being with the help of the Mystical Traveler Consciousness he embodied. MSIA attracted celebrity followers including Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys, Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington and productivity consultant David…

Trendwatch: Thieves Taking the Christ out of Christmas. Literally.

By Daniel Silliman

…Christmas season, in 2013 nativity robbery and vandalism was reported from California to Minnesota to New Jersey to New York, where the theft was investigated as a possible hate crime. One Boston crèche has been robbed three times in nine years, according to the Boston Globe. A New York security company garnered a bit of publicity by offering free GPS trackers to implant in baby Jesuses, which wouldn’t deter thieves, but would enable recovery. The…