Religion Dispatches
…t seems ideally suited for a world in which attention is currency and anonymity is easy to come by. A version of this paradox exists in the realm of mass shootings, too. Acts of random violence often seem, in part, to function as dramatic plays for attention or celebrity status. The Orlando nightclub shooter reportedly checked his phone for news about the shooting during the actual event; the man who murdered hostages at the Hyper Cacher kosher gr…
Read More
…lm festival to cancel the event after death and arson threats were made by phone and social media. According to Reuter’s Makini Brice, “A senator added to the pressure to cancel the Massimadi festival, saying it would promote homosexuality and that impoverished Haiti had other priorities.” Australia: Poll confirms majority support for marriage equality, rejection of plebiscite A new poll released this week that most Australians support marriage eq…
Read More
…may not yield as reliable of estimates as probability samples taken over a phone or another method. That is, we tend to be somewhat skeptical of population estimates produced by such data.” Asked what they thought the purpose of the 2020 State of Theology Survey might be, and whether it might be geared toward driving evangelicals to the polls, Whitehead replied, “I do think there is a particular narrative that they are trying to push with this res…
Read More
…hes in several states. With the 14th Amendment, though, the Constitution limited state power to infringe on the rights of citizens for all US citizens; those rights came to include the rights protected in the religion clauses. But Christian nationalists oppose the 14th Amendment jurisprudence and want to see it overturned. Parker’s opinion is an example of nullification—a practice in which individuals on juries or states just disregard legal autho…
Read More…hey distributed “6 million voter guides, 8 million mail pieces, 15 million phone calls, 500,000 doors knocked on by volunteers, and radio advertising covering 56 congressional districts and 22 U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races,” they are now (apparently as I write this) surveying voters to learn “who went to the polls and why.” Instructive for those of us who follow the influence of the religious right on the tea party movement (arguing that it’…
Read More
…the promised land: a new season, with a new actor in the lead role (Matt Smith) and a new executive producer, Steven Moffat. The last few years have been a great time for the longest-running science fiction show in television history. Though older episodes in the continuing saga of the time-traveling Doctor have generally been relegated to “cult” status—at least in the U.S.—the 2005 revival, under the guiding hand of Queer as Folk creator Russell…
Read More
…ons to organize and gather with other Mormons who understood their deep commitment to their faith. Mormons Building Bridges participants prepared signs with verses from LDS hymns, scriptures, and quotations from LDS Church leaders—“All are alike unto God;” “Jesus said love everyone;” “God loves all of His Children”—and hundreds of lollipops bearing “love one another” stickers to distribute to parade crowds. Just before the parade began, a member o…
Read More
…me of their goodness rubs off. So, even when I say to myself “I must set limits,” I break my word again and again. So, yesterday was one of those days when I felt like I didn’t have a life of my own—despite managing some how to successfully raise five children, mostly as a single parent. I had three stops to make with my youngest daughter, baby in tow, and mostly he and I sat in the car; he asleep, and me trying to write a blog on my iPad. Let the…
Read More
…arges of criminal contempt for ignoring subpoenas from the House Select committee investigating the Jan 6 attack, with the potential penalties of 30 days-1 year in jail and a fine of $100-$100,000. After turning himself into the FBI, he was released on bail and denounced the committee investigation as a political prosecution by “the illegitimate Biden regime.” Bannon continues to foment insurgency under the guise of fighting for freedom of speech…
Read More
…at, and I apologize for being part of such a mean gesture. In fact I had a phone conversation with a prominent American imam last night—in Islam, we say subhanallah at such coincidences—and he mentioned in passing how offended many white American Muslims were by this very kind of gesture. On reflection, I can see why. I don’t find racial insensitivity humorous directed at me. The least I can do is not support it. And the least I can do is the leas…
Read More