Religion Dispatches
The striking down of Proposition 8 in California comes for many as a welcome decision in the battle for marriage equality and equality for all people. For others, it is, in a word: “demoralizing.” For those of us who research and write about religion, beliefs and the people who hold them dearly, the written ruling by Chief District Judge Vaughn R. Walker (an appointee of President Reagan) holds important implications not only for marriage, but al…
Read More…e Ward may say they feel a responsibility to testify to The Truth as they know it, including proclaiming Christ’s judgment on sin. That’s their gospel, and they’re welcome to it. I’ve never known that approach to help much of anybody, therapeutically or pastorally….
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…low Amos in upbraiding the filthy rich as “cows of Bashan”—much as I would welcome some prophetic indignation in Obama’s mouth. All he needs to do is present a compelling narrative about how progressive taxation came into being and how it remains an essential tool in maintaining a national purpose and a sense of unity. He could weave in some helpful teaching about the estate tax as well. If he did this he would surely find a receptive audience amo…
Read More…us’ “all.” And so it is incumbent upon us, as a Church, to extend our full welcome and blessing to all the faithful, including those who are LGBT. Yet LGBT people are the ones whom many in the Church today judge as beyond the reach of Jesus’ embrace—just as the Galatians and Corinthians were considered beyond God’s love in Paul’s time. For those who claim the mantle of the evangelical tradition, it is important to remember what it means that God’s…
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…he night for a science lecture. He used his platform to offer advice and encouragement to secular humanists. Dawkins could have spoken for twice as long without wearing out his welcome and, when he finished, scores rushed the rostrum carrying cameras to document the moment. He posed with them graciously….
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…their faith. Some mosques are holding open houses to dispel anxieties and welcome in non-Muslim neighbors. Meanwhile, anti-Muslim crusaders are making millions by inflaming anxiety and fear. And the Islamic Studies program at UCLA continues to languish in a suspension of incoming admissions pending reorganization. In a new survey, 15% of respondents said that information on political parties and candidates had been made available at their places…
Read More…are tired of having everyone else vote on their marriage status and would welcome the chance to return the favor. The ban itself has some leeway. While divorce would be gone, couples could still seek an annulment, but it must be for cause like bigamy, fraud, or incest. But as the San Diego News Network reports: “I don’t want to be married to you anymore” doesn’t count. While the anti-gay marriage people may roll their eyes at such a suggestion, M…
Read More…y program, focusing on being ecumenical as well as interfaith. The news is welcome, coming on the heels of complaints last year by some servicemembers that they were punished for not attending a Christian concert at Fort Eustis in Virginia. An influx of more liberal chaplains may bring more tolerance into the armed services as the Pentagon gets ready to enact the lifting of DADT—but a gander at the coming elections in 2012 reveals the fight over t…
Read More…cy, and replace it with shari’ah… it’s sedition.” (emphasis added on the treason charge). Benen writes, “The fact that Fischer is an unabashed bigot doesn’t seem to matter.” Welcome to the GOP’s Christian nation, to which God gave the First Amendment to protect Christians from satanic intruders….
Read More…Park51 controversy or the Peter King hearings. So, Rep. King, any time you actually want to learn something about Islam, I suggest you take a local class, and I’d welcome you. You may also want to brush up on basic concepts like evidence before making an argument….
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