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Archive: July 2010
'Astonishing' growth of religion in China
Some in the West may find the idea of debating religion in China strange. They will cite, for example, that proselytising in public places in China remains forbidden. But few are aware that Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Islam and Daoism are all officially recognized and almost one third of Chinese describing themselves as religious - an astonishing figure for an officially atheist country where religion was banned until three decades ago.
By Tony Blair | July 30, 2010; 3:49 PM ET | Comments (17)
Are we brave enough for faith?
Mystery links us together; whatever makes me give a tinker's dam about what happens to you, the Iraqis, or my frequently annoying work colleagues. God, in other words, is our common humanity. When I deny my connection with you, I deny God.
By Martha Woodroof | July 30, 2010; 2:23 PM ET | Comments (27)
Health care reform and executive order did not prohibit federal funding for abortion
The health care reform law and the president's executive order did not comprehensively prohibit federal funding for abortion.
By William Saunders | July 30, 2010; 10:38 AM ET | Comments (0)
Part V: Mazel Tov! A Viewer's Guide to the Clinton/Mezvinsky Wedding
It's understandable that Marc Mezvinsky might want to incorporate his family's religious background in the ceremony - but the meaning behind a number of Jewish wedding customs could be appealing to Chelsea, too. Here's a viewer's guide of some aspects of a traditional Jewish ceremony to look for in post-wedding reports of the big day
By Edmund Case | July 29, 2010; 8:55 PM ET | Comments (2)
One nation, until death do us part
Like it or not, we'll be living together as a nation until death do us part, so let's work out our differences amicably.
By Melody Fox | July 29, 2010; 8:34 PM ET | Comments (8)
How I rediscovered Christianity through Islam
Those of us who study religion in American culture are now seeing the widespread emergence of a third way. It's the way of difference without exclusion, distinction without hatred, knowledge without fear. The religious "other" is not the enemy; quite the contrary: it's through her that one's own religious identity and practice emerge more clearly.
By Philip Clayton | July 29, 2010; 6:18 PM ET | Comments (20)
The doubting Christian
I am a Christian. I come from a Christian family and live in the Bible Belt. I write for Christian magazines, my books get assigned to Amazon's Religion & Spirituality > Christianity category. But there are some days when I'm not entirely sure I believe in God.
By Jason Boyett | July 29, 2010; 4:25 PM ET | Comments (206)
Americans must transcend ignorance on mosque near Ground Zero
Until non-Muslims begin to understand Islam in all its facets, we will be destined to live in ignorance of the "real" Islam and to act out of fear. The presence of Muslims in our midst, and of mosques like the one planned near Ground Zero, which will be an educational center as well as a place of prayer, is one good way of transcending this ignorance.
By Mark R. Cohen | July 29, 2010; 3:35 PM ET | Comments (17)
What people of faith and conscience must do about immigration reform
The vast majority of immigrants from the south are not criminals, they are economic and political refugees.
By Peter Morales | July 29, 2010; 3:14 PM ET | Comments (3)
Part IV: Develop a solid relationship foundation
As couples apply these newly learned skills and concepts, they often first focus on their parents' mode of operating. As they become more comfortable with revealing their own issues, they go on to talk about their own dynamics. They appreciate having these new tools and skills for looking at their own modes of operating. What better wedding gift for Chelsea and Mark than a foundation on which to build a strong and happy marriage?
By Marion L. Usher | July 29, 2010; 9:34 AM ET | Comments (3)
The forgotten pope who challenged Hitler
What would have happened if the encyclical Pope Pius XI commissioned had been signed? Many believe that it would so have divided Germany's 45 million Catholics that it would have delayed or prevented Hitler's plans of launching WWII.
By Rabbi Marvin Hier | July 28, 2010; 6:28 PM ET | Comments (7)
Pro-life movement and GOP politics: an unholy alliance
Self-proclaimed pro-life groups with close ties to the Republican Party are spending millions of dollars in a deceitful attempt to defeat pro-life members of Congress who voted for health care reform. People of faith who believe in a consistent ethic of life should be outraged and stand up for their values.
By Chris Korzen | July 28, 2010; 6:10 PM ET | Comments (3)
Part III: Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky: How to raise the children?
The question they have to address is if a religious identity is important to them then they need to think about establishing a "lead religion" in the home. When the children are raised with one religion they then can identify with that group and participate fully in the institutional life of that religion.
By By: Marion L. Usher, Ph.D | July 28, 2010; 9:28 AM ET | Comments (13)
Part II: Where does an interfaith couple go to find help?
They, and any other interfaith couple, will benefit enormously from discussing what their religious life will look like. Information abounds; it is they who have to embrace the process.
By Marion L. Usher, Ph.D | July 27, 2010; 10:09 AM ET | Comments (12)
A pilgrim's walk with St. James
One may begin the Camino not knowing what to expect. However, walking in the footsteps of those who for so many centuries have believed so deeply, entering the same cathedrals, one cannot help but feel united with the spirit of Saint James.
By Cherie Pagett: | July 26, 2010; 6:05 PM ET | Comments (0)
On mosque, U.S. should stand on moral high ground
This is the very reason we need to support the Mosque to show to the world what freedom of religion means: to demonstrate our spirit of liberty and set an example of how a nation treats its minorities.
By Mike Ghouse | July 26, 2010; 5:37 PM ET | Comments (13)
Oil spill spirituality: the environment & end times theology
Religion in America has not always been a friend to the earth. It's time for a spiritual awakening in which we turn from obsession with future salvation and begin to savor and save the world that we are in.
By Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker | July 26, 2010; 5:13 PM ET | Comments (4)
Rabbi Shmuley: Father of nine on only child 'narcissism'
How ironic that as the West has become richer and more capable of affording children it has lost its appetite for kids, believing instead that real happiness lies in a BMW or a Prada handbag.
By Rabbi Shmuley Boteach | July 26, 2010; 4:12 PM ET | Comments (7)
Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky: religion and interfaith marriage
Chelsea and Marc each come from families where religion was an integral part of their lives. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that they too will want religion incorporated in their home. Consequently, a central issue for them, and all interfaith relationships, will be to make choices and to decide precisely how religion will be practiced in the new family they are now establishing.
By Marion L. Usher, Ph.D. | July 25, 2010; 10:29 PM ET | Comments (109)
America already is an Islamic society
The application of Sharia law is to be judged according to how well it protects six basic human values: life, religion, family, property, intellect and dignity. All educated Muslims know this and most famously affirmed by a 19th century Egyptian reformer, Mohammed Abduh( 1849-1905). After visiting European countries he made the remarkable observation , "I go to the West and see Islam, but no Muslims; I go East and see Muslims, but not Islam."
By Elizabeth Tenety | July 24, 2010; 9:34 AM ET | Comments (84)
U.S. Catholic Latinos: liberal on gay marriage?
Catholics allow complexity and ambiguity in moral decision-making since Catholicism is neither fundamentalist nor literalist regarding the Bible. What does that have to do with Latino Catholic support for gay marriage? Read on.
By Joseph M. Palacios | July 23, 2010; 12:04 PM ET | Comments (10)
Secularism is an Islamic doctrine
From the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community's perspective, there is no doubt: Secularism, is, in fact, an Islamic doctrine. "Islam," Mr. Mahdi said, "does not promote a system that divides the citizens of a country into classes, where Muslims are first-class citizens, and everyone else is not."
By Ismat Sarah Mangla and Anees Ahmad | July 23, 2010; 11:54 AM ET | Comments (189)
No 'megamosque' near Ground Zero
America is experiencing an Islamist cultural-political offensive designed to undermine and destroy our civilization. Sadly, too many of our elites are the willing apologists for those who would destroy them if they could.
By Newt Gingrich | July 22, 2010; 12:21 PM ET | Comments (433)
Catholic Church's issue is homosexuality, not pedophilia
As reported by Michael Paulson in the Boston Globe, MacLeish concluded that "90 percent of the nearly 400 sexual abuse victims he has represented are boys, and three quarters of them are post-pubescent." Once again, the issue is homosexuality, not pedophilia.
By Bill Donohue | July 22, 2010; 11:09 AM ET | Comments (58)
House of prayer near Ground Zero? Yes!
A mosque - like a church or a synagogue or an ashram - is a house of prayer. We need more mosques - as well as churches, synagogues and ashrams - at Ground Zero
By Padraic O'Hare | July 21, 2010; 3:42 PM ET | Comments (8)
A Catholic mom on Vatican's strategy to address abuse
In announcing its latest attempt to deal with the decades-old priest sex abuse scandal, the Vatican wheedled when it could have healed, deflected when it could have taken a punch squarely and ultimately, failed to put behind it the greatest calamity to face the church in centuries.
By Tracy Grant | July 19, 2010; 4:48 PM ET | Comments (8)
Sin, secularization and the Vatican's PR problem
Pope Benedict's focused attentiveness to the threats posed by secularism contributes to blinding the Vatican to the pastoral consequences of the sex abuse sin within the church.
By Michele Dillon | July 19, 2010; 3:00 PM ET | Comments (32)
The religious case against torture
Protecting human dignity is a moral imperative for the religious community, as it should be for all governments.
By By Rev. Richard L. Killmer | July 19, 2010; 12:53 PM ET | Comments (32)
The logic of Vatican's linking sex abuse, women's ordination
As usual, the Vatican's most recent announcement generated as much confusion and controversy as it did clarity. The Vatican's new norms safeguard faith, morals and sacraments.
By Fr. John Zuhlsdorf | July 17, 2010; 1:31 PM ET | Comments (102)
Harris, Hitchens, Dawkins, Dennett: Evangelical atheists?
If you are wondering what an esteemed evolutionary biologist and respected Oxford University professor is doing placing billboards around London proselytizing atheism, you are not alone.
By Reza Aslan | July 16, 2010; 3:09 PM ET | Comments (495)
Women's Ordination Conference: Vatican's 'scare tactics' appalling
The Vatican's decision to list women's ordination in the same category as pedophiles and rapists is appalling, offensive, and a wake-up call for all Catholics around the world.
By Women's Ordination Conference | July 15, 2010; 1:44 PM ET | Comments (27)
Pray for Hitch? Christian healing for believers, atheists
As a Christian oncologist, I am convinced that there is no substitute for a firm grounding in Christ for people managing disease.
By Dr. Francisco Contreras | July 15, 2010; 10:53 AM ET | Comments (12)
A Muslim cartoonist on "Draw Muhammad Day"
My conscience won't let me support the criminalizing of art, but neither will it let me support a parade of cartoons depicting lurid, racist stereotypes of Arab men and passing them off as satire of a holy figure.
By G. Willow Wilson | July 15, 2010; 10:40 AM ET | Comments (12)
Confronting 'history's longest hatred'
Much has been made of the Obama Administration's Muslim outreach. America's outreach to Muslim should also meansactive engagement about touchy issues: women's rights, individual religious freedom and, yes, anti-Semitism.
By Rabbi Abraham Cooper | July 14, 2010; 2:28 PM ET | Comments (5)
Presbyterian answer to Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Presbyterians forge a 'miracle' for the Middle East.
By The Revs. Dr. Katharine R. Henderson & J.C. Austin | July 14, 2010; 10:01 AM ET | Comments (2)
Life after death: Love never dies
Personal conversation can overcome the fear of violence and death.
By Jane Smith Bernhardt | July 13, 2010; 12:12 PM ET | Comments (0)
Disappointment and hope after Cairo
One year after Obama's landmark speech to the Muslim world, the Grand Mufti of Egypt reflects on the administration's progress.
By Sheikh Ali Gomaa | July 12, 2010; 10:21 AM ET | Comments (8)
God's plan for my peace
By Tonya Muse I have heard many people of faith say that God has a plan for your life, but I never really understood what that meant until now. Ten years ago I thought my life was perfect. I had...
By Tonya Muse | July 9, 2010; 11:26 AM ET | Comments (1)
Nuclear swords to God's plowshares
The Plowshares movement celebrates its 30th anniversary of working to bring God's peaceful kingdom to the world.
By Deena Guzder | July 9, 2010; 9:57 AM ET | Comments (0)
Life (and faith) after Death Row
My connection to humanity began on Death Row, where I was sent in 1962 for killing bank teller Julia Ferguson.
By Wilbert Rideau | July 7, 2010; 1:17 PM ET | Comments (0)
Church's support for adult stem cell research
Why the Catholic Church supports adult stem cells research -- and many other scientific endeavors.
By Tomasz Trafny | July 7, 2010; 1:02 PM ET | Comments (3)
Should we be spiritual AND religious?
Both sides of the spiritual-not-religious argument miss something. Love and service are not at odds with obedience and holiness.
By Joan Ball | July 7, 2010; 12:41 PM ET | Comments (49)
Dalai Lama's real birth day
As we note the Dalai Lama's 75th birthday, we remember that is not the day he turns 75.
By Lodi Gyari | July 5, 2010; 3:51 PM ET | Comments (9)
Faith Unboxed: God can be experienced, not explained
As people of faith, should we concern ourselves with God's nature, relatives, ways and history? Of course not.
By Martha Woodroof | July 3, 2010; 4:47 PM ET | Comments (32)
Appeal to Presbyterians on Israel: "First, Do No Harm"
I appeal to Presbyterians considering new steps on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: "First, do no harm!"
By David J. Michaels | July 2, 2010; 1:00 PM ET | Comments (19)
'Friending' the poor
How cell phones, text messages and digital technologies can help people of faith help others.
By Susan Baller-Shepard | July 1, 2010; 11:09 AM ET | Comments (4)
The world's oldest hatred
Anti-Semitism is alive and well, I regret to report.
By Shmuley Boteach | July 1, 2010; 9:31 AM ET | Comments (10)
