Religion Information

No Ishmaels Please


I want to say a word about faith.  Recent events in my own life have driven home just how easy it is to loose sight of what we say we believe.  Just like Abraham of old, we often try to bring about results through our own efforts.  For those of you not familiar with narrative found in the book of Genesis, let me summarize.  Abraham had been given the promise by God of having a son in his old age.  God, in fact made a covenant with Abraham, sealing the promise in the blood of sacrificial animals.  Typically this looks forward, for those of us who are New Testament believers, to the blood of Christ through which we are made partakers of God?s eternal covenant.  But, back to Abraham.  Certainly after such a dynamic demonstration (Genesis 15) of God?s covenant promise, we would think that Abraham would have not doubt that God would fulfill his part of the agreement.  But, instead of waiting patiently on God as he should have done, he listened to his wife, Sarah, and tried to help God out, by having a son with his handmaiden (as was the custom of the day), since his Sarah was barren.  He did have a son with his handmaiden, but that was a cause of much sorrow to him, and is the cause of much conflict even today.  For, you see, this son, Ishmael, is the father of Arab nations.  Oh, God was still with Ishmael and provided water to keep him alive after Sarah had thown out the handmaden and her son.  But Ishmael was not God's first choice for Abraham.   Thus, later, God did fulfill his promise and give Abraham a son through his wife, Sarah.  That son, Isaac, is the father of the Jewish people.  We are all aware of the Arab-Israeli conflict which continues till today.  Yet, God was gracious, and Abraham is remembered today as the Father of the faithful, and in the hall of faith, Hebrews 11, his faith is mentioned but not his lack of it in that one moment of weakness. (Thus, I don't feel that I should share the particulars of my recent Ishmael experience with you, as I know God has put it in the sea of forgetfulness.)   Often we may be tempted to do what Abraham did and take matters into our own hands, instead of trusting God explicitly.  But, this can only result in the production of an Ishmael, which, although God may still bless, will mean trouble for us and cause us to deviate for a time from our primary God-given goals and purpose.  However, when that happens, we may be assured of God?s grace in getting us back on track. May God ever keep us from producing Ishmaels.  But if we do, may we run to Him for His mercy and grace and know that He is still in controll and we will not be remembered by him for our Ishmaels, but for our Isaacs--the fruit of our faith.  If you feel you have no faith, perhaps you this will be a first step for you.  If you feel you need more faith or need to use your faith more, perhaps this can also be a starting point for you in that direction.

The Greatest Love and Self-image


The Greek language had three words for ?Love?  First there was ?eros,? from which we get ?erotic..  This was, of course a purely selfish love.  Then there was ?Phileo? (Philadelphia), or ?brotherly love?  This is the love of one family member for another.  But the Bible added a new one--?agape?   ?Agape is a giving love, entirely unselfish.  By way of both illustration and practical application, let me quote the following note from  Mary Ellen Grisham, publisher of "Eternal Link:"After counseling young couples for years, a minister I know suggested that "love is what you do."  Young couples frequently have adjustments to make to the differences in romantic courtship and the realities of day-to-day living with the rigorous requirements of work, children, house and yard keeping, and all the many tasks required to maintain a good home and marriage.

What If? -- Musings on the Tsunami


Thumbing through Isaiah recently I was startled to find this: after a passage (in Isaiah 19) in which the prophet describes horrors that caused the hearts of the Egyptians to "melt within them," he predicts that "the people will turn to the Lord, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them." The next lines describe how three bitter enemies?Egypt, Assyria, and Israel?will "worship together" and how all three will become "a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, 'Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.'" What a picture!

What about the 4400?


Murders are so frequent in our country that a single homicide seldom grabs national attention unless the perpetrator or the victim is already a celebrity. Even a double murder is not national news. It takes multiple murders to make the headlines, CNN, and the network evening news.

What Jesus Expects of You and Me


Sometimes it is hard to know where to start even if you know what your talents are. Jesus has something to say about what we can do and what he expects us to do. Until you can find the specific purpose God has for you there is still work we can do.

Why More Priests Need To Train As Fighters (And Why We Dont See Many Boxers In Church)


St Paul was a fighter. I don?t think he ever competed in the ring, but that wasn?t because he lacked the discipline or was afraid of the pain. I always say that to be a fighter you need to have two things going for you. Firstly you need to have a lot of energy inside that needs release. Secondly, you need to be not too concerned about your own health. This fits the profile of most of our young men perfectly - on the edge of the drug culture, full of testosterone, and with no thought for the future. It also fits perfectly the profile of another group - single fathers, struggling to gain access to their children. That was how I got into the fight game. I hadn?t taken it up as a teenager, and I certainly hadn?t been born into it. My dad was a priest for God?s sake, and an academic. Fighting had not been my birthright. I came in through the back door of pain and loneliness and bitter struggle. Separated, and struggling for the right to see my daughter, I had made one half-hearted attempt at suicide already by that stage. And I had met with my bishop the following day and he had told me not to ?trade off? my situation (in other words, not to get too comfortable). I appeared to be losing my family, my vocation, and most of my friends at the same time. Full of emotional energy, obsessed with thoughts of self-destruction, and drinking way too much, I managed to find my way to the Mundine gym. It was my decision not to go under, but to fight back. Mundine?s is situated in the middle of Everleigh Street, Redfern - the roughest street in one of the roughest neighborhoods in our city. Redfern is a largely Aboriginal suburb on the outskirts of central Sydney. In recent years the government has come through and ?cleaned it up? somewhat, which meant pushing a lot of the local residents further out west. Even so, it is still a rough area. I had grown up in the vicinity of Everleigh Street. My dad had been a lecturer at the Anglican seminary located only a few blocks from this dark heart of Aboriginal Sydney. It was always an odd location for the seminary. The ecclesiastical community never had anything to do with the adjoining aboriginal enclave. On the contrary, most persons associated with the religious community dealt with their black neighbours by practising the same sort of avoidance strategy that I?d learnt as a kid ? scurrying quickly past the end of Everleigh Street and its environs whenever circumstances put us unavoidably within its reach. Ironically this strategy had to be invoked every time you got off a train from Redfern station. The platforms seemed to be designed to feed directly into Everleigh Street! Of course I never made the mistake of straying down that way myself, and as a youngster, I had heard many a nasty story about the price paid by some of the less wary. None of this is to suggest that the reputation of Everleigh was based on hearsay. I had seen plenty with my own eyes. Countless times I had seen young toddlers and their slightly older siblings wandering the streets at night while their parents got drunk at the local. One night I watched as a stupid woman stopped her car after these kids had thrown rocks at it. She got out and tried to confront the kids about what they had done. The result of course was that they found some bigger rocks and a couple of bricks. They made quite a mess of that car. My brother told me that he had witnessed a roll take place from the top of the street in broad daylight. Some boys had pulled a knife on a university student who had handed them his wallet. The student had then located a nearby policeman and had pointed out the boys to him, but the copper did nothing about it. He said he didn?t want to start a riot! I had seen the bonfires that would be lit when the new phone books or Yellow Pages directories were delivered. I had seen the shells of burnt out cars in the street. I had seen plenty, and had plenty of good reasons to never deliberately venture down that street, which is why my first walk to the Mundine gym was like wading through water ? every step being a slow and deliberate effort. But I was determined to become a fighter, and I?d just as soon lose my life in Everleigh Street than give up on my dream to have my day in the ring. The exterior of Mundine?s Gym is not designed to draw attention to itself. You?d walk right past it if you didn?t know it was there. It?s missing entirely that glittering windowed street frontage with the sleek bodies of well-groomed athletes on display for passers-by ? the type that we associate with the sorts of gyms where you pay a costly membership fee. Mundine?s has no membership fee. I don?t remember there even being a sign out the front. Mundine?s looks like just another housing-commission block, with its inglorious entrance at the bottom of a stairwell. But you pick up that it?s a gym long before you reach the top of those stairs. The smell of liniment hits you half way up ? that manly smell that mingles so harmoniously with the melodic whir of the skipping rope tap, tap, tapping its way through another round. This is what makes a real gym ? the smell of liniment, the sound of the rope, the less rhythmical thwacking of glove to bag, and of course the fighting. When you step inside Mundine?s, you know you?re in a real gym. No pretty boys. No glamour workouts. No white-collar boxercise sessions for indulgent professionals. Just bodies, sweat, testosterone and blood. They play hard at Mundine?s. That?s governed by the sort of guys that show up there of course, but it?s also embedded in the architecture of the gym to some extent. The ring stands in the centre of the building and it?s a small ring, made for brawlers. There is a small assortment of bags strung around the sides, but no fancy speedballs or floor-to-ceiling bags, such that you could justify turning up just to have a workout on the bags. There are a few pieces of weights equipment too, but again not enough to allow them to become a serious point of focus. No. The whole structure is designed to channel you into the ring. Everything else is just padding. That?s the way it should be in a real gym. I wore my clerical shirt and collar the first time I went there. Even now I don?t think it was an entirely stupid thing to have done. I wanted to be up-front about who I was and where I was coming from. Even so, I hadn?t really thought through the effect that this was going to have on the other boys at the gym, most of whom were, initially, very reluctant to hit me. They got over it though, particularly after they realised that I had no qualms about hitting them. Within a couple of weeks I was coming home each night bruised and bleeding from head to toe, and I knew I was one of the lads. Is it just me, or does every man need to go through something like this at some time in his life ? to know the joy of falling into your bed aching with the wounds that your sparring partner has inflicted on you that evening, and sleeping soundly in the knowledge that your ring brother is likewise doing his best to sleep off the impression that you made on him? I had many a glorious sparring session during those first weeks and months at Mundine?s. They weren?t pretty to watch I suppose, but they were epic struggles of the human spirit so far as I was concerned. There are few things in life more deeply satisfying than a good fight. A hard night in the ring is an enormous catharsis for a man who is struggling with life, but it?s more than that too. When you step into a ring you?re making a decision to take control of your own destiny. The forces that oppose you are no longer vague powers that threaten to overwhelm you from a distance - the law, the courts, the system. No. Your opposition takes on a clear material form in the shape of the other man advancing on you from the other corner. To get into that ring and to stay in that ring is to make a decision to give it a go ? to put your body on the line and to stand up to the punishment like a man. Fighting is more than a sport. It?s a way of life. It is the defiant decision to confront your pain directly and not to be overcome by it. Mundine?s gym taught me that, or at least it played a significant role. There was another vital lesson I learnt at Mundine?s - perhaps even more important than what I learned about fighting. I learnt to respect the fight community. The fight community is a culture all of its own, and was certainly spawned on an entirely different planet to the church community. I?m sure that some Anglican church-goers must have wondered why there are so many doctors and accountants in their congregations and so few fighters. The truth is that most church people just don?t speak the same language as fighters. The converse is also true. The fight community, as far as I can see, has very little idea of what the church is on about. I don?t mean that fighters aren?t spiritual guys. On the contrary, some of the most godly and inspirational men I have met have been fighters. And yet they have no point of contact with the established church. The two groups just don?t understand each other at all. Never was this made clearer to me than on my fourth visit to Mundine?s gym. I had turned up quietly in my tracksuit and was wandering over to the bench at the side of the ring where we tended to leave our gear while we were training. A group of guys were huddled there talking, and there was nothing particularly private about the volume of their conversation. I think they were discussing relationship problems, though I didn?t overhear everything. What I couldn?t help hearing was one guy say very clearly ?So I grabbed her, and I punched her in the fuckin? head?. He said it loudly and enacted a downwards punching motion as he said it. Then he noticed me standing nearby and suddenly felt very self-conscious. ?Oh, sorry Father? he said. And then he corrected himself. ?I punched her ... (and he said it very slowly and deliberately) ... in the head?. If I?d had my wits about me that night I would have said something clever like ?I don?t think the Lord really gives a fuck about your language brother, but I think He does care about your wife.? As it was, I didn?t say anything. I think I responded with a feeble smile. At the time, I just couldn?t work out how this guy had ever got it into his head that, as a priest, I would be more concerned about the fact that he swore than I would be about the fact that he beat his wife? Nowadays I take that sort of perception for granted. I think it?s the church that has to bear the responsibility for the communication breakdown. So much of the church nowadays reeks of a sort of insipid middle-class moralism that really does care more about smoking and swearing than it does about domestic violence or world hunger. I don?t think the Lord Jesus or St Paul ever intended to spawn any of these Christianized golf clubs that call themselves churches. Personally, I suspect that Jesus and the apostles would feel more at home in the average boxing gym today than they would in the average church. Of course they wouldn?t like the threats and the violence, but they would love the honesty. Fighters are very honest people. One guy, again from the Mundine gym, summed it up for me. ?Around here nobody stabs anybody in the back?, he said to me. Then he pointed to his heart and added emphatically: ?You stab here!? That?s why I have so much respect for the fight culture. I know I can trust fighters. I know they won?t stuff me round ? smiling to my face but stabbing me in the back when I turn around. I wish the same could be said for all church people. St Paul was a fighter. ?I do not fight like a man beating the air? he says. They had the ancient Pankration fighting in his day ? a vicious form of no rules combat that was concluding event in the original Olympics. Those guys certainly didn?t ?beat the air?. When Ulysses came home from the Trojan War, legend has it that his own mother didn?t recognise him. According to my friend and former trainer Kon, legend has it that when the Pankration champion came home from the Olympic Games, his own dog couldn?t recognise him! Those guys knew what real fighting is about. St Paul would have made one tough bugger as a fighter. What I wouldn't give to be able to jump into the old Pankration ring with him to go a couple of rounds! You?d never knock him down though. I suspect most of the apostles would have been like that ? warm big-hearted men, but as hard as nails in the ring. I have a secret hope that when I get to heaven I?ll be able to take on some of those boys and try my luck. I guess it?s not everyone?s idea of heaven, but it is mine.

About The Spiritual World of Madonna


Pop singer Madonna came this week to Tel Aviv to take part in a congress of Kabbala studies. According to press releases, she is going to stay in Israel until Sunday night and will have on the last day of her visit, the opportunity to visit the graves of Jewish Tzaddikim (righteous holy people) near Safed, a small town in northern Israel.

Popping the Balloon of Belief


I?m really excited. I just got a bigger soapbox, and I wanted to invite the rest of you to get up here on it with me.

Here?s Help for the ?I Can?t Say ?No? Blues?


I hear it all the time.  Cries from Christian women who want desperately to serve the Lord, but who feel overwhelmed.  ?I almost dread going to PTO meetings or church services anymore because I just know somebody else is going to ask me to help with something,? they say. ?Don?t get me wrong.  I want to help, but there are only so many hours in my day.  I feel like I?m just going to explode if I don?t get some relief.?

Your Mission Field At Work


One point many Christian Working Moms who have been interviewed have made is that they are a shining light in their work place.  Whether or not you can speak openly about your faith at work, your co-workers are watching. Are they seeing Jesus in you? Do they see you handle ethical issues in a different manner than other co-workers? Do they see a peace in you amidst all of the stress of the job? Do they see your priorities are in order? Although, we are to be workers worthy of our hire we are first and foremost followers of Christ. Do your co-workers see you participating in the office gossip or do they see you leaving when those discussions come up? Do your co-workers see you building up or tearing down? Do they see compassion in you that is often woefully missing in this get ahead world we live in?

Meaning and Marketing - The Will


You are now inside one of the top theological schools in the world and you are sitting in Dr. John Hobbs' Class on Theology with first year Freshman students. The seminary is reformed, protestant, Christian and is located in the south of the USA.

Harry Potter To Christians: Its Not Good To Hear Voices


That is the popular and, thank God (if you'll pardon the use of the G name) the politically correct feeling among most Christians today. You will recall that in the second book of the Potter series, The Chamber Of Secrets, Harry Potter alone heard the voice of the basilisk. When he confided in his two friends about it, one told him that even in the wizarding world, hearing voices is not a good thing. Like art imitating reality, can't we say that even in our non-wizarding world, it's not a good thing to be hearing voices. Whether those voices be God's or someone else's voice.

We Must Be Ready. But How?


Revelation 19:7 states, ?Let us rejoice and give honor unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.?

The Christmas Victory


As the Chritmas season approaches, I figured it's a good time to submit the following article:

Finding God in the Clouds


It was a cool August night during the Summer before my Junior year in high school. I was just getting off work on what seemed to be the worst day of my life. I was having a mental break-down, nothing was going right, and every negative thing in my life seemed to hit me at once.

More Articles from Religion Information:
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32


Facebook’s Next Target: The Religious Experience - The New York Times
Facebook’s Next Target: The Religious Experience  The New York Times

White Evangelicals Resist Covid-19 Vaccine Most Among Religious Groups - The Wall Street Journal
White Evangelicals Resist Covid-19 Vaccine Most Among Religious Groups  The Wall Street Journal

Religion that Contains Good Faith, Works: Pastor Mike's sermon notes - The Wellsboro Gazette
Religion that Contains Good Faith, Works: Pastor Mike's sermon notes  The Wellsboro Gazette

Stop using religion to fight COVID-19 vaccine. Taking it is the Christian thing to do. - USA TODAY
Stop using religion to fight COVID-19 vaccine. Taking it is the Christian thing to do.  USA TODAY

Qualified immunity won't protect college administrators who discriminate against religion - USA TODAY
Qualified immunity won't protect college administrators who discriminate against religion  USA TODAY

Religious Americans less likely to believe intelligent life exists on other planets - Pew Research Center
Religious Americans less likely to believe intelligent life exists on other planets  Pew Research Center

Analysis: U.S. Supreme Court's 'shadow docket' favored religion and Trump - Reuters
Analysis: U.S. Supreme Court's 'shadow docket' favored religion and Trump  Reuters

What drives belief in conspiracy theories, a lack of religion or too much? - The Economist
What drives belief in conspiracy theories, a lack of religion or too much?  The Economist

Religion briefs, July 30 – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News - Mail Tribune
Religion briefs, July 30 – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News  Mail Tribune

Religious leaders weigh reinstating mask mandates and whether they could upset some members - The Washington Post
Religious leaders weigh reinstating mask mandates and whether they could upset some members  The Washington Post

Will religion ever disappear? | Faith Forum - Reno Gazette Journal
Will religion ever disappear? | Faith Forum  Reno Gazette Journal

Crochetta: Vaccination, racism and religion | Commentary | rutlandherald.com - Rutland Herald
Crochetta: Vaccination, racism and religion | Commentary | rutlandherald.com  Rutland Herald

Group cool to replacing Bible with multi-religion Book of Faith at Manchester VA display - The Union Leader
Group cool to replacing Bible with multi-religion Book of Faith at Manchester VA display  The Union Leader

Is Bitcoin a religion? If not, it soon could be – Cointelegraph Magazine - Cointelegraph
Is Bitcoin a religion? If not, it soon could be – Cointelegraph Magazine  Cointelegraph

Should Christians be opposed to vaccination? - ABC News
Should Christians be opposed to vaccination?  ABC News

As White Evangelical Vaccine Refusal Reminds Us, Sometimes Religion is the Problem - Religion Dispatches
As White Evangelical Vaccine Refusal Reminds Us, Sometimes Religion is the Problem  Religion Dispatches

Distorted coverage of religion? - The Irish Times
Distorted coverage of religion?  The Irish Times

Who Practices What Religion, Where, in Virginia - University of Virginia
Who Practices What Religion, Where, in Virginia  University of Virginia

Hindus in India see religious and national identities as closely linked - Pew Research Center
Hindus in India see religious and national identities as closely linked  Pew Research Center

Turning To Tradition: More Than A Quarter Of Americans Embrace Religion In Funeral Planning Post-COVID - KPVI News 6
Turning To Tradition: More Than A Quarter Of Americans Embrace Religion In Funeral Planning Post-COVID  KPVI News 6

Religious Objections Stand in Path of Mask, Vaccine Mandates - Bloomberg Law
Religious Objections Stand in Path of Mask, Vaccine Mandates  Bloomberg Law

America's new religion: Fake Christianity - Washington Times
America's new religion: Fake Christianity  Washington Times

Facebook decided faith groups are good for business. Now, it wants your prayers - Reuters
Facebook decided faith groups are good for business. Now, it wants your prayers  Reuters

Religion Notes 7/29/21 | | leadertelegram.com - Leader-Telegram
Religion Notes 7/29/21 | | leadertelegram.com  Leader-Telegram

Are churches trustworthy? Gallup poll shows Democrats, Republicans disagree - Deseret News
Are churches trustworthy? Gallup poll shows Democrats, Republicans disagree  Deseret News

Vaccine hesitancy declines among faith groups, spurred partly by religious appeals - Salt Lake Tribune
Vaccine hesitancy declines among faith groups, spurred partly by religious appeals  Salt Lake Tribune

Religion on the Brain - The Scientist
Religion on the Brain  The Scientist

Archbishop accuses media of distorted coverage of religion - The Irish Times
Archbishop accuses media of distorted coverage of religion  The Irish Times

Area Religious Services, July 30 | Religion | thewesterlysun.com - The Westerly Sun
Area Religious Services, July 30 | Religion | thewesterlysun.com  The Westerly Sun

Opinion | Can Religion Guide the Ethics of AI? - The New York Times
Opinion | Can Religion Guide the Ethics of AI?  The New York Times

Religion News Briefs: July 28, 2021 - Publishers Weekly
Religion News Briefs: July 28, 2021  Publishers Weekly

Arrington: Unrighteous Religion - The Dartmouth
Arrington: Unrighteous Religion  The Dartmouth

China's Xi visits Tibet amid rising controls over religion - Associated Press
China's Xi visits Tibet amid rising controls over religion  Associated Press

Don't exempt religious objectors from COVID vaccine mandates - Los Angeles Times
Don't exempt religious objectors from COVID vaccine mandates  Los Angeles Times

Smiley: The day Mr. Nelson got religion - The Advocate
Smiley: The day Mr. Nelson got religion  The Advocate

Ben Mauceri Joins Religion Of Sports As General Counsel & Head of Business Affairs - Deadline
Ben Mauceri Joins Religion Of Sports As General Counsel & Head of Business Affairs  Deadline

The Proportion Of White Christians In The U.S. Has Stopped Shrinking, New Study Finds - NPR
The Proportion Of White Christians In The U.S. Has Stopped Shrinking, New Study Finds  NPR

The Constitution bans religious tests. Can senators still ask about God? - Deseret News
The Constitution bans religious tests. Can senators still ask about God?  Deseret News

What’s the fertility rate in China? Too low without religion | Opinion - Deseret News
What’s the fertility rate in China? Too low without religion | Opinion  Deseret News

Religion deserves its reputation today | Guest Commentary | standard.net - Standard-Examiner
Religion deserves its reputation today | Guest Commentary | standard.net  Standard-Examiner

'They're stirring up stuff': Ga. sheriff says organization targeting his religious expression - FOX 5 Atlanta
'They're stirring up stuff': Ga. sheriff says organization targeting his religious expression  FOX 5 Atlanta

8 key findings about Christians in India - Pew Research Center
8 key findings about Christians in India  Pew Research Center

Michigan Catholic school's lawsuit says face masks violate religious freedom - The Washington Post
Michigan Catholic school's lawsuit says face masks violate religious freedom  The Washington Post

Religion: July 29, 2021 | Community | dailyastorian.com - Daily Astorian
Religion: July 29, 2021 | Community | dailyastorian.com  Daily Astorian

A pastor's take: Why religion won't fix vaccine hesitancy in Tennessee | Opinion - Tennessean
A pastor's take: Why religion won't fix vaccine hesitancy in Tennessee | Opinion  Tennessean

Decline of white Christians in the U.S. slows, survey finds - Tennessean
Decline of white Christians in the U.S. slows, survey finds  Tennessean

Religions for Peace and the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum Hold Symposium on Youth Engagement with Religion - EIN News
Religions for Peace and the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum Hold Symposium on Youth Engagement with Religion  EIN News

A horn-wearing ‘shaman.’ A cowboy evangelist. For some, the Capitol attack was a kind of Christian revolt. - The Washington Post
A horn-wearing ‘shaman.’ A cowboy evangelist. For some, the Capitol attack was a kind of Christian revolt.  The Washington Post

Honour Killings – Religion or Culture? - Inter Press Service
Honour Killings – Religion or Culture?  Inter Press Service

Analysis: Politics might not be a sport, but Texas sports are political - The Texas Tribune
Analysis: Politics might not be a sport, but Texas sports are political  The Texas Tribune

Dharma is not the same as religion - The New Indian Express
Dharma is not the same as religion  The New Indian Express

Unis are killing the critical study of religion, and it will only make campuses more religious - The Conversation AU
Unis are killing the critical study of religion, and it will only make campuses more religious  The Conversation AU

The Supreme Court Will Hear A Case On The Funding Of Religious Schools - NPR
The Supreme Court Will Hear A Case On The Funding Of Religious Schools  NPR

Tennessee governor's religious views became 'barrier' in J&J vaccine rollout, former insider claims - NewsChannel5.com
Tennessee governor's religious views became 'barrier' in J&J vaccine rollout, former insider claims  NewsChannel5.com

Letter: July 22: Religion in politics . . . | Letters to the Editor | tucson.com - Arizona Daily Star
Letter: July 22: Religion in politics . . . | Letters to the Editor | tucson.com  Arizona Daily Star

Religion, politics, law, sex — a witches' brew of confusion - Minneapolis Star Tribune
Religion, politics, law, sex — a witches' brew of confusion  Minneapolis Star Tribune

Judge Tosses Transgender School Policies Lawsuit, Says Rules Don't Impact Religious Rights - Newsweek
Judge Tosses Transgender School Policies Lawsuit, Says Rules Don't Impact Religious Rights  Newsweek

Pew: What India's Christians, Hindus, Muslims and More Think About Religion | News & Reporting - ChristianityToday.com
Pew: What India's Christians, Hindus, Muslims and More Think About Religion | News & Reporting  ChristianityToday.com

Religion: Building on generational faith | Local News | wacotrib.com - Waco Tribune-Herald
Religion: Building on generational faith | Local News | wacotrib.com  Waco Tribune-Herald

Religious Americans Demand Climate Action - Center For American Progress
Religious Americans Demand Climate Action  Center For American Progress

Pope's not Catholic: What a county-level survey of religious affiliation tells us about faith in Minnesota - MinnPost
Pope's not Catholic: What a county-level survey of religious affiliation tells us about faith in Minnesota  MinnPost

The Religious Leaders on the Front Lines of Mental Health - The Wall Street Journal
The Religious Leaders on the Front Lines of Mental Health  The Wall Street Journal

Speaking of Religion | Nancy Thompson: Values of Religion | Columnists | benningtonbanner.com - Bennington Banner
Speaking of Religion | Nancy Thompson: Values of Religion | Columnists | benningtonbanner.com  Bennington Banner

Nothing in particulars are America's fastest-growing religious group - The Economist
Nothing in particulars are America's fastest-growing religious group  The Economist

Religion events in the San Fernando Valley area, July 24-31 - LA Daily News
Religion events in the San Fernando Valley area, July 24-31  LA Daily News

European Union Court OKs Bans on Religious Dress at Work - Human Rights Watch
European Union Court OKs Bans on Religious Dress at Work  Human Rights Watch

Trump religious freedom ambassador launches international religious freedom meeting - The Washington Post
Trump religious freedom ambassador launches international religious freedom meeting  The Washington Post

Gay Nigerian priest makes religion serve LGBTQ people - Washington Blade
Gay Nigerian priest makes religion serve LGBTQ people  Washington Blade

Colorado Web Designer Case Could Bring Question Of Religious Expression-vs-LGBTQ Rights Back To US Supreme Court - Colorado Public Radio
Colorado Web Designer Case Could Bring Question Of Religious Expression-vs-LGBTQ Rights Back To US Supreme Court  Colorado Public Radio

Religion calendar - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Religion calendar  Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Could the shaky coalition break Orthodox hold on religious life in Israel? - The Times of Israel
Could the shaky coalition break Orthodox hold on religious life in Israel?  The Times of Israel

Star Wars Inside Intel: Religions of the Force - Star Wars
Star Wars Inside Intel: Religions of the Force  Star Wars

How religious are we? - WHYY
How religious are we?  WHYY

Uzbekistan disappoints with secretively adopted religion law - Eurasianet
Uzbekistan disappoints with secretively adopted religion law  Eurasianet

St. Marks UMC launches new community dinner | Religion | chronicleonline.com - Citrus County Chronicle
St. Marks UMC launches new community dinner | Religion | chronicleonline.com  Citrus County Chronicle

Dear Abby: Sister’s conversations always revolve around religion; brother wants to set boundaries - OregonLive
Dear Abby: Sister’s conversations always revolve around religion; brother wants to set boundaries  OregonLive

Is America becoming less religious? What’s the oldest faith group? - Deseret News
Is America becoming less religious? What’s the oldest faith group?  Deseret News

US Supreme Court's 'shadow docket' favored religion and Trump - Marianas Variety
US Supreme Court's 'shadow docket' favored religion and Trump  Marianas Variety

Tom Brady's Religion Of Sports Hires Ex-Red Bull Atty As GC - Law360
Tom Brady's Religion Of Sports Hires Ex-Red Bull Atty As GC  Law360

Ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick criminally charged with sexual assault of teenager in the 1970s - The Washington Post
Ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick criminally charged with sexual assault of teenager in the 1970s  The Washington Post

Supreme Court religion cases: What’s happened in 2021 and what’s next - Deseret News
Supreme Court religion cases: What’s happened in 2021 and what’s next  Deseret News

U.S. Supreme Court to hear Maine dispute over religious schools - Reuters
U.S. Supreme Court to hear Maine dispute over religious schools  Reuters

Religion news in brief | News | gainesvilleregister.com - Gainesville Daily Register
Religion news in brief | News | gainesvilleregister.com  Gainesville Daily Register

When religion becomes sick - Herald-Mail Media
When religion becomes sick  Herald-Mail Media

Church celebrating 'religion' of soccer legend Maradona opens in Mexico - NBC News
Church celebrating 'religion' of soccer legend Maradona opens in Mexico  NBC News

These Australians were cast out by their religions. But they have no regrets - ABC News
These Australians were cast out by their religions. But they have no regrets  ABC News

Church Services 7/29/21 | Religion | wiscnews.com - WiscNews
Church Services 7/29/21 | Religion | wiscnews.com  WiscNews

How Frank Ocean and Bad Religion changed the way I listen to music - The Michigan Daily
How Frank Ocean and Bad Religion changed the way I listen to music  The Michigan Daily

Fear of the Unknown: Religion, Identity, and Conflict in Northern Nigeria - Nigeria - ReliefWeb
Fear of the Unknown: Religion, Identity, and Conflict in Northern Nigeria - Nigeria  ReliefWeb

Utah's governor: 'Politics is becoming religion in our country' - POLITICO
Utah's governor: 'Politics is becoming religion in our country'  POLITICO

RELIGION: We are without excuse! - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
RELIGION: We are without excuse!  Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Religion Notes: July 29, 2021 - masslive.com
Religion Notes: July 29, 2021  masslive.com

Religion and Science - Rising Kashmir
Religion and Science  Rising Kashmir

Rewriting the book on religion – THE MERCURY - The UTD Mercury
Rewriting the book on religion – THE MERCURY  The UTD Mercury

Some Colorado Springs faithful required to get COVID-19 likely will seek religious exemption - Colorado Springs Gazette
Some Colorado Springs faithful required to get COVID-19 likely will seek religious exemption  Colorado Springs Gazette

‘When the blood starts’: Spike in Ahmadi persecution in Pakistan - Al Jazeera English
‘When the blood starts’: Spike in Ahmadi persecution in Pakistan  Al Jazeera English

Religious group's tall ship visiting New London - News from southeastern Connecticut - theday.com
Religious group's tall ship visiting New London - News from southeastern Connecticut  theday.com

Church events 7-29-21 | Local Religion | crescent-news.com - Defiance Crescent News
Church events 7-29-21 | Local Religion | crescent-news.com  Defiance Crescent News

The January 6 Select Committee Cannot Ignore This Christian Movement - Religion Dispatches
The January 6 Select Committee Cannot Ignore This Christian Movement  Religion Dispatches

Will Central Asia Become 'Stans' for Religious Freedom? | News & Reporting - ChristianityToday.com
Will Central Asia Become 'Stans' for Religious Freedom? | News & Reporting  ChristianityToday.com




 RELATED ARTICLES
Why Christian and Atheist Libertarians Get Along
I'm the most religious guy in the Libertarian Party. At least that's what my friend, Charlie, decided. I don't know if his bit of insight was meant to be a compliment or a mere observation. Either way, I suppose there are others more deserving.
A Commonsense Guide to Exorcism
Bloodshot eyes stared at the crucifix six inches from his nose. Leather restraints lined with lamb's wool fastened his arms and legs to the chair. The demon-possessed man lunged at the hand holding the holy symbol. Gnashing teeth struggled to bite the outstretched wrist.
Choose Your Friends Carefully
For those of you who have entered into a true Spirit-filled, surrendered walk with the Lord where God and Jesus are now leading and directing your life in the direction They want it to go in - one of the first things that you will find happening to you is that God will start to prune out the people that He does not want in your life and start to bring in the people that He does want in.
Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of Heaven is Ridley Scott's way of trying to recapture the success of Gladiator and to turn Orlando Bloom into the international sensation and instant leading man that Crowe became after is Oscar winning performance in that Gladiator. I don't fault Bloom for trying. I know he had to be thinking how could he lose? Sure it's an epic drama and none of the other recently released historical epics (including his Troy) have come anywhere near the success of Gladiator, but Dreams has Ridley Scott, Gladiator's mastermind at the helm, he couldn't go wrong?right? Well, that's not exactly what happened. See someone forgot to tell Orlando that he's not Russell Crowe. And while he looked damn good in those elf ears, it takes much more then a pretty face to pull off an epic drama the likes of Kingdom of Heaven and unfortunately for us all Bloom just doesn't have it.
The Moment of Truth
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated to all of Israel, and the world last night that the moment of truth had arrived. Announcing his resignation as Finance Minister in the Sharon cabinet, he stated that he had been forced to remain in the government, and also remain mostly silent regarding his opposition to the disengagement over these last several months in order to complete his economic reforms, he claimed that he anguished over the continued march towards the disengagement with no signs of gaining anything in return. He also categorically pronounced what the rest of us have been shouting from the rooftops since its inception, he stated in no uncertain terms that this move would escalate terrorism, empower Hamas, and ultimately put the survival of the state in danger. While many felt his timing was strictly politically motivated to position himself to take control of the Likud party, wresting it away from Ariel Sharon, I must say I have a bit of a different take on it. Please read on to understand what it is and why I feel that way, and also what I really think about BiBi Netanyahu.
Zombies
The Caribbean is the site of another thing which some would call a mystery. Until a few years ago I would have been inclined to put it in the paranormal control of soul category and I still believe that is part of it. However, we have scientifically identified the use of sea urchin extract as the agent which allows apparent death and subsequent use of a body by means as yet mysterious to scientists who negate the possibility of ESP type brain connection or possessions.
Bang, Bang,Your Dead
Zechariah 14:1-14:12
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death - But In Current Textbooks the Context of These Words is Deleted
Did you know that 52 of the 55 signers of The Declaration of Independence were orthodox, deeply committed Christians? The other three all believed in the Bible as the divine truth, the God of scripture, and His personal intervention.
Top Ten Religion Quotations
Review your religious beliefs with these revealing quotations all about religion...
Organized Religion is Great for Humanity; Rants from Lance
Organized Religion has served mankind well, by uniting civilization and societies for thousands of years. God bless organized religion indeed. More so let us pay tribute to the great religious leaders of our largest and most well organized religions. One cannot think of a better or higher authority than those who are leaders of religious organizations. For instance the new pope and former Nazi Youth, the BTK murderer who was President of his Lutheran Church or the many Bishops and Priest who molest our innocent children? All in the name of god and organized religion, isn't it so wonderful that these organization help us lowly humans with our questions, self-doubts and inadequacies. What on Earth would we do without such humble and moral leaders of our organized religion.
Making Merchandise of Christians ? Prosperity Gospel Blight
Anyone who has read their Bible would have to concede in principle at least that it does say that God loves to bless his children. It also does promise that if we are giving individuals we should expect to have many wonderful blessings returned to us as a result. These promises are unquestionable. Christ said that if we gave that men would give to us good measure pressed down and running over, Luke 6:38. The principle here is not in question; it is the use, and or rather the misuse of this principle that causes all the trouble. Anyone trying to prove that the Bible does not promise God's blessings to the generous giver would come up woefully short. So how does this doctrinal new kid on the block, the abundant life gospel, succeed in the wake of its highly suspect proponents and their methods?
Islamic World Domination
The question is not whether terrorism is now a world-wide reality, but why is terrorism happening at all? And, is it possible to thwart the activities of the Islamic extremists?
Religion Versus Science: The Truth
I find myself amazed and appalled that such strong antipathy exists in this day and age between non-believes and believers--and between diverse groups of believers--that murder and injustice are perpetrated daily on innocent men, women and children.
Jesus as the Rose of Sharon
The words "rose of Sharon" comes out of the Old Testament in the Song of Solomon. The verse reads: "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys." (Solomon 2:1)
The Power of Love
There is no doubt in my mind that the quality of love is the #1 quality that God would like to get worked into our souls and personalities. Even nonbelievers, atheists and agnostics can see the power of love and how it has the ability to change people and change lives when it is properly walked out and handled.
The Rapture: A Twinkling of an Eye
A father savagely murders his nine children. A stay at home mother drowns her five children in a bathtub. A sex offender confesses to abducting and killing a nine-year-old child. Two weeks later in the same state ? another sex offender duplicates the same heinous crime. In late December of 2004, over 75,000 children perished when a 9.3 earthquake caused a great Tsunami off the coast of Asia; 75,000 children were gone in an instant. When reading the morning headlines, nothing can strike more sadness within the soul once finding out a defenseless, innocent child has passed away.
The Judgment Seat of Christ
The thought of a public examination before the Judgment bar of our Lord should be incentive enough to awaken even the most slumbering saint of God. Yet few, if any, ever give it a second thought. Paul declared, "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:12). Perhaps if the doctrine of judgment and reward were expounded more from our pulpits there would be more attention given to living a life of holiness and obedience. Think of it. How will you stand in that day? Will you approach Him with confidence or will you stand before Him red-faced and embarrassed over a life of waste and neglect? It is something that we as Christians will all have to do. Are you ready to appear before the judgment seat? And if you say that you are, perhaps you are speaking without the necessary contemplation of the task that lies before you. Yes, the judgment seat will be a most solemn occasion for many in that great day.
Rebuilding Society and The Tax Protest Movement
Rebuilding society and the tax protest movement: A Biblical Opinion and Strategy By Jack Kettler
Sins and the REAL Demons
We all must know that the Catholic Church has used fear of demons and so-called sin to make a great deal of their power. I hope to illustrate the inner workings of the separation of church and state that is not a reality and that the state uses the same techniques. In the words of the deservedly respected historians Will and Ariel Durant we visit with the technocrats of the Jesuit Order who John Ralston Saul holds up as the forerunners of the lobbyists and other courtesans of this present enlightened age. The quotation from Rousseau and Revolution does not elucidate the agreement Charles of Spain made before giving the Jesuits he expelled from Spain a small stipend. That agreement called for silence on the matters relating to their attempts to inform the people of his true nature. But during this silent period I suggest there were some Jesuits like Adam Weishaupt who decided enough was enough. It is this moment in history that we find a significant change in the world took place. America was created in the same year the Illuminati were re-organized and Russia celebrated the founding day of these Illuminati in their May Day celebration.
Of Snakes and Terrorism
With the passing of Arafat, the Middle East will take on a slightly different face, allowing the possibilities for prophetic fulfillment to speed up. The pathway is now open for renewed efforts to procure peace in the Middle East, using the avenue of the formation of the promised Palestinian State. But this window of opportunity may not remain open for long. Indeed pressure is now mounting from the United States, encouraged by Britian, to get on with the steps necessary to implement the terms of the "Road Map."

home | site map
© 2005