Dismay and anger as Pope declares Protestants cannot have churches | John Hooper in Rome and Stephen Bates | Wednesday July 11, 2007 | The Guardian
· Text quotes 'absence of sacramental priesthood'
· Declaration criticised as huge step backwards
Protestant churches yesterday reacted with dismay to a new declaration approved by Pope Benedict XVI insisting they were mere "ecclesial communities" and their ministers effectively phonies with no right to give communion. ...
Friday, August 31, 2007
Operation Straight Up views its entertainment tours as a "holy crusade" to convert soldiers and Iraqis to fundamentalist Christianity
Holy war! Game tests troops' rapture readinessAugust 12, 2007 | BY ZAY N. SMITH | Sun-Times Columnist | As If We Weren't Putting Our Brave Soldiers Through Enough (cont'd):
The Defense Department at www .americasupportsyou.mil is endorsing an Iraq tour by Operation Straight Up to offer "faith-based entertainment" there.
It does not mention that Operation Straight Up views its entertainment tours as a "holy crusade" to convert soldiers and Iraqis to fundamentalist Christianity.
The entertainment includes the distribution of packets with religious tracts printed in both English and Arabic, along with a rapture video game, "Left Behind: Eternal Forces," in which the player is assigned to convert or kill the unbelievers left behind after the rapture.
The game's virtual character shouts "Praise the Lord!" every time a nonbeliever is killed.
The Bush administration knows what our soldiers in Iraq need -- additional holy wars.
The Defense Department at www .americasupportsyou.mil is endorsing an Iraq tour by Operation Straight Up to offer "faith-based entertainment" there.
It does not mention that Operation Straight Up views its entertainment tours as a "holy crusade" to convert soldiers and Iraqis to fundamentalist Christianity.
The entertainment includes the distribution of packets with religious tracts printed in both English and Arabic, along with a rapture video game, "Left Behind: Eternal Forces," in which the player is assigned to convert or kill the unbelievers left behind after the rapture.
The game's virtual character shouts "Praise the Lord!" every time a nonbeliever is killed.
The Bush administration knows what our soldiers in Iraq need -- additional holy wars.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Texas: School Board Chairman Seeks Religion In Science Class: united under a “big tent” against evolution
Trouble In Texas: School Board Chairman Seeks Religion In Science Class | August 9th 2007
The Texas Freedom Network (TFN) on Tuesday revealed a side of “intelligent design” proponents rarely seen by the public at large. The group released a transcript and recording of an extraordinarily candid speech given in 2005 by recently named State Board of Education Chairman Ron McLeroy.
McLeroy told a gathering at Grace Bible Church in Bryan, Texas, of his efforts to expunge evolution from the state’s high school biology textbooks. “Back in November 2003, we finished [the]…adoption process for the biology textbooks in Texas…. I want to tell you all the arguments made by all the intelligent-design group, all the creationist intelligent design people, I can guarantee the other side heard exactly nothing,” he said.
He went on, condemning other Christian board members for not following his lead.
“[T]he four really conservative, orthodox Christians on the board were the only ones who were willing to stand up to the textbooks and say they don’t present the weaknesses of evolution,” he said. “Amazing.”
He admonished the audience not to bicker over the finer points of creationism because they were united under a “big tent” against evolution.
“Whether you’re a progressive creationist, recent creationist, young-Earth, old-Earth, it’s all in the tent of intelligent design,” McLeroy said. “And intelligent design here at Grace Bible Church is actually a smaller tent than you would have in the intelligent design movement as a whole, because we are all Biblical literalists…. So because it’s a bigger tent, just don’t waste our time arguing with each other about…all of the side issues.”
“Modern science today,” McLeroy complained, “is totally based on naturalism,” thus “it is the naturalistic base that is [our] target.” ...
The Texas Freedom Network (TFN) on Tuesday revealed a side of “intelligent design” proponents rarely seen by the public at large. The group released a transcript and recording of an extraordinarily candid speech given in 2005 by recently named State Board of Education Chairman Ron McLeroy.
McLeroy told a gathering at Grace Bible Church in Bryan, Texas, of his efforts to expunge evolution from the state’s high school biology textbooks. “Back in November 2003, we finished [the]…adoption process for the biology textbooks in Texas…. I want to tell you all the arguments made by all the intelligent-design group, all the creationist intelligent design people, I can guarantee the other side heard exactly nothing,” he said.
He went on, condemning other Christian board members for not following his lead.
“[T]he four really conservative, orthodox Christians on the board were the only ones who were willing to stand up to the textbooks and say they don’t present the weaknesses of evolution,” he said. “Amazing.”
He admonished the audience not to bicker over the finer points of creationism because they were united under a “big tent” against evolution.
“Whether you’re a progressive creationist, recent creationist, young-Earth, old-Earth, it’s all in the tent of intelligent design,” McLeroy said. “And intelligent design here at Grace Bible Church is actually a smaller tent than you would have in the intelligent design movement as a whole, because we are all Biblical literalists…. So because it’s a bigger tent, just don’t waste our time arguing with each other about…all of the side issues.”
“Modern science today,” McLeroy complained, “is totally based on naturalism,” thus “it is the naturalistic base that is [our] target.” ...
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Texas: 400 executions: testament to the influence of the state’s conservative evangelical Christians [and culture]
Religion, culture behind Texas execution tally | Lone Star State’s death penalty toll due in part to evangelical influences | Updated: 1:31 p.m. CT Aug 15, 2007
DALLAS - Texas will almost certainly hit the grim total of 400 executions this month, far ahead of any other state, testament to the influence of the state’s conservative evangelical Christians and its cultural mix of Old South and Wild West.
“In Texas you have all the elements lined up. Public support, a governor that supports it and supportive courts,” said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center.
“If any of those things are hesitant then the process slows down,” said Dieter. “With all cylinders working as in Texas it produces a lot of executions.” ...
DALLAS - Texas will almost certainly hit the grim total of 400 executions this month, far ahead of any other state, testament to the influence of the state’s conservative evangelical Christians and its cultural mix of Old South and Wild West.
“In Texas you have all the elements lined up. Public support, a governor that supports it and supportive courts,” said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center.
“If any of those things are hesitant then the process slows down,” said Dieter. “With all cylinders working as in Texas it produces a lot of executions.” ...
Supreme Court limits citizens' ability to question state/religion connections, gives victory to president's religious patronage program
Aug 10,2007 | Faith the Nation: Part 5-4 | by Bill Berkowitz
Supreme Court limits citizens' ability to question state/religion connections, gives victory to president's religious patronage program
On Monday, June 25, the United States Supreme Court ruled that taxpayers have no right to challenge discretionary spending by the executive branch. The 5-4 ruling in the case of [Jay] Hein [Deputy Assistant to the President and the Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives] v. Freedom From Religion Foundation "revolved around a 1968 Supreme Court ruling that enabled taxpayers to challenge government programs that promote religion," the Associated Press reported. "That earlier decision involved the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which financed teaching and instructional materials in religious schools in low-income areas."
...
The decision will no doubt encourage the administration to keep pouring money into its faith-based initiative. And while it dealt a blow to the initiative's critics, it will not prevent advocacy organizations from continuing to challenge the faith-based initiative in the courts; a news release by Americans United for Separation of Church and State (Americans United), pointed out that the decision would not "affect most legal challenges to the 'faith-based' initiative."
"The decision is a slap in the face to those of us who are trying to safeguard freedom of conscience and the separation of church and state," Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freedom From Religion Foundation co-president and a plaintiff in the lawsuit, told Media Transparency in an e-mail exchange. "Its one thing to disagree with FFRF on the merits of our lawsuit, but it's quite another to bar the courtroom door. What is the Supreme Court majority afraid of in letting us argue our case?" ...
Supreme Court limits citizens' ability to question state/religion connections, gives victory to president's religious patronage program
On Monday, June 25, the United States Supreme Court ruled that taxpayers have no right to challenge discretionary spending by the executive branch. The 5-4 ruling in the case of [Jay] Hein [Deputy Assistant to the President and the Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives] v. Freedom From Religion Foundation "revolved around a 1968 Supreme Court ruling that enabled taxpayers to challenge government programs that promote religion," the Associated Press reported. "That earlier decision involved the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which financed teaching and instructional materials in religious schools in low-income areas."
...
The decision will no doubt encourage the administration to keep pouring money into its faith-based initiative. And while it dealt a blow to the initiative's critics, it will not prevent advocacy organizations from continuing to challenge the faith-based initiative in the courts; a news release by Americans United for Separation of Church and State (Americans United), pointed out that the decision would not "affect most legal challenges to the 'faith-based' initiative."
"The decision is a slap in the face to those of us who are trying to safeguard freedom of conscience and the separation of church and state," Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freedom From Religion Foundation co-president and a plaintiff in the lawsuit, told Media Transparency in an e-mail exchange. "Its one thing to disagree with FFRF on the merits of our lawsuit, but it's quite another to bar the courtroom door. What is the Supreme Court majority afraid of in letting us argue our case?" ...
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Southern Christian Leadership Conference to honor Michael Vick ... under federal indictment on dogfighting charges
August 03, 2007 | SCLC making plans to honor Vick | By ERNIE SUGGS | The Atlanta-Journal Constitution | Published on: 08/03/07
...
During a press conference announcing the opening of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's 49th annual convention to celebrate the organization's 50th year, president Charles Steele noted that the organization would find some way to honor and recognize the embattled Falcon's quarterback who is under federal indictment on dogfighting charges.
...
The SCLC's support of Vick is the most significant and prominent since he was indicted on July 18 on charges of running a dogfighting ring out of a home he owned in rural Virginia. ...
...
During a press conference announcing the opening of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's 49th annual convention to celebrate the organization's 50th year, president Charles Steele noted that the organization would find some way to honor and recognize the embattled Falcon's quarterback who is under federal indictment on dogfighting charges.
...
The SCLC's support of Vick is the most significant and prominent since he was indicted on July 18 on charges of running a dogfighting ring out of a home he owned in rural Virginia. ...
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Sex abstinence programmes do not stop risky sexual behaviour or help in the prevention of unwanted pregnancy ...
Thursday, 2 August 2007, | No-sex programmes 'not working'
Sex abstinence programmes do not stop risky sexual behaviour or help in the prevention of unwanted pregnancy, a research team has concluded.
The Oxford University team reviewed 13 US trials involving over 15,000 people aged 10 to 21.
They found abstinence programmes had no negative or positive impact on the rates of sex infections or unprotected sex, the British Medical Journal said.
...
Researchers found none of the abstinence-only programmes had an impact on the age at which individuals lost their virginity, whether they had unprotected sex, the number of sexual partners, the rates of sexually transmitted diseases or the number of pregnancies.
...
Lead author Kristen Underhill said: "Our analysis suggests that abstinence-only programmes that aim to prevent HIV are not effective.
..
But abstinence-only programmes don't work because they provide no safety net for those young people who do have a sexual relationship - and research shows that many do." ...
Sex abstinence programmes do not stop risky sexual behaviour or help in the prevention of unwanted pregnancy, a research team has concluded.
The Oxford University team reviewed 13 US trials involving over 15,000 people aged 10 to 21.
They found abstinence programmes had no negative or positive impact on the rates of sex infections or unprotected sex, the British Medical Journal said.
...
Researchers found none of the abstinence-only programmes had an impact on the age at which individuals lost their virginity, whether they had unprotected sex, the number of sexual partners, the rates of sexually transmitted diseases or the number of pregnancies.
...
Lead author Kristen Underhill said: "Our analysis suggests that abstinence-only programmes that aim to prevent HIV are not effective.
..
But abstinence-only programmes don't work because they provide no safety net for those young people who do have a sexual relationship - and research shows that many do." ...
“Neither Pagan nor Mahometan, nor Jew ought to be excluded from the civil rights of the commonwealth because of his religion. The Gospel commands no s
Tuesday, August 7, 2007 by CommonDreams.org | A Christian Nation? | by Carol Hamilton
On August 6, 2007, the New York Times reported on an interesting dispute between the campaign of Sam Brownback and that of Mike Huckabee. According to Times reporter Sarah Wheaton, the following remark set off the dispute:
“‘I know Senator Brownback converted to Roman Catholicism in 2002,” Mr. Rude wrote. “Frankly, as a recovering Catholic myself, that is all I need to know about his discernment when compared to the Governor’s.” The message struck some as an attempt to highlight Mr. Brownback’s Catholicism in a state with a large Protestant electorate.
...
What about the influence of John Locke? I asked them. Locke, himself a devout Christian from a Puritan family, inspired Jefferson’s Statute for Religious Freedom written in 1777 and passed, thanks to James Madison, in 1786. Jefferson’s statute is particularly indebted to Locke’s Letter Concerning Toleration (1689), which you can read in its entirety here. In it Locke declared, “Neither Pagan nor Mahometan, nor Jew ought to be excluded from the civil rights of the commonwealth because of his religion. The Gospel commands no such thing.”
As Locke knew, religious strife-not only between Catholics and Protestants, but among Protestants-had resulted in “factions, tumults, and civil wars,” causing the death or exile of thousands of Europeans. “It is not the diversity of opinions (which cannot be avoided),” Locke wrote, “but “the refusal of toleration to those that are of different opinions (which might have been granted) … that has produced all the bustles and wars that have been in the Christian world upon account of religion.” The only way to avoid such conflicts was to separate Church and State, he concluded, because
“If each of them [Church and State] would contain itself within its own bounds - the one attending to the worldly welfare of the commonwealth, the other to the salvation of souls - it is impossible that any discord should ever have happened between them.” ...
On August 6, 2007, the New York Times reported on an interesting dispute between the campaign of Sam Brownback and that of Mike Huckabee. According to Times reporter Sarah Wheaton, the following remark set off the dispute:
“‘I know Senator Brownback converted to Roman Catholicism in 2002,” Mr. Rude wrote. “Frankly, as a recovering Catholic myself, that is all I need to know about his discernment when compared to the Governor’s.” The message struck some as an attempt to highlight Mr. Brownback’s Catholicism in a state with a large Protestant electorate.
...
What about the influence of John Locke? I asked them. Locke, himself a devout Christian from a Puritan family, inspired Jefferson’s Statute for Religious Freedom written in 1777 and passed, thanks to James Madison, in 1786. Jefferson’s statute is particularly indebted to Locke’s Letter Concerning Toleration (1689), which you can read in its entirety here. In it Locke declared, “Neither Pagan nor Mahometan, nor Jew ought to be excluded from the civil rights of the commonwealth because of his religion. The Gospel commands no such thing.”
As Locke knew, religious strife-not only between Catholics and Protestants, but among Protestants-had resulted in “factions, tumults, and civil wars,” causing the death or exile of thousands of Europeans. “It is not the diversity of opinions (which cannot be avoided),” Locke wrote, “but “the refusal of toleration to those that are of different opinions (which might have been granted) … that has produced all the bustles and wars that have been in the Christian world upon account of religion.” The only way to avoid such conflicts was to separate Church and State, he concluded, because
“If each of them [Church and State] would contain itself within its own bounds - the one attending to the worldly welfare of the commonwealth, the other to the salvation of souls - it is impossible that any discord should ever have happened between them.” ...
Friday, August 03, 2007
nor the danger of the Left Behind theology which is in bed with the political ideology of the neo-conservatives
UK's Rev. Sizer's U.S.A. Tour: The Right Christians Versus the Christian Right July 09, 2007 09:19 AM
...
In the last three years, this concerned, committed, thoughtful Christian has searched to learn-and do something- about the heretical and inherently anti-Semitic theology of Christian Zionism, for in my hometown in Florida, I have not found one church, priest or pastor who even seems aware of the facts on the ground in the Holy Land, nor the danger of the Left Behind theology which is in bed with the political ideology of the neo-conservatives.
I didn't even have a clue as to how little I knew about what was going down in the Holy Land until my first journey in June 2005, when I passed through my first checkpoint and entered into the Little Town of Bethlehem, which is Occupied Territory.
What I witnessed and viscerally felt in my gut was the injustices of oppression caused by a military occupation that denies human rights to innocent ones simply because they were born on the wrong side of the tracks ; in the West Bank and Gaza.
...
"The origins of 'Christian Zionism' lie within nineteenth-century British premillennial sectarianism, but by the early twentieth century it had become a predominantly American dispensational movement, and pervasive within all main evangelical denominations. The contemporary Christian Zionism movement emerged after the 'Six Day War' in Israel in 1967, and it has had a significant influence on attitudes towards the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. Evangelicals are increasingly polarized over whether Christian Zionism is biblical and orthodox or unbiblical and cultic." [2]
...
"The "father of modern dispensationalism" John Nelson Darby was born in Ireland, in the year 1800, and died in 1882. He was an honor student in Westminster and Trinity College, where he studied law, and worked as a lawyer until he became a curate in the Church of England until 1827, when he joined the Brethren movement. Darby, along with the rest of the Brethren, claimed to have been given many "rediscovered truths." These alleged truths supposedly had been taught by the apostles, and then lost sight of. Even the great Reformers had not known of these doctrines. These "rediscovered truths" were, in fact, the direct opposite of all historic Christian teachings proclaimed by the Reformers and extant commentaries. Even some of Darby's best friends hesitated at some of his doctrines. He was accused of heresy a number of times." [3]
...
In the last three years, this concerned, committed, thoughtful Christian has searched to learn-and do something- about the heretical and inherently anti-Semitic theology of Christian Zionism, for in my hometown in Florida, I have not found one church, priest or pastor who even seems aware of the facts on the ground in the Holy Land, nor the danger of the Left Behind theology which is in bed with the political ideology of the neo-conservatives.
I didn't even have a clue as to how little I knew about what was going down in the Holy Land until my first journey in June 2005, when I passed through my first checkpoint and entered into the Little Town of Bethlehem, which is Occupied Territory.
What I witnessed and viscerally felt in my gut was the injustices of oppression caused by a military occupation that denies human rights to innocent ones simply because they were born on the wrong side of the tracks ; in the West Bank and Gaza.
...
"The origins of 'Christian Zionism' lie within nineteenth-century British premillennial sectarianism, but by the early twentieth century it had become a predominantly American dispensational movement, and pervasive within all main evangelical denominations. The contemporary Christian Zionism movement emerged after the 'Six Day War' in Israel in 1967, and it has had a significant influence on attitudes towards the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. Evangelicals are increasingly polarized over whether Christian Zionism is biblical and orthodox or unbiblical and cultic." [2]
...
"The "father of modern dispensationalism" John Nelson Darby was born in Ireland, in the year 1800, and died in 1882. He was an honor student in Westminster and Trinity College, where he studied law, and worked as a lawyer until he became a curate in the Church of England until 1827, when he joined the Brethren movement. Darby, along with the rest of the Brethren, claimed to have been given many "rediscovered truths." These alleged truths supposedly had been taught by the apostles, and then lost sight of. Even the great Reformers had not known of these doctrines. These "rediscovered truths" were, in fact, the direct opposite of all historic Christian teachings proclaimed by the Reformers and extant commentaries. Even some of Darby's best friends hesitated at some of his doctrines. He was accused of heresy a number of times." [3]
Missouri Governor Signs Anti-Choice Bill From Sanctuary Of Baptist Church
Missouri Governor Signs Anti-Choice Bill From Sanctuary Of Baptist Church By: Logan Murphy on Wednesday, July 11th, 2007 at 5:01 PM - PDT
Missouri abortion clinics will face new regulations and new restrictions on teaching sex education classes.
Gov. Matt Blunt signed legislation Friday placing more abortion clinics under government oversight by classifying them as ambulatory surgical centers. Planned Parenthood claimed the law, HB 1055, could force it to spend up to $2 million to remodel one of its clinics and halt medical abortions at another site.
The new law, which will take effect Aug. 28, also bars people affiliated with abortion providers from teaching or supplying materials for sex education courses in public schools, and it allows schools to offer abstinence-only programs.
It cements into state statute an existing grant program for centers that encourage women to deliver babies instead of having abortions.
Blunt proclaimed the law “one of the strongest pieces of pro-life legislation in Missouri history” as he spoke from a cross-shaped lectern during a signing ceremony in the sanctuary of Concord Baptist Church. The governor also was scheduled to promote the legislation in Joplin, Hannibal and suburban St. Louis. Read more…
Missouri abortion clinics will face new regulations and new restrictions on teaching sex education classes.
Gov. Matt Blunt signed legislation Friday placing more abortion clinics under government oversight by classifying them as ambulatory surgical centers. Planned Parenthood claimed the law, HB 1055, could force it to spend up to $2 million to remodel one of its clinics and halt medical abortions at another site.
The new law, which will take effect Aug. 28, also bars people affiliated with abortion providers from teaching or supplying materials for sex education courses in public schools, and it allows schools to offer abstinence-only programs.
It cements into state statute an existing grant program for centers that encourage women to deliver babies instead of having abortions.
Blunt proclaimed the law “one of the strongest pieces of pro-life legislation in Missouri history” as he spoke from a cross-shaped lectern during a signing ceremony in the sanctuary of Concord Baptist Church. The governor also was scheduled to promote the legislation in Joplin, Hannibal and suburban St. Louis. Read more…
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