Religion News for 9/30/2009

Wow, readers, it's almost October! On this day in 1962, César Chávez and Dolores Huerta founded the National Farm Workers Association (later the United Farm Workers). And today in religion news...

• Berlin is working to accommodate the prayer needs of Muslim students, but the ruling which permitted it is generating some interesting questions. (Reuters)
• Apparently today is Blasphemy Day. I'll be goddamned. (PD)
• An Arizona judge has granted an injunction on recently passed abortion regulation, pending suit by Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights. (AZCentral)
• A lawsuit in Oklahoma is challenging the constitutionality of abortion laws there, which would require doctors to disclose new information about women receiving abortions. (AP/KJRH)
• A Malaysian woman will be caned for drinking beer under Shari'ah law.
• Bill Tammeus has a saddening and interesting graphic depicting the splits in the Christian church, and an interesting reflection on the ELCA split, which may yet worsen. (Tammeus)

Religion News for 9/29/2009

Hello readers! Today's quote comes from C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Proposes a Toast:

"No man who says 'I'm as good as you' believes it. He would not say it if he did. The St Bernard never says it to the toy dog, nor the scholar to the dunce, nor the employable to the bum, nor the pretty woman to the plain." I found it pretty provocative. What are your thoughts?

Recently in religion news...

• Confucius' 2,560th birthday was celebrated yesterday. (CCTV)
• The hotels and businesses in Saudi Arabia, which depend on the hajj (a sacred journey made by many Muslims to Mecca) for revenue, are being impacted by fears of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. (Reuters)
• Hindus in India's Kashmir region, known as Pandits, may be returning home due to government encouragement. (Reuters)
• There's an interesting interview with evangelical performance artist/pastor Rob Bell over at Articles of Faith. He discusses his take on suffering and creativity. (AOF)
• Remember the earlier post (9/22) about Thich Nhat Hahn? Vietnamese authorities have destroyed the monastery of his followers. (AP/SeattleTimes)
• South Dakota is considering throwing out its ban on embryonic stem cell research. (AP/Pierre Capital Journal)
• The Lutheran church is still struggling over internal disputes over gay marriage and gay clergy. (Indianapolis Star)

Reverend Billy @ Busboys & Poets (DC) Tomorrow Evening

We now pause to make you aware of a pretty cool event:

For those of you who aren't familiar with The Reverend Billy, you should know that he'll be making an appearance at bookstore/cafe Busboys & Poets tomorrow at 7:30 p.m, in Washington, D.C. The Church of Stop Shopping Choir will be there too, and their performance is always a good reminder to spend less, shop less, and love more.

Rev. Billy is also the Green Party candidate for NYC mayor, a longtime activist in favor of corporate responsibility and peace, and saving Coney Island, and a performance artist. I have known of him since college and was lucky enough to meet him a couple of times, once for an interview I produced. His brand of activism does secular humanism pretty proud, I think. Come out if you can.

photo by crizzirc

Religion News for 9/25/2009

Hi readers! Today marks the anniversary of the closing of the last of the Magdalene Asylums, in 1996. And today in religion news:

• The new interim Massachusetts senator, Paul G. Kirk, is the grand-nephew of a Boston cardinal. All sorts of interesting tidbits at Articles of Faith. (AOF)
• Women in Christian Media has opened a Chicago chapter. (DMN)
• Benjamin Netanyahu has called Iran's president "the antithesis of moral." (Youtube)

Religion News for 9/24/2009

Hello, readers! Today in 622, the prophet Muhammad completed his hijra from Mecca to Medina. And today in religion news...

• Worldwide, witch hunts persecuting women and children are on the rise, according to the UN. (Reuters)
• Tomorrow's Islam on Capitol Hill [site contains automatic audio] event is already attracting attention, not all of it positive, and not all just from anti-Muslim groups. (PD, Beliefnet)
• Pope Benedict XVI will be making his first official visit to Great Britain. (Times of London)
• Leaders from African-American churches will be endorsing Obama's plan for healthcare reform. (LAT)
• Two openly gay members of Congress have endorsed legislation barring workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. (Baltimore Sun)

Religion News for 9/23/2009

Hi readers! Today in 1122, the Concordat of Worms was agreed upon by Pope Calixtus II and Holy Roman Emperor Henry V. And today in religion news...

• Oprah has chosen a book of short stories by a Nigerian Jesuit priest, Uwem Akpan, for her book club. (Reuters)
• Law enforcement is heightening its presence around the country in the wake of recent terrorism-related arrests in NYC and Denver. (USAT)
• China has shut down tourism in Tibet ahead of the 60th anniversary of communist rule. (AP/NPR)

Religion News for 9/22/2009

Hi, readers! It might be a bit late, but happy Eid and Rosh Hashanah to those celebrating. Today is the birthday of Pakistani philosopher Manzoor Ahmad. And today in religion news...

• Catholic bishops will discuss Middle East peace. Next year. (AP)
• An interesting account of a non-Muslim fasting for a day during Ramadan is over at Speaking of Faith's blog. (SOFObserved)
• There's still conflict about use of eagle feathers in Native American ceremonies. An LA Times article explores the government's role in protecting eagles versus its repression of Native American religious expression (LAT)
• Vietnamese authorities are persecuting followers of a Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, who they say advocates "sabotage." (AP via ABC)
• Mike Huckabee won a straw poll for Republican presidential nomination among "Values Voters" conference attendees. (Pew/RNS)
• A Vatican official, Archbishop Raymond Burke, has said the Church erred in administering funeral rites to the late Senator Kennedy. (PD)
• Physician-assisted suicide is becoming an increasingly hot political topic in Britain. (Reuters)

Friday Fun

Enjoy, everyone, and have a great weekend.

Religion News for 9/18/2009

Happy Friday, readers! Two years ago today, Buddhist monks in Myanmar joined anti-government protesters in objection to increases in fuel prices and human rights abuses. And today in religion news...

• "Values voters" on the left and the right have a lot in common, at least demographically. (PD)
• Government reform protests took place in Iran, the first since last July. The government puts the death toll at 36, the reformers at 72. (AP)
• A death row inmate whose execution was botched, Rommel Broom, will testify about Ohio's lethal injection process and whether it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. He claims he is innocent. (NYT)
• Two Florida school officials are facing jail terms for praying in front of students. (Washington Times)
• Jim Wallis over at Sojourners gives you a reason to pray for Glenn Beck, even if you think he's a nitwit. (Sojo)
  
  

Oppressive regimes and religious expression

As I recently noted, Cuba is opening up its prisons so that Catholic and Protestant prisoners can celebrate religious ceremonies. This may soon extend as well to Jews and practitioners of Santería, an Afro-Cuban religion. It's a sign that as the hold of the brothers Castro weakens in Cuba, tolerance of religion may gradually increase.

It's heartening to see a repressive regime reaching out in such a way to "the least of these," its prisoners. But just as I was enjoying the news, I spotted this item in the LA Times about China's opposition to Barack Obama meeting with the Dalai Lama.

In spite of the fact that the Dalai Lama has met with every president since George H.W. Bush, China persists in its opposition. But there remains the question: what difference has it made in the past, and how will it make a difference now? Although under the last Bush administration the Dalai Lama received a Congressional Gold Medal, Tibet is still under Chinese control, and the Dalai Lama still in exile in India.

This is not to say that there are no solutions. In fact, were the Chinese leadership willing to take the simple step of talking with the Dalai Lama about the situation in Tibet, perhaps with the United States as a mediator of sorts, tensions might be eased, China might gain face for having a more open and tolerant government, and relations between the U.S. and China may improve. To reject the chance to meet with a widely respected and influential holy man is not something I think most Americans would advise Obama to do, no matter his faith. The question is, will China be able to follow Cuba's lead? Can there be a softening of the heart when it comes to faith?

In truth, I doubt the meeting will truly change much. China and the US have too much to lose for the meeting to be anything but a meeting, plain and simple, good words to be said by Obama and the Dalai Lama, and everyone will go their own ways.The Dalai Lama has said that Tibet is not seeking independence from China. Surely the US, or even Cuba, might be able to have some impact on the minds of China's leaders.

photo by hoyasmeg

Religion News for 9/17/2009

Hello readers! Happy Mexican Independence Day. Learn about Mexico's national icon, Our Lady of Guadalupe, here. Today in religion news...

• Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty will be at a "Value Voters" gathering in Washington this weekend. Conspicuously absent? Sarah Palin. (Reuters)
• Sikh Americans continue to be a casualty of post 9/11 paranoia and bias. At issue this time? The wearing of turbans in federal and state identification photos. (Times of India)
• The largest church in the US, Lakewood Church in Houston, attracts 43, 500 followers every weekend. Much like other huge churches, it is an evangelical church with more "contemporary" music. (USAT)
• A pattern of violence against Christians and other minorities is emerging in Pakistan, according to the watchdog group Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. (NYT)
• If you live near Plano, TX, you can attend an interfaith Ramadan iftar (fast-breaking dinner) tomorrow. (DMN)

Religion News for 9/16/2009

Hello readers! Today marks the 1843 death of Ezekiel Hart, the first Jew elected to representative office in the British Empire. And today in religion news...

• David Gibson at Politics Daily does an exceptional job at delineating the statements of official Catholics on the issue of healthcare reform. DC's Archbishop Wuerl has also published a column on the issue. (PD, 2)
• The government of the Philippines and Muslim separatists from the south of that country are working towards peace, and allowing international monitoring. (AP)
• Anti-abortion group Operation Rescue is "completely out of money," according to OR president Troy Newman. One abortion provider previously targeted by them isn't so sure. (KC Star)
• Cuba is now allowing religious services in its prisons. (Reuters FaithWorld)

Religion News for 9/15/2009

Hello readers! Today in 1352, Ewostatewos, a monk and leader in the formation of the Ethiopian Church, died in Armenia. And in religion news today...

• Alfred Gottschalk, a leader of Reform Judaism and a Holocaust survivor, died last Saturday from complications related to a car accident. (LAT)
• Barack Obama is walking a tightrope with regards to "faith-based initiatives" begun by Bush. (WaPo)
• One filmmaker claims he couldn't find a distributor in the US for his movie about Darwin because of the ongoing conflict about Darwin's theory of evolution. (Christian Post)

Religion News for 9/14/2009

Hello readers! On today in 1975, Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonized, becoming the first native-born American saint. In religion news today:

• Frequent pro-life protester James Poullion was killed on Friday. (Politics Daily-1-2)
• Congressman Keith Ellison, D-Minn., is the country's first Muslim congressman. He had a few interesting comments for the Religion Newswriters Association. (Articles of Faith)
• Indonesia's Aceh province has approved stoning to death for adultery and other harsh punishments for what some lawmakers see as amoral. Human rights activists, including the gay community, are protesting. (SFGate)
• Atheists and agnostics held a conference in Indianapolis over the weekend. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

And it's not news, but I thought this column in Sojourners was pretty poignant.

Remembering 9/11/2001

In retrospect, the path I've taken to blogging about religion seems almost natural. Eight years ago today, I sat in my first journalism class during college. I and my classmates watched the second plane hit on television. Most of us were hoping to become journalists of one kind or another, and this class provided an ample chance for reflection--was reporting on this kind of pain and tragedy something we wanted for our lives?

In the years since, I have realized that this kind of thing passes. Life goes on. Talking later with my mother, who has now passed on, about her thoughts when this happened, she explained to me that the TV had been on mute when she was watching everything unfold. She heard a song in her head:

Words are flying out like
endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe

The universe...it's eternal. It's never ending, and no matter what happens in our lives, life goes on. And in a world where we must all ultimately live with each other, the best thing we can do is to forgive the actions of those who have done us harm, and try to pursue a righteous life. We can try to understand each other, and prevent violence and tragedy from happening again. Love someone today.

photo, "Pentagon Memorial," by cliff1066

Religion News for 9/11/2009

Hello readers. Today marks the eighth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. I wish all of you a peaceful day of reflection and contemplation.

• The NYT has a wonderful essay by a Muslim woman explaining 9/11 to her child. (NYT)
• The Boston Globe's religion writer lays out a few ways immigrants are changing the face of religion in America. (Articles of Faith)
• A new group called "What's Your Response?" is fighting human trafficking, which is still under the radar here in the US. (Sojourners, CNS)
• Pope Benedict XVI will be meeting with artists from all over the world in November, in order to re-kindle the relationship between religion and art. (CNS)

Judaism, Liberalism, Youth

Norman Podhoretz had an opinion column in yesterday's WSJ, asking the question "Why are Jews Liberals?" His book, of the same title, I saw today at a bookstore. As a 26-year-old living in a city with an admittedly small but nonetheless visible Jewish community, I was perplexed as to why anybody might ask this question. Most of the Jews I know, who are my age or not far from it, wouldn't question their liberal political beliefs.

Podhoretz himself traces back the integration of American Jews into the Democratic party to the days of FDR in his article. And it goes without saying that party loyalty dies hard in the U.S. among ethnic, and to some extent, religious groups. Of course, any population gets more conservative gets with time and success, as Podhoretz did decades ago.

According to the Jewish Virtual Library, "The Jewish population is aging, compared to 1990, and is substantially older than that of the total U.S. population." But it is worth noting the influence of youth on the aging Jewish population of the country.

Among one of my closest friends is one radically liberal young man who has worked in the Palestinian territories and Israel to come to a peaceful solution. He's of Jewish descent, but non-practicing. A recent article in Sojourners profiles a similar person. As younger generations of American Jews are more cognizant of the problems facing the Israel-Palestinian conflict, they may start doing more to solve the conflict. Why? Because the distance of their Americanism may give them a chance to step back from immediate involvement, but the intimacy of the US-Israel relationship provides an urgency, not to mention the ancestral link to the conflict. This suggests to me that the younger generation of Jews is less attached to the question of support for Israel, and more attached to the idea of peace.

Cultural Jews, to borrow a phrase, take an increasingly important role in the mind of the younger Jewish population. To take a kind of offbeat example, you can further look at the influence of entertainers such as foul-mouthed comedy princess Sarah Silverman, and her urging of (NSFW) young Jews to get their grandparents on Obama's side via her "Great Schlepp."

So why are Jews liberals? Not being Jewish, I can only speak from an outside perspective, but to the extent that I might be so bold, I would argue that the older Jewish community has a strong bond with its progressive though often non-religious youth, which tends towards liberalism.

Other theories? I'd love to hear them. And what to make of the "buyer's remorse" Podhoretz hopes for in the introduction of his article?

photo by zeevveez

Religion News for 9/10/2009

Hello, readers! Today in 422, Celestine I began his reign as pope. And today...

• Mohammed is the third most popular boy's name in England. (Daily Mail)
• One in 33 women has been the target of sexual advances by a religious leader, according to a new study by Baylor University. (WaPo)
• Hassen Abdellah, president of the Dar-ul-Islam mosque in Elizabeth, N.J., is trying to get 50,000 Muslims to pray on Capitol Hill on September 25th. (Islam on Capitol Hill-site contains automatic audio, WaPo, WaPo)
• Some Jewish communities are using Rosh Hashanah (September 18th this year) as a reason to emphasize stewardship of the earth. (RNS)

Religion News for 9/9/2009

Happy 9/9/09, readers!

• The Washington Post claims that the Christian Right is being resuscitated by the healthcare debate. (WaPo)
• Mahmoud Amedinejad has put a woman in his presidential Cabinet. (Miami Herald)
• Americans see Muslims as facing more religious discrimination than people of other faiths. (Pew)
• A traffic sign near the University of Utah was the victim of vandals/atheists. (Salt Lake Trib)
• The President of the Columbia Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State has problems with state officials and public prayer. (The State)

Books!

I read quite a lot - you might have noticed from my earlier posts. And lately I've been reading a lot of religion books. Since this is my first daily update I figured I'd keep the content pretty light, and just let you all know what religion-related books I've been reading/intend to read soon.

1. What the Buddha Taught, by Walpola Rahula - Having asked the one close Buddhist friend I have what she thought about this book, she advised me that it was a pretty solid introduction. There are subsets and sects within Buddhism, as there are in any major religion, but this is a wonderful start if you're trying to understand the broad picture.

I have a pretty much scholarly interest in Buddhism but the lightness of being I felt when reading this book was a wonderful thing. There is a lot about Buddhism that makes a solid logical sense. It was this that really encouraged me to learn more about it, particularly since the Buddhists I know are journalists or scientists by trade. Whether you want to identify Buddhism as religious, philosophical, or otherwise, it is ultimately comforting and joyful, and I feel very satisfied knowing more about it.

2. The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis - I am a huge fan of Lewis, as is probably anybody who grew up going to Catholic school and reading the Chronicles of Narnia. As I got older I grew into his Out of the Silent Planet series. With Screwtape, feel like I'm finally reading a Lewis book meant solely for adults. I'm about a quarter of the way through, and the premise is entertaining, the concepts of demons and devils keep the book lively, and I am yet again happy to read the indirect meditations of a great Christian scholar. As far as I can tell, the book contains numerous prescriptions against temptation and for greater peace in one's life. There might be no writer so convincing of Christianity's virtues and yet so cognizant of the faults of the churches which represent it.

3. Confessions, by Augustine of Hippo - I have yet to really delve into this book, but simply happy to read what is essentially the inner struggle of a saint. Few Catholic saints are regarded as Augustine's intellectual equal, and perhaps what lies behind that is the description of his redemption. I would welcome any reader's comments to help me through this book: passages I should meditate on, ones that mean much to you. Let me know what I should look for in Augustine's Confessions.

Religion News for 9/8/2009

Greetings, readers! So I'm back from a hiatus and am considering today the launch of Religionography in earnest. As such, I will be doing my best to include several religion stories in a roundup, and write one longer meditation/feature/musing of my own. So, below is the first roundup. I hope you find something enjoyable and thought provoking.

• WaPo writer Monica Hesse is under fire from both supporters and opponents of gay marriage. (GR)
• Fr. Carl Kabat, an elderly Catholic priest who has spent years in prison for peace protests, hasn't given up. (NYT)
• Sojourners is hosting a "justice revival" in Dallas during November. (Sojourners)
• How heavy is your area on mortal sin? Check out the infographic from Wired and find out. (Wired)
• The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is moving towards ordination of gays and lesbians. (ELCA, Tammeus)