Can Religion & Politics Mix?

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The question raised in this article is "Can religion & politics mix?" The article discusses that many people feel that religion and politics don't mix well. The article questions if it is right for religious leaders to intervene in national political issues. The journalists went out across the nation to ask people living is small towns these type of questions. Many believed that the United States was secular nation, and that our government strictly was ruled by politics. But I would argue that point, I believe that our nation is de-secularizing since more and more people are finding faith. In this world of corruption, hate and violence many more people are turning to faith to find answers and to feel a sense of belonging. Our nation's leaders are voted because of their religious views. In the United States, only Christian men have been elected, a country that stands on freedom for all, has only elected Christian men. I can guarantee that the first women president will be Christian as well. Our countries votes because of these religious views, if our country did not run off of religious institutions I would think there would be a more diverse list of presidents.

Romney's Faith

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In a recent article on CNN.com, questions if Mitt Romney's faith be an obstacle. David Frumm states that Catholic, Orthodox and Evangelical Christian leaders last week issued a bold political statement. They intended to target the Obama administration. Mitt Romney ought to rank atop the Republican candidates for president in 2012. He finished second in votes cast in the primaries of 2008. He is a candidate with immense private-sector economic expertise in a time of urgent economic debate. But Romeny has a problem that many would believe to affect his politics which is his Mormon religious faith. A survey in December 2007 found that 18% of Republicans would not vote for a Mormon for president. The need for our president being a specific religion should make many people upset. But I can also see that maybe his Mormon faith will hinder his judgment on laws. Many people don't have faith in Mormom's because they do not understand the religion or the faith. Who know Romney could have done a great job but he would have never got a chance because of his faith.

PETA and Religion

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We have all seen the PETA signs, and the many celebrities that have posed for their campaigns. We have read their catchy slogan billions of times I'd rather be naked, than wearing fur or something along those lines. But PETA lacks the amount of followers it would like to have and a reason for that Jay Richards argues is that they need more religious leaders. He states that's their purpose is to draw protest and thereby gaining free publicity. In that case there just going to make Christians made, even though that have tried to get Christians on board in previous campaigns. The article seems to suggest that PETA has been getting many religious institutions angry, but what the should be doing is getting their support so that PETA could grow larger.

UN: Forget Science Get Religion

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Since the craze over global warming, statistics show that human behavior has not changed, the millions of public service announcements and all the green project members have encouraged. People are just not understanding all the science behind it and are not seeing any of the effects of it. Many think it is now time to get religious institutions to discuss this with their devoted members and ask them to "think green." The sad truth is that more people will listen to religious leaders than any other types of organizations. The United Nations believes that environmentalism should be regarded on the same level with religion, that this global body is urging the world to take the 'crisis' of global warming on faith. World leaders are failing to mention the need for people to use our resources with the environment in mind, many believe if religious leaders begin to speak and encourage others to do so human behavior will change.

Gay Rights in New York

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The article focuses on the New York state senate which recently rejected gay marriage. The Senate voted 38 to 24, which is a stinging lost for many gay marriage activists. Not only did New York's Senate turn down the gay marriage rights but just recently Maine did as well. Now many supporters and activists turn to New Jersey legislature and hope for the best. The article discuss how the decision was a heated debate and could have been an effect of Maine which was first to reject gay marriage. The gay rights advocates had been wishing and hoping that New York lawmakers would take up the marriage questions. Though New York recognizes that many states have performed same-sex marriages, they are still not allowing it to occur it there state even as lobbyists and activists urge them too.
The major reason for New York not changing there laws to abide the same-sex marriages is because many religious groups have probably got to the lawmakers. Many of the New York Senate is said to be very religious even though the state is filled with liberals.

Religion News in Brief

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I found this article in the Washington Post in the OnFaith Section and it drew to me because of the title "Religious New in Brief". The article discusses two major stories about religious organizations affecting the government and politics manners of the specific areas. The first one covered was Beijing and how the Protestant Church who have recently been charged and imprisoned and the second one was on Boston and the Catholic Church. We all remember the sex-scandal that happened within the Catholic Church, in Boston the clergy is still attempting to settle the faults they have made. The Catholic Church had sold land to Boston college, in part to pay for settlements for the sexual abuse that had been caused in the area. In northern China, however, five leaders, who have been linked to the Protestant Church, have been sentenced for seven years on charges of illegal assembly, and rights groups. The sentences are among the harshest in the recent year for the congregation refuses to register and accept the authority of the government's Religious Affair Bureau. Beijing is fighting against religious powers which tend to get their way to show their people justice and illegal assembly will not be tolerated especially by leaders of the country.

Atheists Ask Baltimore If There is a God.

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Just recently the American Atheists organization put up a flashing sign which ask a controversial question to many Baltimore residents. The sign read "Are You Good With Out God?" and below this, it read "Millions Are." Basically, a coalition of atheists and agnostics are hoping to get Baltimoreans to talk about their billboard campaign. This campaign is also to hit New York, California, Massachusetts, Texas, South Carolina and Virgina. The point of the their national billboard campaign is to reach out to the millions of atheists and agnostics that might feel alone or like they do not belong. But the coalition also hope to spread the world of the Baltimore Coalition of Reason, which is the understanding of non-theistic ethics. Only in a country where millions are tremendously religion and millions are also non-believers. But what I seem to question is how do the agnostics and atheists co-exist in one organizations. I feel like the two groups are polar opposites and would not be able to cooperate or have a mutual understanding on any of there beliefs.

American Atheisits

Event Article
On the American Atheists website there was an invitation sent out that read "Prayer at Cobb County Commission Meeting Tues. 7/28" which drew my attention, I thought atheists didn't pray. So it intrigued me into opening the invitation and reading that Dr. Ed Buckner the President of American Atheists has been chose to deliver the "invocation" at the next Cobb Country meeting in Georgia. But I thought "invocation" mean an act of "calling on a higher power." Ed Buckner was one of the plaintiffs in a 2006 law suit which challenged the practice of having sectarian prayer to open County Commission meetings. Those chosen to deliver the prayer reflected a sectarian, often evangelical Christian point of view. One result of the suit was that the court criticized this practice, and since then the county has been trying to keep prayer in government by randomly selecting people to deliver an "invocation."
The American Atheists group are trying to make a statement, to the Cobb County that every meeting should not begin with prayer. Many Atheists hope that this will change how many more counties will begin their meetings. Religion being involved in country meeting is making out country de-secular, and despite many who believe that the U.S. is increasingly secular, I believe that our country is as religious as ever.

Dubai Tests Sharia

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The New York Times discuss the debt crisis in Dubai which is about to test one of the fastest-growing areas in banking, Islamic fiance, and put the city-state's opaque judicial system on trial. This article examines how religion could affect economics especially when laws in a the country are so strictly made along religion. In Dubai's case the government does not believe that they need to pay the interest, so it is causing a delay on payments. The government also with the Sharia will not allow the bank to take over assets of the ruler since that is not in their law. Which is causing many problems between the bank and the region. The rich and oil wealthy region has decided to embark on the best tourist spot in the world, but since the economy is down Dubai is not being visit and are not able to make back all these major loans. The bank is just asking for a small portion of that they own, which is about 1 trillion dollars. Malaysia was traditionally the hub of all Islamic fiance, but since there is so much new activity centered around Dubai, and foreign and law firms and backs there helped the emirate raise much of its debt. Not only is their religion being so involved in their Sharia causing many economic problems, but these economic money issues or causing disturbance in a culture which has been set for many hundreds of years.

Obama's special Message to Hajj

Los Angeles Times Article

President Obama sent out a special message to all the people who were performing Hajj this year, and to the Muslim's in the United States and all around the world who were celebrating Eid-ul-Adha. Even with the scare of H1N1 flu, many traveled to perform the Hajj with such dedication and love for there God. Many of the white-robed men who went out to perform Hajj, came prepared with masks to protect themselves from any viruses. The Department of Health Services warned the whited-robed men to stay away from large crowds, but many still showed. The department had set up many stations and thermal cameras to ensure they safety of all the people. The government had helped a religious event, to make sure that millions of men wouldn't not get sick and return to their homes and endanger there communities. The government and religious groups work together more often then thought because of the large amounts of people traveling for religious purposes or for celebrations.

Rebuliding the Economy

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As our economy keeps getting worse, many people are turning to religion as something that they can count on, something that is consistent. Many charities are losing money since many are not able to donate because of the tight leash we are all on this holiday season. Many understand that this will no be a quick recovery but they are worried that they will not be able to within stand this economic recession. For example the article discuss that donations to the nation's largest nonprofits, including prominent universities, hospitals and foundations, are expected to fall 9% this year, according to a survey by The Chronicle of Philanthropy last month. This is the steepest drop the publication has reported in 17 years of surveying the 400 largest charities in the United States. The countries richest people had met in New York for a secret meeting to discuss this downfall and how they could help these charities survive since they help hundreds of American citizens. Countries are looking to religious groups to help out there charities, they are looking to religious groups to volunteer and to donate money to their organizations.

Hate Crimes Spike

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The article discuss the recent hate crime spikes within religion, race, and sexual orientation. In October when the federal legislation expanded federal hate crime laws to include protections for homosexuals many of the conservation religious leaders were the biggest opponents of these laws. Many of these religiously motivated hate crimes were racially against African American, in 2008 there was an 8 percent increase. As the rise in anti-black crimes increased the attacks against whites decreased from 2007 to 2008. The article discusses the 208 survey, on data about more law enforcement agencies than ever, but just 15% of them had been reported a bias crime and nearly and 85% reported no hate crimes in there areas.
These crimes are against different religions and races, and the lawmakers have to make laws to ensure that these people don't get killed. As the economy goes down and many more people will be unemployed, hate crimes will spike even higher.

Religion-based Hate Crimes

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In Washington a "Report finds religion-based hate crimes on the rise", people being attached because for their religious views has been increasing since 2001. The article discusses the number of crimes that are targeting Jews or Jewish institutions has increased in 2008. There were a reported 1,013 hate crimes just against the Jews last year, which according to statistics is two-thirds of all the religious hate crimes last year. This past year has been the highest percent of hate crimes since the 9/11 attack in 2001. From 2007 to 2008 hate crimes had rose slightly, but this years the attacks aimed at ethnicity and sexual orientation accounting for much of the balance. The religious attacks seem unreal in a country that is based on freedom of religion, the fear factor in the hate crimes account for most of the damage. Since many of us don't understand other religions other than the ones we follow there is a constant misunderstanding and prejudice against one another. The saddest part is that people are not curious enough to just understand and respect each other religious views but are afraid and want to challenge one another.

Indian Celebrities Speak Out

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A year after the attacks in Mumbai, bollywood celebrities, politicians, sportsmen, and man more gather to remember those that were lost that day. Actor Shah Rukh Khan spoke about the many "rakshas" in every religion causing terror. Many of them spoke on how the city had united in this time of difficulty and how the city had grown tremendously because of it. The reminded everyone that terror had no religion and that these people were just causing harm by corrupting what is supposed to pure and holy.
The message was clear that terror has no part in religion, though it seems to affect every country. In America, terrorists crashed into the beloved Twin Towers, in London terrorists bombed the underground railway system which is used many thousands of residents, and in India these grand hotels were held hostage and killed. Though there are many terrorist attacks I didn't not mention, the occurrence of terrorist attacks are becoming more frequent. Even though President Bush called a war on terror, nothing has changed since these terrorists find Americans not in the United States but in other countries to kill to send America a message that they won't stop. But in this article they call on people to unite, to understand that terrorism is not a religion and if we stay together they can do no harm.

So Much Jumble with Religion and Politics in the Swiss Land

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The article focuses on Swiss voters who backed minaret ban. Many Swiss voters have approved a right-wing backed proposal to ban construction of new minarets, initial projections showed on Sunday, a surprise result that could damage Switzerland's economic ties with Muslim states. Both the Swiss government and parliament had rejected the initiative as violating the Swiss constitution, freedom of religion and the nation's cherished tradition of tolerance. The United Nations human rights watchdog has also voiced concerns. In Geneva, home to United Nation humanitarian agencies, voters appeared overwhelmingly to have rejected the initiative by nearly 60%, according to Swiss television. The United Nations need to step in the voting issues in Switzerland, shows how interconnected the world government and sate governments are connected.

Religion Dictates Politics

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The Manhattan Declaration was a propaganda stunt sponsored by conservative right wing Christians intent to portraying Christians as victims of a secular America. The Declaration is in actuality an attempt to hi-jack American culture, and force a theocracy upon an unsuspecting and unwilling American public. In America, we dont have to bow to the ignorance and supersition of silly pretenders thumping their magic book, no matter how important those pretenders might think they are. The Manhattan Declaration represents the greatest threat we face as a species, the threat from religious ignorance and superstition. The article discuss how people use think their belief in the bible will just automatically give them power in America. That people will listen to them because they believe they are connected to a high power and the rest of us are not.

Economic Effects of Religion

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The article discusses a pair of Harvard researchers recently examined 40 years of data from dozens of countries, trying to sort out the economic impact of religious beliefs or practice. They found that religion has a measurable effect on developing economies and the most powerful influence relates to how strongly people believe in hell. The two collected data from 59 countries where a majority of the population followed one of the four major religions, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism. They ran this data which was covered from 1981 to 2000, measuring things like levels of belief in God, afterlife beliefs and worship attendance. Their results show a strong correlation between economic growth and certain shifts in beliefs, though only in developing countries. All developing countries are persuaded easily and are vulnerable to help if religious organizations go in and show that they will be there people are willing to commit to them and become apart of their communion.

"Imam: Fort Hood suspect asked help finding wife"

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Though CNN's article "Imam: Fort Hood suspect asked help finding wife" subtly leads us to believe that Hasan's acts were rebellious. Brian Todd's article on CNN, had interviewed the few Islamic leaders willing to speak out about Hasan, all stated "everything that he did is against the teachings of Islam. Killing fellow soldiers, fellow citizen men and women, the shooting, the bloodshed, speaks of someone who did not understand his faith very well.Islam is against going to strip clubs, but it's also against going to strip clubs, but it's also killing fellow citizens." Imama Yahya Hendi, a Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University was one of the few that spone out stating that Hasan's actions were not based off of his religion but as some sort of hatred act. Ford discuss how Hasan was in search of a wife, Hendi was the third imam to discuss this CNN, which makes readers believe that he was in search for someone who would remain with him throughout his military career but was unable to find one. The manager of a local strip club states that he has seen Hasan vist periodically. All these statements made by Ford in his article don't seem to exhibit any substantial evidence to why Hasan would do such a horrific thing. The article just confuses readers to believe that Hasan's search for a wife was because he was a traditional Islamic man, but he had visited strip clubs which was against his religion. These statements subtly make it seem as if Hasan was a devoted Muslim but moved away from his religion when he could not find a campanion. The article seems to neglect the many men who are in the army, who are said to be devoted Christians, Catholics, or any religion may visit strip clubs frequently.

Injecting Religion into Politics

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The article is on religion and politics during the subsequent discussion about the point that religious and political issues are blurred and meshed into one. IT then discuss the common practice to use religious means for political ends and preventing these institutions to become separate. Personally, I do not see how the government is trying to beat down our religious beliefs. I do seem them insuring the free practice thereof for all people, regardless of their belief system. The founders and the framers of the Constitution had a wide range of religious faith, from atheism to deism to Christianity. The document they produced avoided anyone faith to ensure everyone's freedom. Saying that our nation and constitution was founded on Judeo-Christian principles is not completely try.

Africa Needs Help

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On November 30, the world will come together to spread the awareness of the global epidemic of AIDS. But in Africa, it is another story. The continent seems to occupy the leading number of men and women who are HIV-positive. Travis Kavulla asks the world to please help him in this fight against AIDS in Africa, and calls to the world to donate money to his charity so that they can afford to pass out more condoms. Many Pentecostalism's faith healing treatment for AIDS is spurious in the extreme, it's mistake to think, as Westerners often do, that it's the refuge of the desperate and the poor. Relying on spiritual intervenes is standard practice even for the upwardly mobile which is stemming from the sensible position that when is problem has a spiritual cause, a spiritual solution is called for. There is no cure for AIDS but there is a solution that can help Africa which is a break through of behavioral change. In a society that associates ailments with individual and collective moral wronging doing, so that people understand sexual behavior. In Africa, the governments of the different states are not stepping up to prevent this on going crisis so many religious groups have stepped in to spread awareness and to help provide medical help many of the people need.

Talking about Religion

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Tim Allen, the journalist of this article, starts of the article with asking the most controversial universal question that always tends to stir up passion, curiosity and self- reflection: "What is God?" Peter Rodger's new film, "Oh My God", in which he asks this question in 23 countries around the world in which these process creates a tapestry that is both breathtaking and hopefully according to Allen. Peter Rodger wanted to look at at God as a concept and be as objective as possible. He wanted to get as far way from preconceived ideas as possible to see what he could actually find. He would change the phrase from "who is god?" to "what is god?" which would have people look at God from an outside perspective rather than an inside perspective. The movie shows how people tend to make their political decisions off of religious views, and how people want a president or just any politician to be religious. Many believed that a politician must believe in God because of His importance in our world.

Fort Hood Shootings

Dallas New: Fort Hood capitain: Hasan wanted patients to face war crime charges



The Dallas Morning News took a different stance on the Fort Hood Shotting, than President Obama would have wanted. Brooks Egerton the journatlist who titles his latest article on the Fort Hood Shootings, "Fort Hood captain: Hasan wanted patients to face war crime charges." Just within Egerton's title we can feel the harsh tone he has taken to Nidal Malik Hasan's unexplainable act. In Egerton's article he believed that "the revelation add to portrait of Hasan as a man at odds with many of those around him - emotionally , religiously, and ideologically. He was, by various accounts, lonely, paranoid, and increasingly zealous in his fundamentalist Islamic believes. He has been writing e-mails to a radical cleric in Yemen who called the U.S. war on terror a "war against Muslims" and advocated killing soldiers." The harsh implications Egerton makes about Hasan's intentions make readers assume that it was his Islamic beliefs that caused him to do such a horrific thing. Egerton uses words "lonely" and "paranoid" to describe Hasan, then he goes on to subtly offended Islamic beliefs by stating that he was some sort of terrorist.

Salt Lake City Mormons

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There's been a lot to talk about on the Mormon-media front -- everything from PBS's "Religion and Ethics" coverage of the makeover of Salt Lake's downtown to an independent look at the coverage of Mormons during the Maine same-sex marriage campaign. I guess the Mormon point of view is supposed to be represented in the report by an LDS store owner and the former editor of Sunstone. That said, I didn't hear any balance from voices explaining the benefits of this project. Instead, there is much speculation and many unanswered questions. The Mormon Media Observer is usually impressed by the quality, accuracy and fairness that the Religion and Ethics brand carries with it. In particular, some are worried an influx of Mormons will change the downtown culture. Some of the statements border on fear-mongering. Salt Lake City, Utah is a city that is predominantly Mormon, but those that are not and have been living there for decades fear that the culture of the city is changing to the needs of Mormon families. There is a fear that this religious will change the state in all, already a conservative state may change many of its laws to fit into the Mormon way.

Abortion Restrictions

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The title of the article "Abortion Restrictions In House Bill Show Power of Organized Religion in Politics" by Dan Carter, discuss the Catholic Church successfully weaseled their abortion rights into the newly passed House health care bill. Carter states that this is not the first times that a religious organization has persuaded the lawmakers by using their power, money, and influence to merge their views into public policy. As many Democrats celebrated the passage of the health care reform bill, the win was bittersweet since Democratic Rep. Bart Stupack offered an amendment that blocks those who receive federal health care subsidies or sign up for the public option from receiving any coverage for elective abortions. This past summer, Catholic bishops had began writing the campaign threatening to pull support for any health care bill that allowed federal dollars to directly or indirectly be spent on selective abortions. For many years the Catholic Church has advocated for universal health care, and has become the Democratic Parties biggest allies on this issue, and their loss of support would be a major let down for the reform. But the Catholic Church is not the only religious organization in the recent years to use its power to change public policy. Religious groups have major influence in public policy since of the lawmakers are religious, or they use there power and money to persuaded people to be against the laws.

Lets Talk about Health Care

Washington Post Article

Perry Bacon Jr. came online to answer questions about the new health care bill that many people had. Many worried that abortion laws would change, and that the coverage that they may be receiving now might be taken away. Bacon answered the questions about abortion on how the Republican party compared to the Democratic party has been reacting to this new bill. Since abortion gets some many religious people very rallied up Bacon, seems to answer the questions with careful analysis and with proper words to ensure not to offend anyone. Many were concerned that every member of the congress pushed their personal beliefs on ever issue. I think the members who voted for that amendment live in conservative places and will do just fine in a primary. One viewer was concerned that it was a mistake to think that the bishops speak for all Catholics. Since the sex-scandal cover-up the bishops have lost a great deal of moral clout with the laity. They obsession with abortion over all other moral issues make them look like a mere arm of the Republic party. Many Catholics don't tend to agree with many bishops on this health care issue.

Are You Ready For "AntiChrist"?

Trailer for "AntiChrist"

The recent Lars von Trier movie "AntiChrist" which opened in theaters this Friday October 23, 2009. It is a film that "has already set off carefully orchestrated frisson of disturbance at film festivals around the world." The movie "AntiChrist" is made up of a Prologue, four chapters titles "Grief", "Pain (Chaos Reigns)", Despair (Gynocide)" and "The Three Beggars", and an Epilogue. The film has also come under attach for its explicit and often disturbing sexuality, including the opening scene showing a toddler falling to its death while HE and SHE have sex on the bed nearby. The film has also invited controversy for its graphic sexual violence. In one controversial scene, SHE hits HIS testicles with a wooden plank so hard that it is implied they are crushed. While HE is unconscious, she masturbates him until he ejaculates blood. Though the International reception was polarized on Rotten tomatoes there was a 49% approval rating based off of 119 reviews. The Daily Mail started there review by nothing tat the films contains " a few images of startling beauty, but soon when on to call it "offensively misogynistic" and "needlessly graphic." The movie in all show how the media has been using religion for many of hundreds of years and it always causes much controversy.

Vatican Accepts Anglicans into Catholic Church

On October 21, 2009 Pope Benedict announced the newly created law known as "Apostolic Consititution" which wil clear the way for the entire congregations of Anglican faithful to join the Catholic Church. The change leaves us to question how married Anglican priests will be ordained as Catholic priests and how Anglican bishops will adjust to the rule which does not applying to them if they are married.

Stacy Meichtry and Amy Merric sound off on the Vatican's bold move to open the Catholic Church to Anglicans in the Wall Street Journal. The two co-authors sound as followers of this epic change, in the article they seemed to be caught off guard about the announcement. The article gives us a background and quite a bit of deatil about the relationship between the Anglican Communion and hte Catholic Church The authors discuss the anouncemnt as a suprised to the Anglican Communion as well. The article seems to be only skimming the surface of the real issue between the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church.

I believe that the Catholic Church has taken a step back allowing people to remain prejudice over gay people and women. The Church is not moving forward and accepting them but they are taking may steps back. I believe that many may lose faith in the Catholic Church since they are not willing to give equal opportunities to the gay and to women.

Are you frustrated over the Fort Hood Shootings compared to Religion? Well, we are...

Article

Laura Bohn from North Western University reports that many Chicago Muslim organizations and academics not only fear the retribution, but are frustrated by a perceived public demand to apologize for or explain one individual maniacal act. Bohn states that many investigators have been grappling with the questions such as if there is a correlation between Nidal's religious beliefs. Though many have became very upset with these remarks, "just because he prayed five times a day, does it mean he felt God" said one interviewee.As investigators grapple with these questions and examine a possible correlation between Hasan and his religious beliefs. Though it is suspected Hasan has a series of e-mail correspondence with an iman who preaches violent jihad and has links to al-Qaeda, many insist Hasan's actions have nothing to do with Islam.

Oh just them Christians...

The picture that I have posted, was found on an anti-christian site, where people who have been affected or have just been fed up with Christianity being at every corner can go and release there feelings. I found the picture humorous since, they described Christians as zombies and just blindly following a faith they barely understand. They called them zombies because they are out to get all the non-Christians and convert them into "zombies" as well. In the poster they make references to Adam and Eve, who were tempted and have sinned us all. They make a mockery out of Christianity and their beliefs. Many politicians are Christian and they tend to advocate that they are. Politicians aren't people who persuaded people to convert by their beliefs effect their judgments and their law making skills.

Artist Who Set Off Muslim Fury Visits NYC

Article

We all remember the Danish cartoonists that set the European world into a hot mess over controversial cartoon they decided to draw and publish in their newspaper on Muhammad. The cartoons were offensive but the up roar of anger was unexpected especially in this day and age. But we all know that the Islamic prejudice subject as been a soar one since 9-11. Many argued that the newspaper had the right so publish whatever they please because the right of freedom of speech.

Kurt Westgaard who drew the "offensive" caricatures of the Muhammad visited Princeton University and Yale University. The schools refused to display the cartoons anywhere and if they were put up they were pix elated. As for the United States, a very liberal country, only one newspaper in the entire country posted the cartoons. In retrospect, we can see that Americans feared the outcome of the Muslim Society if the cartoons were posted. Many editors and columnists did not allow the cartoons to be published anywhere because of fear. The question of the first amendment could not even be expressed because of fear.

How Do We Really Like Mormons?

Many Mormon men have taken time off in their lives to spread the Mormon message. They tend to come knocking on your door with their button down shirts and a nicely pressed tie. They don't mean any harm, but those of us that think that they lead very busy lives tend to get very annoyed by their visits. The missionaries visit our homes, to spread teachings of Jesus Christ but there tack ticks aren't always appreciated among our modern American society. In the picture above, which I thought was really funny is just two Mormon boys doing their penance for their religion and God. Their is a separate door bell for the Mormon visitors in which the boxing glove will then punch them in the face, basically a symbol of "get out of here, and don't come back." It just as we see them as different people not as just two boys coming to visit but two intruders trying to force their religion on us.

Is Religion Apart of Politics?

Though constitutional democracy is neutral between the conceptions of the good life, many citizens cannot, without psychological disagreement; separate themselves from their religion or beliefs whenever they enter into the political public sphere. To be sure that all our policies and laws are influenced bu the values, tradition, and norms that we hold. Some theorists believe that religion cannot and need not to be separated from politics. Many believe that the call for separation of religion from politics is an ill-conceived secularism. But what is the proper mediation between religion and politics? What is the proper role for religion in constitutional democracy politics? The answer becomes easier to understand when we pose a similar question to any comprehensive ethical, metaphysical, or religious doctrine.

Abuse Covered up in the Catholic Church

Church allowed abuse by priest for years

This article was prepared by the Globe Spotlight Team: reporters Matt Carroll, Sacha Pfeiffer, and Michael Rezendes; and editor Walter V. Robinson. It was written by Rezendes



In this article, we can see that since the 1990's over 130 people have confirmed of their horrific abuse through only one man who claimed he was a man of God and was protected by the Catholic Church. Priest John J. Geoghan had allegedly fondled and raped these children for three decades through lies and corruption the Church stood behind a man who had no dignity. My question is why would the Church cover these scandals up, if the could have stopped it early on then it wouldn't be such a controversy now. If the Church had come clean right at the beginning there would be such disgrace looked at upon the Catholic Church. How can a man or woman who have lost their way find faith in the Catholic Church, where the corruption and scandal has become larger than God's love.

Sarah Palin and Her Religion

Video


In this,video by the Wasilla Project, they cover Sarah Palin's background as a social conservative and how she has used her religious affiliation to advance her political career. Palin asked many religious leaders about the presidents he had known, and picked his brain about foreign policy. The video discusses her love for Christ and how she has lived her entire life being a devoted Christian. The video talks about how when she first began to run for governor of Alaska the campaign focused on her religion, and how many of her campaign slogans were Christ related. Palin had many different views on topics such as stem cell research and abortion laws. She was a conservative and her state loved her for it. John McCain would was seen as more of a liberal Republican and when he had asked Palin to be his vice president many believed it was to get the conservative Republican vote only. Palin who had expressed her religion numerous times, I guess forgot that most of the state thinks that the United States should be secular.

"Namaste"

Clip of Pastor Eddie D. Smith's Sermon

In Pastor Eddie D. Smith sermon discuss the power of the word "Namaste." The word "Namaste" originates from Sanskrit and translates into "I bow to You." Smith discusses how the word "Namaste" translates in into "the divinity within me salutes the divinity within you," which means that the God within me salutes the God within you. Pastor Smith discusses how men have been miss treating each other because there is not understanding of this concept. Pastor Smith emphasis that from now on the church would be saying "Namaste" to one another to create a sense of respect for one another and to hopefully see the divinity in all humans. He goes on to state that our children now greet each other by say "wat up bra" which doesn't create any sort of respect for one another. He emphasis that the boys in the church need use this term more, to stop them from killing one another.

Pastor Smith argues the term "Namaste" can change the world. If this greeting was used by every person in the world and if we were all to understand that "Namaste" means I salute the divinity within you, can change how people look at one another and how just may be our crime rates would go down.

"A Land Called Paradise"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbcmPe0z3Sc



"A Land Called Paradise" by Lena Khan. In December 2007, over 2,000 American Muslims were asked what they wished they could say to the world. This is what they said.

In this video, American Muslims write on a poster board feels, dreams, and goals that all Americans have. But what is different it about this video is that sometimes we forget that American Muslim women do the everyday things that we may do everyday. I think Lena Khan made this video to show people that are quick to judge Muslim culture that there is no difference between us and them.

I believe that since 9/11 we have put Muslims into a different category by stereotyping them into being non-American or unpatriotic. I commend Khan for her efforts to reveal to the world that we are all Americans, we all shop at malls, and have similar dreams for ourselves and our families. Even our political beliefs are changed among American Muslims, we may categorize them as being radical and too conservative because how some of the women dress.

Shinto and Nationalism

Article

The article discusses how Shinto can not be separated from Japan and the Japanese, but in the late 19th and first half of the 20th centuries Shinto became an established state religion, which linked to the cause of Japanese nationalism. In the 6th century Buddhism was imported into Japanese religious life and Buddhism and Shinto together began to play a large part in the Japanese government. The Japanese civic religion in the 17th century still included elements of Confucianism, while popular religion consisted mainly of Buddhism and Shinto. There was a movement towards a purer Shinto during the new two centuries, and became an established religion of Japan for a time. The Japanese have been linked with religion for many centuries, the government is strictly based on Buddhism and Confucianism. The country has been examined numerous times by so many different groups to understand how the state works. But the migration population in Japan is very little so it seem to be understandable that the Japanese tolerate a government so religious because they have been there for many centuries.

Feeding Liberals to the Christians

The picture demonstrates Sarah Palin and John McCain standing on a balcony and pushing two lions that symbolize liberals and the media to the hungry/upset looking Christians standing at the bottom. The cartoonists has labeled the lions as media and liberals putting them in the same category, and the Christians as crazed people who are out to get them. The picture is ironic since the media and liberals are lions, where are animals that are predators and kings of the land they live on, so the cartoonist is saying that these liberals and the media have been predators to Sarah Palin and John McCain. By feeding them to the Christians, it seems as those these Christians are just as strong and powerful as lions are, they are ready to attack. The media and liberals have been constantly attacked by devoted Christians and many Christians have been exploited and harassed by liberals and the media. So both groups have to after each other for many years, but as Conservatives had much support for McCain and Palin the tension between the two groups had become much more interesting to see. The Christians playing such a large role in McCain and Palin's campaign they headed the way to stop liberals and media to mess up their chance in power in the office.

Let's Sing about Race, Religion and Politics

Song about Obama's Campaign

The song is to inspiring people to participate in the voting process. The singer, JTE, sings to us about talking about politics, President Obama, the first lady, religion and race. In his song he sings that we should talk about it all, he states the Obama was seen as a proficiency in the Bible. He sings about how the Bible teaches us to love and to understand one another. There have been many songs about President Obama since he declared himself a canidate in the 2009 presidential election. Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States on Noverber 4th, 2008 and millions rejoiced in the streets. In the months leading up to the election, many hip-hop articles made a hobby out of finding words that rhyme with "Obama". From Jay-Z to Mary J. Blige and we can't forget about Obama Girl.

Scott Beach Sing about Politics

"Religion and Politics" by Scott Beach

"Religion and politics often make some people lose all perspective and give way to ranting and raving and carrying on like emotional children. They either refuse to discuss it with reason or else they prefer argumentum and homeinem, which is a hell of a way to conduct a discussion. Well, anyhow, not long ago I was talking about the elections and how the campaigns were ignoring the issues and sticking instead to invective and personal crap that had nothing to do with the substantive problems of running a government..." are just some of Scott Beach's lyrics song which he broadcast-ed back in 1979. Scott Beach was a broadcaster in the late 70s who spoke about religion and politics. His broadcasts typically bashed on political campaigns focusing on their religious views more than what they actually stood for and what to contribute to the country. Beach was a broadcaster in the late 70s complaining about too much religion in campaigns, but 20 years later where are we? SAME PLACE. Our campaigns still seem to focus a little too much on religion. And why are they? Isn't America supposed to be secular? Apparently, not, our journalists, the people of this country still care way to much on what religion the president follows rather than what issues they stand for. Only in a country which claims to be liberal and democratic who care so much about religion.