OUR INCREDIBLY SHRINKING PUBLIC SQUARE: “Conscience, Coercion, and Healthcare.” …throughout American history, religious institutions have been the leading private providers of charitable, educational, and medical services to the poor, always serving those they felt were the most marginalized populations of their day—whether slaves or freed slaves, new immigrants, Native Americans, prisoners, or persons with AIDS. The quality and efficiency of their care, and the compassion with which it has been delivered, are often noted. Regularly, the populations served did not share the faith of the religious institutions who took up their cause Given their solidarity with the dispossessed, religious leaders … Continue reading The World Wide (Religious) Web for Monday, September 26, 2011

AMEN, SISTER! “The separation of politics and pew.” It’s not even the calendar year in which the next presidential election will be held and I’m already annoyed. There are many reasons, but I’m largely annoyed that Christian voters are getting so much attention from election hopefuls. Do they really think we’re not on to their strategy? Oh yeah, they really do. For candidates, targeting Christian voters is a good strategy, a sound campaign approach. If politicians can convince Christians there’s a special way God wants them to vote, they’ve got it in the bag. After all, who doesn’t want to … Continue reading The World Wide (Religious) Web for Friday, September 23, 2011

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT WATCH: “Judgment’s Triumph: The Unjust Death of Troy Davis.” On Wednesday, September 21 the US Supreme Court chose to deny Troy Davis’ final appeal for a stay of execution. In spite of his claim of innocence, no physical evidence of guilt, and the recantation of the majority of witnesses against him, Mr. Davis is now a murder victim. It is ironic and illogical that he was murdered by people who claim to support justice for the victim of murder. It is beyond infuriating to know that statics show that if Mr. Davis were white, the chances of a … Continue reading The World Wide (Religious) Web for Thursday, September 22, 2011

BETWEEN VIOLENCE AND WHATEVERISM: “Religious Tolerance: Karma, Christ, Whatever?” Is there not a better way for all of us to take religion more seriously without descending into sectarian conflict? That is one of the most important questions of our day. I think we need to reject both sectarian conflict and liberal whateverism and commit ourselves instead to an authentic pluralism. Genuine pluralism fosters a culture that honors rather than isolates and disparages religious difference. It affirms the right of others to believe and practice their faith, not only in their private lives but also in the public square — while … Continue reading The World Wide (Religious) Web for Wednesday, September 21, 2011

AWESOME: “What does it feel like to fly over planet earth.” _____ HMM: “Unemployment And Religion: Their Faith Affects How Americans View Job Crisis, Survey Says.” The Baylor University study, which was presented at a Religion Newswriters Association conference in North Carolina over the weekend and publicly released Tuesday, found that Americans who believe God has a plan for their lives are more likely to think the government “does too much,” more likely to oppose unemployment benefits for healthy people and more likely to believe in the “American dream” that anything is possible for those who work hard. _____ DOUBLE … Continue reading The World Wide (Religious) Web for Tuesday, September 20, 2011