by Phillip Luke Sinitiere Last fall, Paul offered an insightful post (and others chimed in with equally thoughtful comments) on the ways that religion intersected with the first episode of Ken Burns’ latest documentary on national parks . For those who missed it the first time around (like me), or for those without an extra $100 to purchase the series (like me), the series begins (re)airing tonight. Did anyone incorporate the first episode into religion or history classes last fall?
See the original post:
The Scripture of Nature, Part 2
Worshippers found severed heads of pigs at two Malaysian mosques yesterday following a spate of firebomb attacks on churches amid a dispute over the use of the word “Allah” by Christians.It was the most serious incident to hit…
See more here:
Pig heads defile mosques as ‘Allah’ controversy escalates (The New Zealand Herald)
South African police released the Tunisian owner of Britain’s Islam Channel after holding him for two days on an international terror warrant issued by his homeland, saying Wednesday that Tunisia had failed to respond to queries about the case.
Originally posted here:
S. African police free owner of Islam Channel (AP via Yahoo! Finance)
In a Very Special Election yesterday, Oregon voters passed two tax increases, and the votes weren’t even terribly close as these things go: measure 66 passed 54% – 46% and measure 67 passed 53% – 47% , meaning the wealthiest households and businesses (respectively) will henceforth pay a little more to the state, and, more importantly, that Oregon will continue to have a functional public sector. It’s good to know that somewhere, not far from here, a road might be repaired, a school might remain open for five days a week, and that someone will be there to answer 911 calls (and the someone won’t be a contractor for Halliburton charging by the minute).
Excerpt from:
Concessions Being Drafted Now
Malaysian police said severed pigs’ heads were found at two mosques on Wednesday, in the latest of a spate of attacks on places of worship that have escalated ethnic tensions.
The rest is here:
Pig heads found at two Malaysian mosques: police (AFP via Yahoo! News)
World Sikh News (blog) RSS wants Sikhs to make changes in Guru Granth Sahib World Sikh News (blog) “Your roots are in Hinduism . Your holy hymns are all about Ram, Govinda and Shiva. Then, how could you think of surviving or flourishing without Hindus?
Excerpt from:
RSS wants Sikhs to make changes in Guru Granth Sahib – World Sikh News (blog)
In Britain today the House of Lords will debate a series of amendments proposed by Baroness Turner of Camden to limit the extent to which voluntary-aided faith schools can hire teachers on the basis of religion. ( Ekklesia , Accord Coalition )
See more here:
House of Lords Today Debates Religious Hiring By Faith Schools
According to yesterday’s Gainesville Sun , the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family has raised over $2.5 million to run a 30-second ad during the Superbowl featuring former University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow .
See the original post here:
Focus on Family Ad Featuring Tim Tebow Will Run During Superbowl
Yesterday’s Corpus Christie (TX) Caller reported that a Texas federal district court has dismissed a lawsuit against a family planning clinic brought by a father who objected to the clinic’s giving his 14-year old daughter the “morning after pill.” He said that this violated her religious and moral training.
Continued here:
Father’s Suit Against Family Planning Clinic Dismissed
Six prominent Orthodox rabbis held a news conference in Washington, D.C. yesterday and then walked to the Department of Justice to deliver a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder protesting the pre-sentencing detention of Sholom Rubashkin, former manager of the Postville, Iowa Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking plant.
Read more:
Rabbis Urge AG Holder To Grant Rubashkin Pre-Sentence Release
» In at least three Islamic places of worship the remains of abandoned animals found, considered “impure” by the followers of Muhammad.
Continue reading here:
01/27/2010 12:40 MALAYSIA Kuala Lumpur, mosques desecrated with pig’s head (AsiaNews.it)
mosques+ (AP) – KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 27 (Kyodo)Wild boar heads were found Wednesday at two Malaysian mosques in the latest act of vandalism on places of worship stemming from a dispute mainly betw…
See the original post here:
Religious tension in Malaysia rises as wild boar heads left at mosques+ (MalaysiaNews.net)
The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Delhi government for the appointment of special public prosecutors to expedite the 1984 anti Sikh riot cases pending before the trial courts. A division bench of Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice Rajiv Sahai asked the CBI and the state government to respond by Feb 3
See the original post:
Notices to CBI, Delhi government to expedite 1984 riot cases
Al Qaeda is planning to dress up suicide bombers as Sikhs and security chiefs fear that Muslim extremists may hide the explosives inside Sikh headgear. Al-Qaida is plotting to dress like Sikhs to exploit religious sensitivities about removing traditional clothing. A security source said: “Dressing as a Sikh may give would-be suicide bombers the edge in getting past checkpoints
Here is the original:
Al Qaeda planning to dress up suicide bombers as Sikhs
KUALA LUMPUR: Two mosques in Petaling Jaya today awoke to find severed wild boar heads wrapped in plastic bags within its compounds. The severed animal heads were found at the Jumhuriyah Mosque in Taman Dato’ Harun and Al-Imam Al-Tirmizi Mosque at Taman Sri Sentosa, both near Jalan Kelang Lama here.
See the article here:
#Updated* 4 wild boar heads dumped at 2 mosques in PJ (The Edge Daily)
Worshippers found severed heads of pigs at two Malaysian mosques Wednesday following a spate of firebomb attacks on churches amid a dispute over the use of the word “Allah” by Christians, officials said.
Original post:
Pig heads left at Malaysian mosques amid tensions (AP via Yahoo! News)
Pope John Paul II whipped himself with a belt, even on vacation, and slept on the floor as acts of penitence and to bring him closer to Christian perfection, according to a new book by the Polish prelate spearheading his sainthood case.
View post:
Pope used belt to whip himself
Dobra Zemlja 2008 Amador County Kikas ($26) February exists for two reasons that go hand in hand: St. Valentine’s Day and fortified dessert wine, especially Port, a classic accompaniment for chocolate nibbles, heart-shaped and otherwise. Now that American winemakers no longer can call their port-style wines “port” – the victim of a pact between United States and European trade authorities meant to respect historic nomenclature related to place of origin – vintners are coming up with all sorts of alternative names for their sweet releases inspired by Portugal.
Original post:
Mike Dunne’s Wine of the Week pick – 01-27-10
Pig heads were found at two Malaysian mosques, the latest incident of desecration and vandalism following an inter-faith dispute over the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims.
See the original post here:
Pig Heads Thrown Into Malaysian Mosques After Church Attacks (BusinessWeek)
By Neville Spykerman SHAH ALAM, Jan 27— DAP leaders swiftly condemned the desecration of two mosques along Jalan Klang Lama early this morning, saying it was meant to stoke racial tensions. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the wild boar head attacks is reminiscent of the infamous “cow head” incident that took place last year in Shah Alam, adding Malaysians must condemn this morning’s …
Read more:
DAP says mosque desecration meant to provoke (The Malaysian Insider)
What criteria can you use when planning a series in a longer book that you don’t want to last for years? Obviously we’re not obligated to cover complete books in a series, but how might you do that selectively rather than comprehensively? Here are some pointers: Foundation – Know the message, flow and structure of the book . In order to plan a series that selectively represents the whole, you need a good awareness of the whole. Without this you are likely to end up with a plan that doesn’t represent the book, or you’ll start into the series and end up preaching every passage (which might be appreciated . . .
Read more here:
Planning a Selective Series
Which is more important — interfaith (sometimes called interreligious) dialogue or intercultural conversation? Interfaith dialogue focuses on understanding the differences in theological doctrines. Intercultural dialogue focuses more broadly on the ways those doctrines, once internalized, cause us to live in…
View post:
Talking faith or culture? 1-27-10
BEIJING — Representatives of the Dalai Lama in their first talks with Chinese officials in 15 months are hoping Beijing will reconsider a proposal for greater autonomy for Tibet, the Himalayan region’s self-proclaimed government-in-exile said Wednesday.
Excerpt from:
Dalai Lama envoys hope to revisit autonomy plan
Unknown persons threw two pig heads into the compound of two mosques in the district prompting Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan warning the culprits not to stoke racial tension.
Read the original post:
4. Call for calm and cool heads following mosque incidents (Update 4) (The Star)
Maybe it’s just the fish oil* supplements talking — Sorry, fish! I hope the wringing-out didn’t do any permanent damage! — or maybe it’s just that Matt Yglesias is not a complete asshole, but I think there’s something to consider in these remarks : I think the right way to interpret the news that most Americans think the stimulus money has been wasted rather than helping them is pretty obvious. Most people don’t know a lot of macroeconomic theory, most people don’t pay a lot of attention to politics, and most people recognize that the unemployment rate is ridiculously high. Ergo, they’ve decided the money was wasted
Here is the original post:
Geek Out, Tune Out, Tune Back In
Career, Money, Health, Friends, Family, Personal Growth, Recreation & Fun, Spirituality…Creativity, Relationships, Community, Work, Spirituality, Physical Health, Learning…Love/Companionship, Work, Something apart from work, Health, Peace & Spirituality…Spirituality, physical, emotional, financial and relationships/family…
See original here:
IV: Pursue a Balanced Life (part 1)
George Monbiot, a Journalist at the British newspaper ‘The Guardian ‘ has started a campaign aimed at advising members of the public how to carry out a citizen’s arrest on Tony Blair. In case you don’t know Mr Blair is the previous Prime Minister of the UK who did what most politicians do: lie, cheat and basically do everything to fatten the pockets of themselves and their cronies. Blair huffed and puffed and bullied those who stood in his way of charging into Iraq.
Originally posted here:
Arrest That Man!