The Blame Game

This article put out by Religion Dispatches discusses the recent massacre in Mindanao and the way that many media outlets are quick to attribute the violence to religious differences.

The article, however, argues that the massacres seem to be motivated by an ongoing power struggle in the Philippines. After reading the article, I have to say that I agree with its premise, and I tend to think that the the "ethno-tribal" aspect of the killings needs to be taken into greater consideration than religion.

It is a valid point that media outlets tend to make things "black and white" by painting conflicts as religious conflicts. This allows them to ignore bigger factors that may be playing a role in the story, and put it into a context that people will recognize and understand.

Mainstream media outlets need to be cautious and avoid making this error. Sometimes, religion does indeed play an important role in creating these conflicts. Often times, however, there is a lot more to the story. Reporters and newspapers should keep this in mind when publishing stories.

The Decline of Church Influence

The recent decline of the political influence of the Church was recently discussed in this interesting article put out by the Washington Post.

The article was thorough and balanced, and I feel like it is one of the success-stories of the coverage of religion by the media. The political influence of the Church and its decline was discusses logically and without resorting to common stereotypes or misconceptions regarding the power of the Church. This decline is seen by many as evident from the powerlessness of the Church in blocking same-sex partnership legislation.

It also investigated the differences within different church leaders and their take on the situation, and we find that there is no real universal agreement on the matter.

I'm glad that the influence of church leaders in on decline. People tend to prop up these pastors and claim that they have special connections to God, and use this as a reason for why our political leaders should heed their beck and call. I think that if their power is on the decline, it is better for society, and may lead to more rationality in our politics.

Banning Minarets

In this interesting article by the New York Times, we find out that the people of Switzerland have strongly supported legislation that would ban the building of Minarets, a type of Islamic spire traditionally used to call Muslims to prayer.

I think that firstly, the New York Times did a decent job of telling the story, including the reactions of moderate Muslims who feel offended and rejected by the Swiss. I think that this is an appropriate response, and I think that the banning of Minarets is an attack against civil rights.

I would like to point out, however, that Muslims tend to have a double-standard about what civil rights really are. They clearly see injustice when it is committed to them, such as the banning of minarets. But what about the injustice of killing a man for making a movie critical of Islam? Or the world-wide outrage against the Danish newspaper that published cartoons of the prophet Muhammad? What about their civil rights?

I don't think it's right to ban someone from building a religious structure. In America, that would be considered unconstitutional, and rightfully so. But I do think that if Muslims want their civil rights to be respected, then they need to respect the civil rights of others.

Understanding Religion

This article by the New York Times describes a young woman whose religion has led her around the world helping people and working for World Relief.

I think that this was a good article because it demonstrated a good understanding of religion by a mainstream media outlet. The woman in question, Jenna Liao, is not some nutty Christian fundamentalist who hates gays and lives in a small religious bubble. Instead, she is an intelligent young woman whose religious convictions, taken in context of an understanding and caring for human dignity, has led her to help people and touch their lives.

I think that these kinds of accounts tend to go unnoticed by the mainstream media, but in this case the New York Times did a good job of casting a revealing light upon religion beyond what is usually mentioned and outside of the stereotypes we tend to have of people who feel strongly about their faith.

Sexual Misconduct in the Church

In this blog from Reuters, the writer discusses the reactions to recent sex scandals among the clergymen of the Catholic Church, and concludes that church-goers need to radically change the way they view and deal with their spiritual leaders.

The basic point is that clergymen are simply human beings, and need to be treated exactly as such. They have no higher connection to God and certainly no license to commit rape and child abuse. If these crimes were committed by someone in the "secular" world rather behind church doors, the punishment would be great and people's opinions would be strongly affected.

Among Catholics however, we often see congregations refusing to believe allegations of misconduct, primarily because they hold their pastors and church leaders to be oracles of God who are above worldly sins.

This blog entry refutes that and encourages people to wake up to the reality of the situation, and the reality of their clergy. I agree with the article and consider it to be a good example of how the media should cover religion.

Haggard Back to Religious Trickery

In this article by The Gazette, we find out that Ted Haggard, former pastor turned prostitute-solicitor, is returning to his roots and re-starting his church by holding prayer meetings in the basement of his home.

I think that Haggard is a perfect example of the hypocrisy infecting so many religious institutions that preach a "holier-than-though" message of intolerance to sin in order to gain the support and money of its followers, only to turn around and do lines of coke with a male hooker.

The fact that people are still buying into this guy's phony message is absolutely shocking to me. I guess if they want to give ten percent of their earning to this fraud, that is their choice and they should be allowed to be so stupid.

The thing that bothered me was the article itself. I found that the media really failed in this instance. The whole article seemed to be building Haggard up, and barely mentioned the sex scandal that he was in or the fallout which ensued. It seemed more focused on his alleged "redemption" and I felt was not critical enough of him or his motives.

"Honor Killing"

According to a CNN report (linked here), and Iraqi 20 year old woman died from being ran over by her father. The man accused of her murder, Faleh Hassan Almaleki, admitted to killing her and said that he did so because she was "too Westernized" and had basically abandoned her Iraqi roots.

The thing I find interesting about this article is what's missing. Islam is not discussed in this CNN report, but rather "Iraqi tradition" as the reason for the horrendous crime. I would point out that these so-called (and mis-named) "honor-killings" occur in several countries in the Middle-East, specifically Muslim ones.

There is a connection to fundamentalist Islam that is being ignored here. I think that these honor killings which are carried out by extremist Muslims happen far too frequently and should be confronted head-on by the media, rather than shrouding it in mystery or making cryptic references to Iraqi traditions.

For the sake of the women who are victims and for justice in general, the media needs to do a better job discussing the issue and informing the public about these terrible crimes.

Change of Heart

In this article from KBTX, a reporter describes the spiritual experience that led to an important "change of heart." Apparently, a long-time member of Planned Parenthood and supporter of women's right to choose named Abby Johnson reversed her position on abortion after witnessing one occur through an ultrasound.

I think that this is an interesting story because it involves religion (through Abby's personal spiritual experience) but is presented in a more rational and insightful way than usual. Instead of painting Pro-Life advocates as crazy Christian fundamentalists, this article successfully provides us with a new portrait of pro-life.

Abby does not fit the "usual" media description of a pro-life supporter, and that is what makes her more intriguing. She has come to her opinion through experience and a care for human dignity, rather than through religious dogmatism.

I'd say that this is a step in the right direction for the media as far as its coverage of religion is concerned. The era of "clinic-bombers" representing the pro-life stance (at least for some people) may be ending as reporters give the issue more thought.

Young Muslims and Punk

In this article by the Chicago Sun-Times, a reporter explores young Muslims who turn to different forms of music, especially punk rock, to express themselves and "loosen up" their religion.

It is true that Islam is generally seen as being socially conservative and very strongly tied to traditions and age-old practices. These Islamic youth are doing their part to change the stigma associated with Islam and with Muslims, especially in the West.

I like this article because the author is presenting a side of Islam not often discussed by the media. Namely, that there are many different people belonging to Islam who do not fit what we traditionally view as Muslim stereotypes.

Many Muslims are young and progressive. This article succeeds by tapping into this demography, rather than the most-often presented "older-generation" which is more strict with its practices. By using punk rock to express themselves, these Muslims are expanding their identity and changing how we view Islam in the media.

Coverage of Catholic Sex Scandal

In this post by Get Religion, the author discusses whether or not a news article on a recent sex scandal within the Catholic clergy went too far in its attachment of religion to the crimes that were committed.

In the news article, the opening paragraph describes pictures that were found on the Bishop Raymond Lahey's computer- one mentioned being "a naked naked boy wearing only rosary beads."

Got Religion is questioning whether or not this aspect of the child pornography should have been included. A crime is a crime- why include the part about the rosary? Got Religion concludes that the journalist involved was partially motivated by a negative feeling toward the Catholic Church, and wanted to emphasize the linkage between the religion and the crime.

I think that the coverage of the story, including the addition of the rosary beads worn by the naked boy, was not only acceptable but commendable. Got Religion is run by religious believers, and so they naturally shy away from the media portraying religion in negative terms.

However, the truth of the matter is that the Catholic Clergy, taken as a whole, have an extremely large number of sex scandals involving underage children- in fact, if you look at it in terms of percentage, I'd say that they probably have the highest percentage of this type of crime than any other group.

That makes the rosary on the boy an important part of the story. The Catholic Church NEEDS to be criticized for the large number of scandals, and especially the cover-ups by people who knew exactly what was going on. If the media is associating the Catholic Church with sexual crimes against minors, it is not because of a media bias but rather because of a large propensity of reported cases of child sexual abuse among Catholic Priests. If Catholics want to remove this stigma, they need to work harder at it.

Religion in Britain

This article by the Economist discusses the role of religion in British politics. Specifically, it talks about how many people in the UK are moving away from religion. Politicians are also distancing themselves from religion in many cases.

However, just recently, there seems to be a bit of a resurgence in looking to religion for potential solutions to the problems facing the UK. This resurgence is not very drastic, and is more reflective of the constantly shifting views of society.

I like the idea of a modern, developed country moving away from religion and moving toward social movements centered around logic and humanity rather than religion and superstition. It baffles me how America continues to have such a large number of religiously devout.

Something funny to note in the article is how 390000 British citizens listed "Jedi" as their personal religion, making it the fourth-largest followed religion in the UK. Star Wars for the win!

Obama Taking Flak

In this religious diatribe against Obama, a right-wing, so called "Christian" tears down Obama for his recent human rights campaign speech, in which he assures gays and lesbians that his administration will fight for their rights and recognizes their relationships as being just as valid as those held by straight Americans.

He really crossed the line here. Social equality? That doesn't sound like something Jesus stood for at all! And Obama calls himself a Christian- for shame!

I hope that self-righteous Christians like the one in this blog step back and take a look at their lives and what they stand for. Would God want them to stand for hate and intolerance? Why doesn't the Christian community rise up against the televangelists who don't even try to hide their fraud? Why don't Christians rise up against unjust war and the loss of human life that comes with it? Why don't Christians reach out a hand to the poor by supporting state-sponsored health-care?

They wont. They'll just sit there and protest abortion rights and gay rights and continue to promote a worldview warped by religious trickery.

More Religious Greed

This blog by Vital Signs discusses an ongoing investigation into several TV Preachers who make millions of dollars hand over fist and are involved in numerous shady and possibly fraudulent deals, such as money laundering.

The picture at the top shows the estate of Joyce Meyer, a very successful preacher. Is this what Jesus died for?

I can't express how much disgust I feel toward these scum of the Earth. While I still believe that their liberties include practicing and preaching religion as they see fit, I also believe that their tax-exempt status as churches should be stripped away from them. I think that if the government is going to provide tax exemptions for these people, it needs a strict criteria for doing so. And if this is too controversial, than all religious organizations should have their tax-exempt status stripped away.

If gullible people want to line the wallets of these people, that's fine by me, but they absolutely should pay their dues to society like everyone else.

Tithing in the Face of Foreclosure

This interesting article reveals that many devout Christians continue to tithe (to give 10% of their income) to their church, even as they face foreclosure and the loss of their home.

This article really got me sad. So many people are so simple-minded and naive that it really gets me down. Religious institutions have brainwashed people for so long and so completely that they will lose their home before they stop giving their money to the church.

Here is a reality check: the church DOES NOT = God. Sorry. There are some very well-meaning churches I am sure. But there are also completely and to-the-core EVIL churches as well. Take for example churches run by televangelists.

Ignorant people who have nothing in their lives but the promise that they will be rewarded after death are preyed on by those who seek (and often generously receive) their reward in life.

Guns and God

This article discusses gun control legislation in the United States, and the impact of various religious groups on this legislation and enforcement.

The conclusion was basically that religious groups have helped influence the government into adopting stricter gun control legislation, and increase enforcement. The stance by various churches tends to be one that emphasizes peace rather than violence, and hopes to limit the tools of violence (such as guns).

While religious groups as organizations tend to restrict gun usage, I personally believe that the people themselves do not tend to be very strong advocates of gun control, especially in relation to how strongly they support anti-abortion laws and restrictions on gay marriage.

Either way, this is yet another example of the clear connection between religious values and politics, which permeates every aspect of our society.

Sharia Law in Afghanistan

This article by the Long War Journal details the summoning of Afghan government officials in the province of Swat to Sharia courts or otherwise face death. There are a number of interesting aspects to this story.

First of all, we must realize that the Taliban controls more of Afghanistan than we do. They are summoning government officials, the officials we put into power, to their religious "courts" to go on trial. Does that sound like something that an underground force of rebels would do? No. That sounds like something done by those in power.

Secondly, the very idea of "sharia courts" is ludicrous. They have no justice or law- only religious tyranny. This backwards idea of an Islamic law not only sounds like a terrible idea, but has proven itself to be a terrible idea time and time again (I'd like to point out the "legal systems" of Iran and pre-war Afghanistan).

This is a perfect example of why we need secular institutions in order for society to function. Religious courts are evil and broken institutions that belong in the dark ages.

Religion and Health Care Reform

This survey shows the opinions of Americans on the Health Care Reform that is right now circulating Congress. By and large, the main concern for Americans regarding their reservations about health care reform center around a fear of government involvement.

However, there was a minority of people whose main concern was that this health care reform would lead to the government paying for abortions. This was interpreted by the website as showing a religious factor in their opinions about the reform, since an overwhelming majority of people opposed to abortion rights have their opinions based upon religious faith.

It always amuses me how Christians would be so upset by the idea of the government sponsoring abortion, but yet do not bat an eye when the government sponsors murder in the form of a foreign invasion, such as the disaster in Iraq. Why do I get the feeling that mainstream Christianity is more concerned for an unborn child than for a human who has already emerged from the womb?

Our President's Religious Profile

The Pew Forum, which seems to take great joy in the merger of religious and political life, have a profile HERE of our President, detailing his religious views and providing an analysis of religion in his life and links to dozens of cases where Obama discusses his religion or interacts with religious leaders.

Part of the profile describes Obama's view that religion can be a spur for positive social change. I'm glad that President Obama is trying to use people's religious beliefs to bring out their best sides, but I am skeptical about whether or not it will work.

While I may not agree with the Pew Forum's motives, I can't help but admit that their profile of Obama is thorough and informative, with a fair amount of detail. The truth is, Obama is motivated by religion, and has used it as a tool to gain support and push his agendas.

Obama's Favorite Theologian

Here is the transcript of a seminar on the famous theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. The reason I am linking it is because Obama has claimed that Niebuhr is his most admired theologian. Despite the fact that I am happy we have a President who reads and knows what a theologian is (in contrast to the intrepid Mr. Bush), I am still a little disappointed by the amount of influence that religion and religious figures have on our leaders.

I feel like questions about God and what He wants from us and our society should be largely kept out of the policy debate. It seems to me that most of the things done in the name of God have corruption, hatred, or violence involved. Furthermore, the GOOD things that are done in the name of God could be done in the name of Humanity or Good Will just the same, and probably should be.

U.S. Presidents and Their Religious Affiliations

This very interesting webpage details the religious affiliations of all of our Presidents up until George W. Bush. The statistics they provide discuss which religions are over-represented (such as Dutch Reformed) or under-represented (Catholicism).

Besides simply being an interesting chronicle of the beliefs of our Presidents, this also raises some questions about the political importance of religion. Could an atheist ever be elected President? Someone who claimed to not believe in God?

Interestingly enough, several of our Presidents actually were deists, which means that they believe in a Creator but not in a personal savior or personal God. I'm sure that while on the campaign trail, this particular aspect of their beliefs was not emphasized. Included on the list of deists is Thomas Jefferson, my favorite President and the author of our Declaration of Independence. Apparently, Jefferson did not believe in the divinity of Christ, and saw him instead as a figurehead for social justice.

I doubt that Jefferson would be elected today, based on his beliefs and the political power held by the Religious Right. No matter how you look at it, religion impacts politics.

JFK- The Separation of Church and State

Here is a short speech by John F. Kennedy on the separation of church and state. He made this speech during his campaign for the Presidency to alleviate the fears of a large number of mostly Protestant Americans who were suspicious of his Catholicism.

I think this is an important speech today, especially given our former President and how we now know he went about making his important decisions (listening to God, not reason). People should also listen to it if they aren't sure whether or not Creationism should be taught in classrooms.

Religion and Free Speech

This youtube video shows a report by CNN and a discussion involving our old friend Christopher Hitchens. The subject is a series of "blasphemy" laws introduced to the UN primarily aimed at preventing the expression of words or images that would offend people of a particular religious faith (the real purpose is aimed at protecting the feelings of Muslims).

I've discussed this earlier in my blog, and I think I should emphasize how dangerous these types of laws are to the values we have as a society. There is a reason that our founding fathers specifically wrote into our Constitution a Bill Of Rights, protecting people from exactly these restrictions.

Christians and Marijuana

Here is an article discussing the legalization of Marijuana, and how Christians might feel about the issue.

In my opinion, the legalization of marijuana is long overdue. There is simply no reason not to legalize it, especially if the government wants to pretend to be even a little consistent in its policies (see tobacco and alcohol). The state would benefit from tax revenue if it was legalized, and the prisons around the country which are filled with non-violent drug offenders would have some pressure taken off.

I'm not blaming religion for keeping marijuana illegal, but I feel like it certainly plays a role. I'm sure that a majority of the people opposed to legalization would claim to have religious convictions. The article above mentions how the younger generation of Christians may feel more liberally toward the issue, which I think is definitely a plus.

Either way, the Christian community in America is a very powerful constituency, and I think that they will have a large impact on when, if ever, pot is made legal.

Faux News Upset Over- Nothing?

This is a video of a Fox News report that all religious displays have been banned in the Washington State Capitol. *Spoiler* - They are outraged.

Every year we have to go through the same bullshit. First people get upset that there is a Nativity Scene displayed in a government building without any other religious displays. So they throw up a Star of David and then the Muslims get upset.

I think that this is simply government officials getting sick and tired of the kids whining about each other's toys. The only fair thing to do is to take them all away, and that's exactly what they did.

Iron Jesus

Here is a link to a short article about a woman who thinks that there is an image of Jesus Christ on her dirty old iron.

The interesting thing about the article is that it highlights the media coverage of this woman and her iron, and points out that it is not newsworthy and therefore should not even be discussed by the news media.

There have been dozens of stories just like this one, where people think they see the image of Jesus or the Virgin Mary on a wooden panel or a pancake or a stain on their living room couch. It's absolutely delusional, and its sad that a woman who is down on her luck and facing tough times needs to turn to something like this to cheer herself up. Whatever works for her I guess.

Mother Teresa

Part 1



Here is a 3-part series I found on youtube. It is a criticism of Mother Teresa by Christopher Hitchens, an outspoken anti-theist and generally inflammatory writer.

I watched all three parts, and I definitely think that Hitchens is being too harsh. No one is perfect, but Mother Teresa has spent much more time caring after the poor and dying than Hitchens would in a dozen lifetimes.

I do think that if you are going to make abortion as your biggest issue (which Mother Teresa did), then you need to support and invest in contraceptives. Mother Teresa, on the other hand, said that both abortion and contraceptives were the greatest threat to peace around the world. This is an ignorant and wrong position, but it doesn't maker her an evil person. It makes her a good woman with a misguided belief system.

Islam- Above Criticism?

This page documents and discusses the semi-recent incident involving a Danish newspaper that published cartoons discussing the Prophet Muhammad, and the ensuing outrage in the Muslim world.

I have to say that due to my support of free speech, the Danish newspaper should be proud of itself, and should not be forced to apologize to anyone for the offense. The violent reactions from thousands of Muslims around the world suggests to me that we should make these expressions more often, and make a firm stance against religious bullying.

There are dozens of cartoons and pictures denigrating Jesus Christ- you don't see Christians attacking embassies or burning cars in the streets. I'm not saying that Muslims shouldn't protest the images- if they find them offensive, there are a number of actions to take. What I'm saying is that it seems like Muslims feel like they are "above criticism" and have taken legal action through the UN to make it a crime in many countries to "offend" religious people- through words or drawings alike.

Rick Warren on Prop 8 and Obama

In this article by the Orange County Register, Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church (the largest Christian congregation in California) discusses his involvement in the Proposition 8 campaign, which is to say that he denies any real involvement.

If you read the article, I think that you'll find that Rick Warren represents himself and his faith very well- as well as you could expect from such a powerful religious leader. He comes off as humble and selfless, and also seems to have a very logical and rational perspective on the world around him.

The only real problem I have with him is his steadfast belief that homosexuals shouldn't be considered equal to heterosexuals in our society. The idea that we should deny them rights doesn't seem Christ-like to me at all.

I think that Rick Warren represents the positive side of religion- and even that is not without some holes.

Albino Killings in Africa

Here is an article about the murder of Albinos in Africa. Why are albinos being argued? Because these dumb asses think that their body parts have magical powers. What a load of hog shit.

This is a perfect example of why religion and superstition are so destructive. What is rational or humane about murdering people to harvest their body parts? As if Africa needs more of this kind of thing. Here is a region of the world experiencing the most desperate poverty and diseases known to man. And now they are kidnapping and chopping up people because their skin lacks pigment.

Superstition = Persecution
Irrational Beliefs = State Failure

The Religion and Ethics of Afghanistan

This article posted by PBS discusses the War in Afghanistan in terms of religion and ethics. It highlights recent campaigns by religious groups to either discourage the war or encourage a surge of resources.

I don't think that religion should play a role in shaping our policies regarding wars, least of all the war in Afghanistan. Ethics should play a role, but that is not inseparable from religion or religious institutions.

The fact that our former President rushed into the war in Iraq so quickly because he was motivated by God is evidence that the policies of our country should come from rational analysis rather than religious zealotry.

Druids? What's Going On?

Linked here is a webpage discussing the political implications and importance of neo-paganism and druidism. It basically argues that having a society run by druids would be better for people, better for countries, and better for the planet.

I just want to point out that the only reason we think this is so ridiculous is because it is not mainstream and has not been repeatedly hammered into our heads. Many people believe that Christianity is of the utmost importance for the health of American society. This is just as ridiculous of a claim. Our leaders should pray to the God of Moses and Abraham who called for the genocide of people because they were not "chosen"? Should they pray to the wind and the trees and beasts of the Earth?

You see, it is a matter of perspective. Religion is not necessary nor good for society. No one ever blew themselves up in the middle of a crowded market in the name of civil rights. What is important for society is a constitution that fundamentally protects individual liberties and rights. This is what has made America so successful, NOT druid spirits or Holy Ghosts.

God Hates China

Website "godhatestheworld" (linked here) is an inflammatory and disturbing website that promotes discrimination and hatred. They put up an article about China's sin of legalizing Sodomy and basically having a society of "acceptance" toward gays.

Christians who believe that homosexuals will die by the wrath of God and burn in hell for eternity for their sins DISGUST me. Jesus himself would despise this kind of finger-pointing and hatred. It is a sad day indeed when the government of China is more accepting and more willing to promote civil rights and equality than a so-called Christian organization.

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama recently commented on Obama's position toward China, saying that Obama is "not soft on China" and expressing no hard feelings toward the President for not visiting with His Holiness.

I think it's funny how much power and influence religious leaders as a whole have in the World. I tend to think that the Dalai Lama is at least a pretty "humanitarian" religious leader and he has my respect, unlike religious leaders such as the pope or the supreme leader of Iran.

People and leaders should be judged on their actions, not their self-proclaimed connection to God.

Students and Spirituality

UCLA recently conducted a study (linked here) that surveyed college students to find out whether or not they became more spiritual as they attended college. The results were that as a whole, students do become more spiritual when they attend college.

I think this is interesting because it doesn't mean that they became more "religious" or rather more drawn to a particular faith. This was reflected by the fact that many college students actually become more liberal with regards to issues like abortion and gay rights, two areas where the Church tends to have strong, conservative views.

This may reflect a larger trend of students finding their "own" path to spirituality, rather than attending a church or place of worship. Free thought for the win!

Religion in the Workplace

There is an interesting article here about how many businesses use spiritual exercises to motivate and inspire their employees.

If you think about it, this actually makes a lot of sense. Religious and spiritual exercises do not serve simply as a means of communicating with God. They also strengthen individuals' connections with each other and their community, and often serve as a mental "pick-me-up."

I don't think there is anything wrong with this type of activity. As long as people are doing it voluntarily, then I think it's okay and the government shouldn't really be meddling in it. However, if someone doesn't feel like they want to spend the weekend in the desert "finding their spiritual beast" then they certainly should not be penalized for it.

Likewise, people should be allowed to practice their religion as they see fit, so long as they are not compromising their productivity or creating a distraction for their coworkers.

Gay Marriage

The Washington Post recently had a story (linked here) about the expanding rights for same-sex couples that is taking place across the country, despite voters banning "marriage" itself.

This is a step in the right direction, but I don't necessarily think it's enough. This issue relates directly to religion because I have personally heard religious leaders calling upon their congregation to take up the flag of God and deny homosexuals their civil rights.

A common argument in favor of restrictions on gay couples is that it provides a slippery slope that leads to churches having their freedoms taken away. For example, if gay marriage was legal, a gay couple could sue a church that refuses to marry them on grounds of discrimination. I understand these fears, and think that they should be addressed- however, to say that you will take away someone's rights because you are afraid that someone else's rights may be taken away down the line is logically absurd.

Here is what I think needs to happen: 1. marriage needs to become a cultural ceremony that any religious or community leader can preside over. 2. the legal rights that come along with marriage will be provided in a court-room or government setting only 3. religious leaders should be given the explicit right to refuse to marry couples based on their own convictions.

This system would grant everyone equal rights, and if two people of the same sex want to get married, they can just find a religious leader who is willing to do it, and they also wouldn't be able to force pastors opposed to gay marriage into doing something they don't want to. Win win.

Muslim Pilgrimage

Well, it seems that Muslims around the world are converging upon Mecca as part of the ritual haj or pilgrimage that they perform every year. Today they are throwing stones at a bunch of concrete pyramids that are supposed to represent the devil. You can see the article describing the ceremony here.

It is nice to see Muslims being portrayed in the media outside of a terrorist bombing or extremist threat. I do feel that Muslims should be doing things other than throwing rocks at pillars though- for example, they could be uniting to stop the suppression of women in Muslim countries. Or they could rally against theocratic regimes that actually do use stoning to murder people for crimes like adultery. This type of change that needs to take place should be taken up by Muslims, not the U.S., to ensure that the people's interests are secured rather than Western governments'.

America As A Christian Nation

Is America a Christian nation? I think the answer to that is Yes, simply because of the numbers. A large majority of Americans identify themselves as Christians, and I think that is enough to make us a Christian nation. Some people will argue "what if I'm not a Christian, does that mean I'm not American?" to which I would say "not at all- but the nation of America is"

Are we a car-driving nation? Yes. If you ride a bike or don't have a license or car, does that mean you're not American? No.

I'm not especially religious, and I am a strong believer and supporter of the separation of religion and state. Yet I have no problem with admitting that America is a Christian nation. The real issue arises from people extending that observation into a policy recommendation such as "let's teach religion in schools" or "let's not allow stem cell research because God doesn't like it"- this is problematic at best, and devastating to the quality of our liberties and strength as a nation at worst.

Sort of a spin-off of this is the question of whether or not America was founded on Christian principles. I have to admit that I don't believe that Christianity was instrumental in the tenants of our constitution. There have been many governments founded on "Christian" principles, many of them in the Middle Ages, when the Divine Right of Kings was in full affect. America's success comes from its individual liberties and the separation of the various branches of government, and neither of these ideas can be claimed by a religion. Check out this video on youtube to see a debate on exactly this matter, featuring the always entertaining Christopher Hitchens.

Pictured above is Thomas Jefferson, one of our most important founding fathers and self-proclaimed deist who had serious doubts about the divinity of Christ.

Televangelist Fraud

For those of you who don't know, televangelists are frauds! These loathsome creatures prey on the desperation of the poor and the generosity and good faith of (gullible) Americans to line their wallets. Leading televangelists like Benny Hinn will ask people for donations, promising them that if they make an offering to the Lord (and what greater offering than cash?), God will shower them with more money than they will be able to count. Check out Benny Hinn in action on youtube!

Benny Hinn recently asked his "congregation" through a newsletter to donate money so that he could buy himself a jet, a Gulfstream G4SP which he is calling "Dove One" and which God told him he would need in order to spread the Good News. Here is the introduction from the brochure he sent: "I am writing you, as one of my closest and most faithful partners, to let you know about a tremendous and historic opportunity for the Gospel of our wonderful Lord Jesus, and I am praying that the Holy Spirit will speak to you as I share this glorious news!"

Although I am absolutely disgusted by people like this, who try to profit off of religion, I don't think that they should be subject to legal crackdowns. If people want to be mindless sheep and throw away their money, they should be allowed to. I do however think that all of these so called "ministries" should have their tax-exempt status stripped away from them. They are running a business, plain and simple, and therefore should pay their fair share of taxes. The only God being worshiped here is money.

Fort Hood

There has been a lot of discussion in the media recently regarding the Fort Hood shooting, and the perpetrator of the attack, Maj. Nidal Hasan. On the one hand, he is considered to be a mentally unstable soldier who simply could not handle the stress of deployment and had a complete mental breakdown. On the other hand, people are accusing him of being a Muslim extremist who went on a killing spree to "punish" the West. The latter theory is given credibility by the apparent connection between Hasan and radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Aulaqi, who has been an outspoken supporter of extremism and has called for attacks against America.

I found an article from the Washington Post here that discussed the FBI's investigation of the mosque that Hasan attended, and also some of the reactions from other Muslims who attend the mosque. I thought that it was pretty fair to mainstream Muslims in that it showed the perspective of most American Muslims- that is, shock and disbelief at the attack.

I personally believe that Maj. Hasan was just a mentally unstable soldier whose impending deployment pushed him over the edge. He was able to find people like Anwar al-Aulaqi who took advantage of his instability and used this breakdown as a way to strike out at American soldiers. I don't think that the fact that he was a Muslim was the ONLY factor in the attack, although it may have turned a suicide into a terrorist attack.