News from the World of Religion

The Right Way to Pray? - NYTimes.com

The Brooklyn Tabernacle, a 3,500-seat evangelical prayer palace in downtown Brooklyn, was built in 1918 as one of the largest and grandest vaudeville houses in North America. It is still a hot ticket. Its youngish, racially diverse congregation packs the pews each week to praise God and bask in the sounds of a Grammy-winning 250-voice gospel choir. But the tabernacle is more than just a popular church. It is also a destination for evangelicals from all around the United States and beyond, laymen and ministers alike, who come as acolytes to study prayer.

via www.nytimes.com

Modern Slavery, Modern Abolitionists - Justin Fung - God’s Politics Blog

Modern Slavery, Modern Abolitionists

by Justin Fung 09-25-2009

Two hundred years after slavery was declared illegal in Great Britain, and 150 years after the Emancipation Proclamation in the United States, an estimated 27 million people remain enslaved around the world. And most people remain unaware of this reality.

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Department of Labor released a report documenting goods on the U.S. market that had been produced by child and/or forced labor. The report highlighted 122 goods in 58 countries, and confirmed what many in the anti-human trafficking movement already know — that goods tainted by child and/or forced labor are commonly found in American homes.

via blog.sojo.net

Click above to read the full story.

Just because we don't see the problem every day, does not mean it is not pervasive and compelling.

The fact that this evil exists and persists in the world requires us to respond with more than indignation. It calls for action.

Pope visits Czech Republic with many nonbelievers - World AP - MiamiHerald.com

By VICTOR L. SIMPSON

Associated Press Writer

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI is going to the heart of central Europe 20 years after the fall of communism ended restrictions on religion. But what he will find is a Czech Republic where nearly half the population professes to be nonbeliever

via www.miamiherald.com

Religious leaders told their input is valued

Religious leaders told their input is valued

Thursday, September 24, 2009

By Ann Rodgers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Standing in the lobby of a Downtown hotel, a key adviser to the U.S. delegation to the G-20 Summit promised an array of religious leaders that he would carry their concern for the poor into the economic conclave.

via www.post-gazette.com

Decoding the Hidden Secrets of Dan Brown's D.C. | Online NewsHour | September 24, 2009 | PBS

Decoding the Hidden Secrets of Dan Brown's D.C.

Jeffrey Brown decodes the secrets of Washington D.C. highlighted in Dan Brown's latest novel "The Lost Symbol."

via www.pbs.org

Muslim groups hopeful on hikers' release from Iran - California - fresnobee.com

UNITED NATIONS -- Leaders of U.S. Muslim groups who met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad say they are "guardedly optimistic" that three American hikers held there would be released soon.

Nihad Awal, director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, says the U.S. Muslim community would remain engaged on the issue until a "favorable result" is reached. The meeting happened Thursday.

via www.fresnobee.com

Click above to read.

Measure submitted to dump Calif. gay marriage ban - California - fresnobee.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- A group pushed ahead Thursday with a campaign to repeal California's same-sex marriage ban, even though some other gay rights organizations think it's too soon for another expensive ballot fight.

via www.fresnobee.com

Slain Va. mom, daughter had counseling over music - California - fresnobee.com

HERE IS A FOLLOW UP TO THE STORY OF THE MURDER OF A PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER IN VIRGINIA:

An aspiring California rapper who rhymed about the thrill of killing people in songs on the Internet - and is now suspected in four Virginia slayings - was bullied as a boy and spent much of his time in his room on his computer.

via www.fresnobee.com

Click above to read this tragic tale.

How Women of Faith Fought a Dictator with Nonviolence - Becky Garrison - God’s Politics Blog

How Women of Faith Fought a Dictator with Nonviolence

by Becky Garrison 09-23-2009

To commemorate the International Day of Peace (September 21st), I had the opportunity to attend a screening of the documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell.  I first caught this film at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. I reported on the God’s Politics blog how this documentary tells a compelling story of how Christian and Muslim women of Liberia joined forces to combat the violent warlords and the corrupt Charles Taylor regime. During a press conference, I learned from Leymah Gbowee, the leader of this movement, that Roman Catholic Archbishop and former president of the Liberian Council of Churches Michael K. Francis became her spiritual rock. The behind-the-scenes prophetic presence of Francis and other religious leaders gave these women the faith fuel they needed to walk the walk.

via blog.sojo.net

Israel, Gaza, and the Goldstone Report: A Call for Self-Examination During the High Holy Days - Rabbi Arthur Waskow - God’s Politics Blog

Israel, Gaza, and the Goldstone Report: A Call for Self-Examination During the High Holy Days

by Rabbi Arthur Waskow 09-23-2009

During these days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Jews are called on to reexamine our own actions — our “missings of the mark.”  The emphasis is on OUR sins — not those of individuals alone, but of the community — and the sins of ourselves, not of other people, even our enemies. We are also called on not only to confess our misdeeds but also to CHANGE what we do. 

via blog.sojo.net