News-Record.com

I recently had the chance to interview Stanley Hauerwas, the Duke Divinity professor named "America's Best Theologian" by Time magazine. He's here next Sunday for a speech that's free and open to the public.
What people are saying:
"Hauerwas makes us face the difficult task of how we are suppose to act as Christians," says John Young of New Garden Friends Meeting. " In his view the truthful witness of Christianity requires us to be faithful to Christ's message of peace and love without concern for success or outcome. As John Howard Yoder, one of Hauerwas' valued teachers said; 'Such unflinching love for friend and foe alike will mean hostility and suffering for us, as it did for him (Christ).' This is not about turning the other cheek because one is a foolish dreamer but as a faithful witness to Christ."

"For all the talk of how the Jews control the media, the banks, and the U.S. government, a man whose declared intention it is to wipe Israel off the map was treated as an international dignitary in the city that contains more Jews in it than any other on earth."

But they're not being required to worship -- right?

What would be your advice to Pope Benedict XVI on his upcoming trip to Turkey?

Would it matter to you if Jesus had gotten married and had children?

This would be one time that if I were president or govenor I would order the National Guard to keep someone at bay:
"Those Amish people, everyone is sitting around talking about those poor little girls — blah, blah, blah — they brought the wrath upon themselves," Phelps-Roper said, adding that the Amish "don't serve God, they serve themselves."

"Democrats are tired of letting Republicans own the faith and values message, so they are taking their case to the streets."

This week's Five on Faith asks: Are we more or less forgiving as a society? Here's one response:
"Forgiveness is one thing; apologizing is another. I fear we've become a culture of apologies that are not heartfelt; rather, some may be expedient, political, or PR. People may becoming jaded as to the number of insincere apologies offered for everything from the mundane to the heinous. The act of issuing "the apology" seems more important than the actual remorse behind it. I don't believe one country can apologize for its historical actions against another people; yet some groups require that an apology be offered to either feel better or move on. I believe apologies are personal and can be given only by those who performed the deed. Forgiveness can be given only to those who did something and not to now-dead figures who were never remorseful. No, this isn't a response to one person apologizing to another; rather, it's a small statement about the culture of apology I feel creeping into our national conscience."
Sue Polinsky, Greensboro

Have you ever heard someone "speak in tongues?" It often happened around me as I sat on the benches of the Free Will Baptist church I attended while growing up. The people were so intense -- so seemingly not in this world during those moments. These days even the Pentecostals aren't so sure how it fits into their worship:

"I think that the classic Pentecostal belief that speaking in tongues was the real evidence of the second baptism of the Holy Spirit is, at least in practice, not widely accepted around the world," said John Green, senior fellow at the Pew Forum and a longtime observer of religion and politics.

I read this with interest in Sunday's paper. At first glance it doesn't seem fair that regulations so favor houses of worship.

"The evidence is legion: Matisyahu, a Hasidic reggae artist, is in regular rotation on MTV; waspy Charlotte on 'Sex and the City' converted to Judaism; teenagers wear T-shirts that say 'Yo Semite.' The most thrilling part of this trend, though, is that many average people are excitedly exploring their identity as Jews -- some in synagogues, some on surfboards. This is not your father's Judaism."

Franklin Graham, he of Billy Graham's seed, is planning to rebuild hundreds of churches destroyed by the Sudanese government and militia in Africa.
In his latest salvo against Islam, Graham told The News & Observer: "It's the teaching of Islam that is not tolerant of any other faith."

Yet, how can you not think of this (and click on Runaway Bride or here for the print version) as anything but 'just desserts?'

When you look at the dollar figures thrown about it's really sickening to see another example of how immorality pays.

Is God's schedule contingent upon Bush?

The future of evangelism: according to evangelist: Christian persecution and churches turning against each other for the sake of "peace among religions."

"LifeWay Christian Resources' department of pastoral ministries conducted its 10th consecutive study among Southern Baptist conventions. The top five reasons why Southern Baptist staff members were dismissed were (in order) because of control issues, poor people skills, church's resistance to change, pastor's leadership style (too strong), and church was already conflicted when the pastor arrived."

"I don't usually make predictions," wrote Charles Colson, who founded Prison Fellowship Ministries after serving time in prison, "but here's one I'll venture: If, God forbid, an attack by home-grown Islamist radicals occurs on American soil, many, if not most, of the perpetrators will have converted to Islam while in prison."
Colson's faith-based prison program, operating in Iowa's prisons, was just ruled unconstitutional.

Married folk are now in the minority.

The Iraqi war and Washington ethics have seized voter attention -- gay marriage opponents are distracted?

"Horrified by escalating religious violence and alarmed by the Bush administration's "faith-based initiatives," which make government money available to religious organizations, atheists are coming out of the closet -- and organizing."

Which "sin" do you think is most often swept under the rug, as some "sins" have become bigger than others in today's society?

"The 'dancing' of our youngsters today is one step from events that should be occurring on wedding nights," he wrote in an e-mail to parents.

At first I had problems with celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Madonna adopting Third World babies, based on their public personas. But celebrity begets attention to orphaned or abandoned baby causes --and why should we care how many babies they adopt when the babies are getting the chance for a better life?

"Time was, not so long ago, that no one ever said a bad word about Pastor Rick Warren."

The article says that "The Purpose Driven Life" method of churching doesn't necessarily work (he has sold LOTS of books, related packages). Warren, currently working to bring attention to AIDS in Africa, says the media builds you up to immediately tear you down.

OK, here's the short of it according to the New York Post (membership required): TIGER Woods got ambushed by an evangelical guest of Nike on Oct. 9 during an exclusive golf outing for top business and entertainment executives. According to our spy, 30 people -- including Clear Channel Radio CEO Mark Mays, Louis Vuitton North America chief Daniel LaLonde and Details magazine editor Daniel Peres -- gathered at the Trump golf course in Los Angeles for the 2006 "Tee It Up With Tiger Woods" event, which included a private golf session and lunch with the living legend. "During the lunch, there was a Q&A session with Woods, and most people were asking about their swings or golf questions," our source said. "Until some guy -- a guest of Nike -- stood up and said, 'Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? And if not, prayfully, would you?' " The source added, "You could have heard a pin drop. People were mortified. But Tiger was as unflappable as he is on the golf course and responded, 'My father was a Christian -- of course Christianity was part of my life -- but my mother is Asian and Buddhism was also part of my childhood, so I practice both faiths respectfully.'"

A Georgia mother wants "Harry Potter" books removed from her child's school library, but what about the beloved but also witchcraft-infused "Wizard of Oz?" If you were on the local school board deciding what stays on library shelves and what goes, what rationale would you use in your vote?

PHILADELPHIA - In the heat of passion, many crazed baseball fans have said they would die for a championship. One company hopes some fans are actually willing to take their devotion to the grave.

"On Wednesday, former 'American Idol' contestant R.J. Helton (who sings gospel) came out when he told Sirius Satellite deejay Larry Flick, 'Just because I am gay does not mean I can't love God.' After telling Flick he'd just outed himself 'three seconds ago,' he said, 'It feels good.'"

His legacy?
"Minister Farrakhan has been one of the strongest voices in our community in terms of his critique against racism in the black community, and that voice has been important," said Ronald Walters, a University of Maryland professor of political science who teaches a course in black leadership.
OR
But recently, Farrakhan returned to anti-Semitic statements. During a speech at the group's Savior's Day ceremony in February, he was quoted as saying that "false Jews promote the filth of Hollywood," including homosexuality. "You may not like me," he said, "but I don't give a damn. I'm throwing down the gauntlet today."

A not so serious moment.

"The French have banned not only the full veil but head scarves in state schools. Some German regions have banned the head scarf for civil servants too, and they are not permitted in Turkish universities at all. Slowly, the issue is coming to the United States: Just this month a Michigan judge dismissed a small-claims court case filed by a Muslim woman because she refused to remove her full-face veil while testifying."

When has something akin to this happened to someone of another faith?

At 5 p.m. Wednesday, Miguel "The Hitman" Viera will discuss his new book, "Walking on Higher Ground and Awakening the Spirit Within: A Christian Student Athlete's Spiritual Journey Through the Doors of College and Beyond," on AM 830. He's appearing on "Truth Talk Live" with the host Stu Epperson Jr., and the discussion is aimed at students, student-athletes, parents and coaches across the country.
The number to ask a question is 1-866-34-TRUTH.

Who inspired you in your faith as a college student? Or where did you get your belief that God does/doesn't exist?

I got a postcard a few weeks ago about Oak Spring Baptist Church's "Judgement House" -- "Visit once, or stay a while...." (Call (336) 643-5617 for info).
I went to one of these near Asheboro last year but it seems fewer and fewer churches are doing "heaven or hell" dramas around Halloween. Are they dying out?

OK...so he fits the description of the Anti-Christ? These comments appear serious:

"Did anyone read the TIME Magazine article on Obama? It really creeped me out. At one of Obama's speaking engagements he was introduced in the following way: "He's all of us! He's not black! He's not white! He's not ..." The speaker then faltered and realized that she was about to say that He's not male or female. This kind of a description for anyone is worrysome. I believe that this is exactly how antichrist will be. Also, Obama announced today that he will be considering a run for president in '08. This going back on past statements that he was not interested in running. Not to mention that everything seems to be falling into place for end-times events to occur. Just my humble opinion."

There was a fairly simple system to the seating plan at the annual big money get-together of the Church of Scientology in Sussex this weekend: the more you pay, the nearer to Tom Cruise you get.

"...Many men, he says, are uncomfortable with the emotions-baring Promise Keepers gatherings and disenchanted with churches that 'emphasize the feminine.'

"At the daylong GodMen event downtown Saturday, men will be able to cuss, smoke cigars, watch videos of football pileups ... and attend workshops on how to fight pornography addiction."

Can there be morality without God? If so, where did we get our cues? If not, are we saying that atheists and others are morally devoid?

This week's Faith Matters involves one Christian's opinion about Halloween.
Some houses of worship hold costume parties while others take children skating as a diversion to dressing up and trick-or-treating. What do you think about Halloween?