News-Record.com

Sorry for the belated greeting, but I've been on vacation.
Lots has gone on recently, most notably: Saddam executed on Eid al Adha, the holy day of sacrifice in the Islamic faith, based on the story of Ibrahim (Abraham) and Ishmael (Isaac).
A Sanford preacher only wants to spend a few years (five actually) in jail for killing his wife.
The police set up 10 undercover cameras at mass: Boy was he shocked.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is threatening a lawsuit if the Dixie County Commission doesn't reverse itself and remove a donated granite replica of the Ten Commandments from the county courthouse. The problem: the foundation can't find anyone in this rural county of roughly 14,000 Florida residents to participate in the proposed lawsuit.

SEATTLE — This is about Ashley's dignity. Everybody examining her case seems to agree at least about that. Ashley is a 9-year-old girl who has static encephalopathy, a severe brain impairment. She cannot walk or talk. She cannot keep her head up, roll over or sit up by herself. She is fed with a tube. Her parents call her "Pillow Angel" because she stays right where they place her, usually on a pillow.
Her parents say they feared that their angel would become too big one day -- too big to lift, too big to move, too big to take along on a family outing.
And so they decided to keep her small.
To read the parents' blog, go here.
To see pictures, go here.

The sides: Swearing to uphold the Constitution or undermining 'American' values? Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, will hold a copy of the Koran during Thursday's ceremony. And not just any copy of the Koran: the one once owned by Thomas Jefferson."
Controversy over nothing? FYI: The Constitution says nothing about swearing on the Bible.

I was in church on Christmas Eve and amid the chorus of 'Merry Christmas' I was handed a flyer noting it's Girl Scout cookie time -- with a full roster of each cookie and the per box price. Which leads me to the question: What is or isn't appropriate in a house of worship?
I mean, you've got a captive audience.
Should there be an ATM in the foyer?
A coffee bar?
Is such simply merging spirituality with real life?

"A surge of swanky Buddha-themed bars and restaurants begs the question: WWBD? ... 'Drinking liquor, eating meat and, in gen­eral, spending huge sums on sensual indulgence would seem to con­flict with the core Buddhist tenets of simplicity, vegetarianism, and moderation.'"

Looking for a place to be you?

The federal government is planning to spend $750-million over the next five years to reverse the trend of one-parent households. It is literally buying into a couples religious program to help do that -- though it's going to subtract the faith part.

For example, the secular classes will say forgiveness benefits your personal well-being. The faith-based courses will still encourage couples to forgive each other by emphasizing Jesus' forgiveness.

Would you be able to forgive him?

The Bible contains just one true recipe, for a bread of wheat, barley and lentils cooked over a fire made from burning human excrement The ingredients were a direct revelation from the Almighty to the priest Ezekiel. The taste?
"Like moldy bean sprouts," says the Rev. Rayner W. Hesse Jr., an Episcopal priest. "You don't want to eat it. Never, ever. Let me emphasize that: Never."
Consider the other options.

An atheist took a look back at religion news in 2006 for a weekly column we run on the religion page called "Faith Matters," (we're having problems with accessing some stories on our site, see below to read the column)which is devoted to issues of faith, spirituality and values. I got this response from a church pastor on running it:

"Your column is called "Faith Matters" and the predominate number of definitions of "faith" in both Webster's and Roget's include the word "belief" — many of those definitions referring to belief in God. "Atheism" is defined as "the belief that there is no God, or the denial that God exists."

"Obviously, yours is a column about religion (or supposed to be), while atheism is the absence of religion. While we could debate all day about the meanings of those words, it is amazing that a "religious" newspaper column in the Bible belt would even consider printing the remarks of an atheist. This speaks volumes as to where we are as a society. Diversity is one matter, the denial of the existence of God is quite another."

So, whose faith/spirituality/values should matter?

"You have clearly abandoned your historic role of broker in favor of becoming an advocate for one side," the departing members of the center's Board of Councilors told Carter in their letter of resignation.

As a person of faith -- some of you are "just war" theorists -- has your rationale for supporting the war in Iraq changed over time? Or have you come to the realization that you can no longer support the war at all?

Is science becoming a 'satisfying replacement' for religion?

He was a faith leader who was also a moral leader. Who's out there (and I don't just mean race wise)? Seems faith leaders are more like punch lines these days -- or were we more forgiving of 'moral leaders' and their lapses before the Internet?

Should non-Muslims care which book is used by the people who follow Islam?

"It recognizes our right to practice our faith."

Here's more to the story and (Saturday's)Five on Faith about the Muslim cab drivers not picking up certain riders. And now, Daniel Pipes.

Hmmm....

"It was the most horrific experience of my life," said Omar Awartani, one of students attacked, in a Tuesday phone interview. "This was a horrible, unprovoked hate crime."

Airline ousts toddler's family.

Hunt has asked for $26 million and the city has offered $500,000, the Winston-Salem Journal reported Wednesday.
(Thanks Doug. The earlier link was incorrect. It's $2.6 million.)

"Many believe Muslims aren't doing enough in the war on terror. But we are fighting from within, and there's always more to do."

"Jesus Camp" is up for an Oscar. See the trailer.

Wants to address how Christians have treated homosexuals.

They're big on apologies this convention.