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Stores risk getting in trouble either way.

Here's the discussion.

An interesting study out this week on the effect of religiosity on views of nanotechnology.

Not surprisingly the study found that very religious people generally had a negative view of nanotechnology -- even if they aren't sure what the term means or how it's being used.

But this bit from the BBC piece jumped out at me:

The researchers compared attitudes to nanotechnology in 12 European countries and the US.

The US was found to be the most religious country in the survey, and also the least accepting of nanotechnology.

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The U.S. was the most religious country in the survey? More religious than Italy or Ireland? More religious than Spain or Portugal?

Catholicism -- and its struggle against science -- ain't what it used to be.

"Oxford University Press' latest edition of its Junior Dictionary includes some culturally relevant additions such as MP3 player, blog and biodegradable. But it's the ones these words are replacing that have academics and clergy alike up in arms.

"For its new release the British publisher omitted words such as minister, chapel, sin, altar, disciple and devil, as well as dozens of terms it believed were outdated because of their predominantly rural use. By nature of the product, the dictionary is restricted in size (10,000 words), meaning words are regularly being culled and replaced. The latest round of edits, according to Oxford representatives, reflect a modern, multifaith, multicultural society."

Update:
Operation Greensboro Cares has raised more than $13,000 in the first week of its campaign.

What: A fundraising effort led by community organizations, including the United Way, the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro and the News & Record, to address the growing demand for emergency food and shelter in the Greensboro area brought about by the economic crisis.

Raised to date: $13,358.28.

Who will be helped: Donations will be distributed to FaithAction International House, Food Not Bombs, Greensboro Urban Ministry, Lutheran Family Services, Salvation Army of Greensboro, Senior Resources of Guilford and The Servant Center.

How to help: Go to www.OperationGreensboroCares.org or www.News-Record.com to make a tax-deductible donation.

I think most people would say the author of the Purpose Driven Life, who brought attention to the global AIDS epidemic and genocide in Darfur, is a commendable choice to deliver the invocation at Barack Obama's inauguration. Should it matter that he is an outspoken opponent of abortion and same-sex marriage?

Does it not at least "feel" suspicious when someone wants to sell one of these?

Barefooted children in the sand, as captured by Greensboro artist Janice Burns in varying portraits, grace the cover of this year's Family Service of the Piedmont's 2008 honor card, which raises money to strengthen local families.
Family Service will send a card to acknowledge honor or memorial gifts of a minimum $10, or gift sets of 10 blank cards and envelopes are available for $15. Cards can be ordered through the website, at www.safeandhealthyfamilies.com/give , or by calling the Family Service office at (Greensboro) 387-6161 or (High Point) 889-6161 .
The cards, which are not holiday specific, help raise money used year round to provide crisis services ranging from bankrupty and domestic violence, to a variety of phobias.
Check out these other honor cards that help fund everything from food and shelter to mattresses for needy children:

Operation Greensboro Cares reaches $200,000 -- yet that's not even halfway.
Monday’s announcements included an appearance from former Olympian Joey Cheek, who made note of the 20 degree weather outside.

Volunteers and donations are needed for Christmas at the HIVE, 6 p.m. Thursday, 1214 Grove St. This is the normal time for Food Not Bombs' vegetarian meal, but turkeys and hams or whatever people want to donate are needed for the holiday meal.
To make a donation ahead of time, or if you have questions about volunteering, call 274-1102.

Not so fast, says one polling service: A review of almost 300,000 interviews conducted by Gallup so far in 2008 shows no evidence that church attendance in America has been increasing late this year as a result of bad economic times.

What's happening where you attend?

The near-collapse and sale of Wachovia Corp. that cost investors billions of dollars in losses is also hitting North Carolina nonprofits that used to enjoy regular donations of the Charlotte bank's valuable shares.

In hard times, churches turn to the book of bankruptcy, too.

http://guitar.about.com/od/christmasguitartab/a/we_wish_you.htm

What a year:
This year’s presidential election played a part in the biggest religion stories of 2008, according to a survey of more than 100 religion journalists.
Barack Obama was named the top Religion Newsmaker of 2008.
The religion specialists chose the controversy surrounding the Rev. Jeremiah Wright as the No. 1 story, with Democratic outreach to faith communities and GOP vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin's selection as the second and third top stories, respectively.
(Go to News-Record.com on Saturday and click on religion for complete list)

I'm sure at some point over the last few weeks, as many religions celebrate a time for family and friends, we've all looked beyond the things we don't have, to these things that really matter. Indulge me:

I said a prayer for you today and know God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart although He spoke no word.
I didn’t ask for wealth or fame, I knew you wouldn’t mind.
I asked Him to send treasurers of a far more lasting kind.
I asked that He’d be near you at the start of each new day.
To grant you health and blessings and friends to share your way.
I asked for happiness for you in all things great and small.
But it was for His loving care I prayed the most of all.

Happy New Year!