Devout Christians–especially evangelicals–are dull, and have no sense of humor. Right? In a daily effort to prove this assumption wrong, LarkNews is the Onion for the Christian faithful.
In response to exit polls in Iowa that asked Republicans numerous questions about their religious beliefs, but asked Democratic voters nothing about their faith, several religous leaders, including Joel Hunter, David Neff, Jim Wallis and Brian McClaran have written an open letter to media political and polling directors.
We all know what it feels like when the moralization switch flips inside us — the righteous glow, the burning dudgeon, the drive to recruit others to the cause. Steven Pinker, the Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University has an essay in today’s New York Times Magazine on the science of the moral instinct–and the philisophical implicationss of that science–that is well worth a read.
Three priests have been chosen to head up three new mission centers as part of the reorganization taking place at the church’s national headquarters in New York City, according to Episcopal News Service.
Researchers in Greece have determined that there may be relationship between the monastic lifestyle and a decreased incidence of cancer. For 1,000 years, the monks of Mount Athos have maintained dietary and lifestyle habits that include a mediterranean diet and lots of produce, according to the research.
Dan Edwards’ path to becoming the new bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada may not seem conventional to some. But even when he was a lawyer, he was committed to social justice, representing “unpopular causes” such as migrant workers and American Indians. Raised a Baptist, he moved through a cycle of faith that included boredom, disenchantment, agnosticism that bordered on atheism, Buddhism and, in his 30s, a return to faith and a call to serve the Episcopal Church.
The leading advocate for gay and lesbian rights in the Anglican Church in Britain is stepping down after 30 years, according to the New Statesman, which profiles the Rev. Richard Kirker and provides some insights into his work at the helm of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement.
It’s common during the first week of January to see Christmas trees lying naked by the side of the road. For some, including the congregation at St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg, Va., disposing of the trees has become an occasion for gathering for an Epiphany bonfire, bringing to life the light that is the promise of Advent and Christmas. The event, which drew about 100 people from the church and the community, was featured in a Washington Post video this week.
Peter Steinfels, the co-director of the Fordham Center for Religion and Culture, has a fun post on the Commenweal website that “predicts” the big religion stories in 2008.
After the caucus results came in, it was natural to assume that reporters would tell us about the Democratic Party’s commitment to religion. So what did reporters tell us? Well, the major papers told us . . . nothing.