Religion
Satanist Church Awarded Tax Exempt Designation
A Satanist church located in the middle of the Bible Belt, enjoys an Oklahoma state listing as a tax exempt religious organization. The church, under the name of the Church of the IV Majesties, was awarded the tax exempt designation this past spring according to ABCNews.com. Disdaining traditional secrecy, the Satanist group has rented... »
Many Americans Believe that Barack Obama is a Muslim
18 percent of Americans say that President Barack Obama is a Muslim, up from 11 percent in 2009. The “Religion, Politics and the President” poll conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life early this month finds many Americans unsure about Obama’s religious affiliation. Of concern to many of Obama’s supporters, this... »
American Church Attendance Increases in 2010
Americans’ self-reported church, synagogue, or mosque attendance increased slightly in 2010, with 43.1% reporting weekly or almost weekly attendance. According to a recent Gallup measure of church attendance,this is up slightly from 42.8% in 2009 and 42.1% in 2008. The sample was taken from over 146 thousand respondents from Jan – May, 2010. Within... »
Noah’s Ark Found in Turkey? (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
A group of Chinese and Turkish evangelical explorers have found what they believe is Noah’s Ark. The 15-member team from Hong King-based Noah’s Ark Ministries International discovered a structure on Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey that has been carbon dated back 4,800 years. Yeung Wing-Cheung, from the Noah’s Ark Ministries International research team that made the... »
Judge Rules National Day of Prayer Unconstitutional
A federal judge has ruled the National Day of Prayer, observed the first Thursday of May, is unconstitutional. In Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled in favor of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a group of atheists and agnostics that brought a lawsuit against former President George W. Bush’s administration. According to... »
Nebraska Lawmakers Advance Fetal Pain Bill
The Nebraska legislature moved one step closer Friday to passing a bill that would ban the abortion of fetuses 20 weeks or older based on the belief that the unborn baby can feel pain. State senators approved the bill, LB1103, on the second of three readings and are scheduled to have the final reading... »
Rifqa Bary and Parents Resolve Dispute
The court has ruled that Fathima Rifqa Bary can stay in foster care until her 18th birthday. This ends a lengthy legal confrontation between Rifqa and her parents which began when she converted to Christianity. The Columbus Dispatch reported Tuesday that the Franklin County Juvenile Court ruled that Rifqa and her parents agreed that... »
Christain Churches Attacked In Malaysia
In Malaysia, a convent school and a fifth church were attacked on Sunday over Christians’ use of the word “Allah” to refer to God. According to Reuters, the source of the conflict is a court ruling that allowed a Catholic newspaper to use “Allah” in its Malay-language editions. This prompted Muslims to protest at... »
There Really Is A Southern Bible Belt
There really is a Southern Bible Belt. Of all states surveyed by a recent Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, over 70% of the people who live in the heart of Dixie say religion is very important in their lives. Led by Mississippi with 82%, five other southern states with at least 70%... »
Scientology Purported To Have Committed Criminal Acts
According to the BBC, Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has said he will consider calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the Church of Scientology. This followed Australian Senator Nick Xenophon’s scathing attack on Scientology which cited letters from former followers alleging extensive criminal activity. “The letters received by me which were written by former... »
Atheist Campaign Questions God
The Metro Transit Authority proudly states that New York City’s subway system is one of the busiest in the world with more than 5 million riders per day and more than 1.6 billion total passengers in 2008. Beginning Monday, passengers in a several busy subway stations throughout Manhattan will be treated to advertisement posters... »
23% Of The World’s Population Is Muslim, And It’s Growing
Nearly 1 in 4 of the world’s population is Muslim. According to CNN, a report by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life reveals some surprising facts: There are about 1.57 billion Muslims in the world There are about 2.25 billion Christians Nearly two out of three of the world’s Muslims are in... »
The Mojave Cross
For almost 75 years, a cross in a remote part of the Mojave National Preserve has stood as a memorial to World War I soldiers. On Wednesday the Supreme court takes up a long-running legal batttle over whether the cross, which Congress declared a national memorial, violates First Amendment religious protections despite Congress’ decision to transfer the land... »
St. Francis – The “Green” Saint
St. Francis of Assisi Today marks the passing in 1226 of St. Francis of Assisi, who founded the Franciscan order and stressed the need to imitate the life of Jesus. His evangelical zeal, consecration to poverty, charity, and charisma, drew a dedicated following during a time of needed change to the Church. Although he... »
Charges Dismissed Over School Prayer
Judge M. Case Rodgers ruled Thursday evening that Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and Athletic Director Robert Freeman did not violate an order against praying in school. The criminal contempt charges against the two school administrators was based on a suit filed last year by the American Civil Liberties Union against the... »
School Administrators Face Possible Prison And Fines Over Prayer
Frank Lay, principal of Pace High School in Pace, Florida, and school athletic director Robert Freeman are accused of violating a consent order on prayer and could face up to six months in prison and fined. The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit last year against the school district in northwest Florida on behalf... »
