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POPSAtheists Need to Chill Michael Shermer makes a point that needs to be made. Atheists need to remember what they stand for , not merely what they are against . Ridicule and contempt have no place in science, and haters should not tarnish its reputation by association. In the words of the greatest consciousness raiser of the 20th century, Martin Luther King, Jr., in his epic "I Have a Dream" speech: "In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline." If atheists do not want theists to prejudge them in a negative light, then they must not do unto theists the same.
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POPS How modern evangelicals are ignoring their own history Today's Christian conservatives often note that Jefferson's famous line declaring that the first amendment had created “a wall separating church and state” was not in the Constitution but in a private letter. But in that letter, Jefferson was responding to one sent to him by a group of Baptists in Danbury, Conn. We usually read Jefferson's side of that exchange. It's worth re-reading what the Danbury Baptists had to say because it reminds us that for the 18th-century evangelicals, the separation of church and state was not only required by the practicalities of their minority status, but was also demanded by God. “Religions is at all times and places a matter between God and individuals,” the Baptists wrote, warning that government “dare not assume the prerogatives of Jehova and make Laws to govern the Kingdom of Christ.” Government had no business meddling in the affairs of the soul, where there is only one Ruler.
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POPSVatican Calls US-Mexican Border Fence "Inhumane" Speaking for the pope, Cardinal Martino also addressed the issue of the integration of Muslim immigrants in European countries. “Much still remains to be done,” he said, adding, “It is necessary to provide for legislative, juridical and social intervention to facilitate such an integration.”
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POPSThe God That Never Failed (Book Review) Interesting review of Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction , David Kuo's wide-eyed, first-hand disillusionment with the Bush Administration's cynical exploitation of faith-based initiatives for political purposes.
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POPSSoldiers of Christ: Inside America's most powerful megachurch with Pastor Ted Haggard No pastor in America holds more sway over the political direction of evangelicalism than does Pastor Ted, and no church more than New Life. Having lived in Colorado Springs for 6 years, some people ask me what it's like living in what some consider the Christian Capital of America. Colorado Springs has a lot going for it besides Dr. Dobson and Ted Haggard, but politically and spiritually speaking, this article explains how the city became the center for the Religious Right movement.
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POPSEvangelicals betrayed by Bush administration: Farah Farah is the founder and editorial voice of the very influential conservative Christian website, WorldNetDaily. This is the face of the Republican Party establishment. It's the reason Democrats are likely to sweep into power in a few short weeks. It's an illustration of the double talk we get from the Bush administration. It's confirmation that we who actually believe in that Bible have nowhere to turn politically in this country – at least in terms of voting options. Remember what I told you on the evening of Nov. 7. Don't blame me for the Republican debacle to come. Blame the people who brought it to you – the people in power.
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POPSWhen Not Seeing Is Believing Human perfection. Whether we like it or not. Justice, peace and virtue. That concept of the beneficent, omnipotent will of God and the need to always submit to it, whether we like it or not, is not new. It has been present in varying degrees throughout history in all three great monotheisms—Judaism, Christianity and Islam—from their very origins. And with it has come the utter certainty of those who say they have seen the face of God or have surrendered themselves to his power or have achieved the complete spiritual repose promised by the Books of all three faiths: the Torah, the Gospels, the Koran. That is where the smile comes from. (Andrew Sullivan. Time Magazine , Oct. 2, 2006.)
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POPSOrthodox Jews and Belief in Evolution & Science
The author of this study was surprised by the extent of anti-evolution and anti-science beliefs expressed by a survey of Orthodox Jewish college students, even amongst the "modern" ones who are allowed to pursue secular degrees. What's worse is that science majors seem to be even less likely to believe in evolution, apparently because of undergoing more thorough "preparation" against "heretical views" by their rabbinical elders. From the Introduction: Ultra-orthodox Jews have always forbidden members to get a secular education. Modern and Centrist Orthodox Jews are allowed a secular education only for reasons of parnasa, to make a living. In the last couple of decades two phenomena have interacted to shape Centrist Orthodoxy’s relationship with secular education. First the entire Orthodox spectrum has moved radically to the right. Modern Orthodoxy is in tremendous decline, the name itself becoming a term of disdain for those not “really religious,” i.e. “modern.”
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POPSDoes God Want You To Be Rich? Yes, say some megachurches. Others call it heresy. The debate over the new gospel of wealth TIME cover story for the week of Sep. 18, 2006. For subscribers only. I've only read part of it so far myself.
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POPS"God's Country?" - Walter Russell Mead Summary: Religion has always been a major force in U.S. politics, but the recent surge in the number and the power of evangelicals is recasting the country's political scene -- with dramatic implications for foreign policy. This should not be cause for panic: evangelicals are passionately devoted to justice and improving the world, and eager to reach out across sectarian lines. From Foreign Affairs , September/October 2006.
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POPSShort Excerpt from "Why Darwin Matters" by Michael Shermer Shermer continues: This general fear leads to six specific fears about evolution. A general resistance to science. Belief that evolution is a threat to specific religious tenets. Misunderstanding of evolutionary theory. The fear that evolution degrades our humanity. The equation of evolution with ethical nihilism. The fear that evolutionary theory implies we have a fixed human nature. See the source (and book) for full discussion of why " ll of these fears are baseless." I've read Shermer's other works and they're remarkably readable and informative for specialists and non-specialists alike. He's one of the leading writers bringing scientific ideas into the popular domain. I'm sure this new book will be well worth reading also.
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POPSVideo: Atheist This was a front-page featured video on Youtube.com a few days ago. It's had 121,272 views and counting.
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POPSEvangelical Christians plead for Israel Last month, John Hagee led the first summit of Christians United for Israel in Washington. As the Mid-East continues to roil, more and more of his fellow end-time-focused groups are making their voice heard in American politics, influencing our foreign policy decisions for their purposes. "When they see what's going on in the Middle East, a whole range of enemies arrayed against God's people, they see God's word being played out on their television sets"
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