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February 2nd, 2012
05:44 PM ET
The pope's on Twitter? 10 unlikely tweetersBy Doug Gross, CNN (CNN) - Twitter says it has more than 100 million active users - a pretty impressive chunk of the online population who are, if nothing else, checking in to see what other people are sharing. With that many folks on the six-year-old microblogging site, Twitter is always good for a few surprises. Sure, you already know about such famous tweeters as Ashton Kutcher, Lady Gaga and Shaq. But did you expect funnyman Danny DeVito to create a photo series of his foot in interesting places? And, sure, Democratic political strategist David Axelrod uses the site to share talking points and links. But who would have expected him to post a candid picture of President Barack Obama with "First Dog" Bo, then turn it into a not-so-subtle jab at GOP front-runner Mitt Romney? And then, there are the Twitterers who surprise you by being there in the first place. (Don't forget to follow the Belief Blog on Twitter @CNNBelief ) FULL STORY
February 2nd, 2012
02:25 PM ET
Obama reflects on faith in prayer breakfast speechBy Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor In addition, Obama used the platform in front of religious dignitaries and politicians to express his vision of how faith and government intersect and can work together. After his remarks, the president received a standing ovation from the crowd at the Washington Hilton, the White House pool reporter said. Journalists are barred from attending the breakfast with the exception of the White House pool, which follows the president. CNN requested and was denied access to the event. The breakfast has hosted every president since Eisenhower.  President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama bow their heads in prayer at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.
February 2nd, 2012
12:28 PM ET
Politics and PrayersBy Lesa Jansen, CNN Washington (CNN)–Speaking at the 60th annual National Prayer Breakfast inWashington on Thursday, the president said, "We know that part of living in a pluralistic society means that our personal religious beliefs alone can't dictate our response to every challenge we face. But in my moments of prayer, I'm reminded that faith and values play an enormous role in motivating us to solve some of our most urgent problems, in keeping us going when we suffer setbacks, and opening our minds and our hearts to the needs of others." Addressing the divisive partisanship in Congress and relations between the White House and the GOP leadership, the president cautioned leaders should not "get caught up in the noise and rancor that too often passes as politics today, these moments of prayer slow us down. They humble us." The president spoke about how his values continue to influence and "motivate" his leadership when addressing one of the most divisive issues between Democrats and Republicans, the elimination of some tax breaks for wealthy Americans. Read the full story from CNN's 1600 Report Salome kisses the head of John the Baptist. A play based on the biblical story is getting a new translation.
February 2nd, 2012
05:00 AM ET
A head on a silver platter – rethinking John the Baptist and Oscar WildeBy Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor Charlottesville, Virginia (CNN)— As Oscar Wilde imagined it, the execution of John the Baptist was packed with love, lust, incest and murder. The Irish playwright spun the ancient biblical story into "Salome," a one-act tragedy written in 1863 in French that today is getting a fresh look thanks to Joseph Donohue, a theater historian hell-bent on changing the way the play is read in English. In the biblical account, John the Baptist was a prophet and the cousin of Jesus. King Herod, who had imprisoned John fearing a rebellion, promised his sultry stepdaughter Salome anything, including half his kingdom, in return for a striptease. Herod got his dance and Salome, at the suggestion of her mother, who was not a fan of John's proclamations against her, asked for and received the Baptist’s head on a silver platter. “It’s a rather shocking story,” says Donohue, a professor at the University of Massachusetts and an expert on all things Wilde.
February 2nd, 2012
04:26 AM ET
Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Thursday, February 2
By Dan Merica, CNN Here's the Belief Blog’s morning rundown of the top faith-angle stories from around the United States and around the world. Click the headlines for the full stories. From the Blog: CNN: Santorum co-chair: Homosexuality ‘makes God want to vomit’  Colts linebacker Gary Brackett leans on his faith in tough times. Indianapolis Recorder: Linebacker’s faith pulls him through tough spot |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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