
By Arielle Hawkins , 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: Sculpting gods from clay
For centuries, artisans have been crafting statues of Hindu deities on the banks of the Hooghly River in Kolkata, India. Italian photographer Albertina d'Urso recently visited the historic Kumartuli district in the West Bengal capital. "I think they enjoy their work because they know the idols they create will be enjoyed by others, but most of all because it is creative and handmade work," she said. "It would not be the same if it was a modern factory."
Belief on TV:
Enlightening Reads:
Reuters: Cardinal causes uproar with "Muslim scare" video at Vatican
A Roman Catholic cardinal has caused an uproar at the Vatican by screening a spurious YouTube video that makes alarmist predictions about the growth of Islam in Europe. The seven-minute clip, called "Muslim Demographics," was the talk of an international gathering of bishops on Monday, two days after Cardinal Peter Turkson screened it during a free discussion period.
Religion News Service: Bhutan bans religious activities ahead of elections
Political leaders in the tiny Buddhist nation of Bhutan have announced a nearly six-month ban on all public religious activities ahead of the upcoming elections, citing the Himalayan nation's constitution that says “religion shall remain above politics.”
The Jerusalem Post: European satellite axes Iran's anti-Semitic channels
Europe’s top satellite service Eutelsat barred on Monday 19 Iranian state-controlled television and radio channels from broadcasting in Europe. Critics have long argued that Iran’s state-run Press TV and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (Irib) are plagued by hatred of the West and contain anti-Semitic broadcasts denigrating Israel, Jews and Zionism.
WWLTV: Archdiocese fights violence with 5,000 'Thou shalt not kill' yard signs
The Archdiocese is fighting the “New Battle of New Orleans” with 5,000 yard signs that read “Though shalt not kill – God.” Archbishop Gregory Aymond hopes the signs will reduce violence, murder and racism.
Catholic News Service: Science, faith can work together to help world, scientist tells bishops
Science and faith need each other for the benefit of all of creation, a Nobel-prize winning geneticist told Pope Benedict XVI and the world's bishops. He made the comments Oct. 12 during the Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization. Arber, the first Protestant to lead the Vatican's sciences academy, was invited as a special guest to speak on the relationship between science and faith.
Huffington Post: Hindu Holiday Season 2012: A Simple Guide
As fall approaches, Hindus are gearing up for their Holiday Season, which is celebrated in October and November. Each year, India comes alive for a month filled with Hindu festivals, rituals and celebration. It's the most auspicious time of the year! Due to the various sects of Hinduism and the range of geographical and cultural traditions, Hindu Holidays are celebrated differently throughout the country. This article highlights some of the more commonly-known variations of the festivals, but it definitely doesn't cover them all.
Join the conversation…

From 1948 to 1961, research and newly shared personal stories revealed anti-Jewish bias at the Emory School of Dentistry.
CNN: Shining light on Emory's 'reign of terror' prompts healing – and, for one man, questions
The late Irving Shulman was the only Jewish man to enter Emory University’s School of Dentistry in 1948. That was the same year someone else came to the school: the newly appointed dean, John E. Buhler. After one academic year, Shulman flunked out. Buhler stayed on for 13 years, leading what some Jewish students would refer to as a “reign of terror.” Between 1948 and 1961, when Buhler left, 65% of Jewish students either failed out or were forced to repeat up to two years of coursework in the four-year program.
nope
Nope is Pope of dopes on a rope. Nope cannot cope, truth makes Nope mope.
Can someone ask God if he intends to upgrade to Windows 8?
Even God doesn't trust a Microsoft o/s before the first service pack.
God?? Dear, I'm pretty sure she's on Mountain Lion – I heard you can read about it in Revelation.
You can find proof of the existence of God by seeking him with all your heart.
You can find proof of the existence of Santa Claus by seeking him with all your heart.
I believe the same logic is used convincing minorities, woman and the poor to vote Republican.
Never undersetimate the gullibility of the American populace.
That is an example of, (but very common Christian) argument made in 'bad faith". If the search is a legitimate search, then any outcome is possible. If there is only one outcome, there is no legitimate search. If you know the outcome, it's not a search.
There is no "proof" of god, even in the Christian faith. There is no "faith" necessary, where there is "proof".
Faith is a choice to abandon reason. The only question is, "at what point" does one choose to abandon reason.
In Modern American Fundamentalist Evengelicalism, (as opposed to traditional Christianity), "belief" as the ONLY possible moral stance, is as'serted. St. Pal said faith was a virtue, (thus granted by the Soirit), and Jesus said "no one sall come to me, unless the Father draw him", and "many are called but few are chosen". Thus we can see, the Fundies are not (traditional) Christians.
You can find god easier if you took a dump.
Prayer changes things
Proven
"Ronald Regonzo" who degenerates to:
"truth be told" degenerates to:
"The Truth" degenerates to:
"Atheism is not healthy ..." degenerates to:
"Dodney Rangerfield" degenerates to:
"tina" degenerates to:
"captain america" degenerates to:
"Atheist Hunter" degenerates to:
"Anybody know how to read? " degenerates to:
"just sayin" degenerates to:
"Kindness" degenerates to:
"Chad" degenerates to
"Bob" degenerates to
"nope" degenerates to:
"2357" degenerates to:
"WOW" degenerates to:
"fred" degenerates to:
"!" degenerates to:
"pervert alert"
This troll is not a christian:..
@things: the only thing proven is that you are a troll. you don't ever respond unless it is under one of your other screen names, and that is merely to agree with yourself. you don't ever have any facts.......which is easy enough to understand seeing your faith requires no proof, only obedience.
so in the words of your preacher...............GOOD DOG.
I'm sorry, "Atheism is not healthy for children and other living things", but your assertions regarding atheism and prayer are unfounded. Using my Idiomatic Expression Equivalency module, the expression that best matches the degree to which your assertions may represent truths is: "TOTAL FAIL".
I see that you repeat these unfounded statements with high frequency. Perhaps the following book can help you:
I'm Told I Have Dementia: What You Can Do... Who You Can Turn to...
by the Alzheimer's Disease Society
You're a proven liar. Prayer does not; you are such a LIAR. You have NO proof it changes anything! A great example of prayer proven not to work is the Christians in jail because prayer didn't work and their children died. For example: Susan Grady, who relied on prayer to heal her son. Nine-year-old Aaron Grady died and Susan Grady was arrested.
An article in the Journal of Pediatrics examined the deaths of 172 children from families who relied upon faith healing from 1975 to 1995. They concluded that four out of five ill children, who died under the care of faith healers or being left to prayer only, would most likely have survived if they had received medical care.
The statistical studies from the nineteenth century and the three CCU studies on prayer are quite consistent with the fact that humanity is wasting a huge amount of time on a procedure that simply doesn’t work. Nonetheless, faith in prayer is so pervasive and deeply rooted, you can be sure believers will continue to devise future studies in a desperate effort to confirm their beliefs!
Prayer changes my life every day !
"Ronald Regonzo" who degenerates to:
"truth be told" degenerates to:
"The Truth" degenerates to:
"Atheism is not healthy ..." degenerates to:
"another repentant sinner" degenerates to:
"Dodney Rangerfield" degenerates to:
"tina" degenerates to:
"captain america" degenerates to:
"Atheist Hunter" degenerates to:
"Anybody know how to read? " degenerates to:
"just sayin" degenerates to:
"Kindness" degenerates to:
"Chad" degenerates to
"Bob" degenerates to
"nope" degenerates to:
"2357" degenerates to:
"WOW" degenerates to:
"fred" degenerates to:
"!" degenerates to:
"pervert alert"
This troll is not a christian:..
"Ronald Regonzo" who degenerates to:
"truth be told" degenerates to:
"The Truth" degenerates to:
"Atheism is not healthy ..." degenerates to:
"another repentant sinner" degenerates to:
"Dodney Rangerfield" degenerates to:
"tina" degenerates to:
"captain america" degenerates to:
"Atheist Hunter" degenerates to:
"Anybody know how to read? " degenerates to:
"just sayin" degenerates to:
"Kindness" degenerates to:
"Chad" degenerates to
"Bob" degenerates to
"nope" degenerates to:
"2357" degenerates to:
"WOW" degenerates to:
"fred" degenerates to:
"!" degenerates to:
"pervert alert"
This troll is not a christian:...
Hundreds of millions of children that did not die and even did not contract the disease are an excellent proof that prayer DOES work. Those children who DID die because their parents were stupid enough to REJECT God's help in the form of the medical care is a proof that REJECTING God's help is not the right way to go.
And your proof is?
"Ronald Regonzo" who degenerates to:
"truth be told" degenerates to:
"The Truth" degenerates to:
"Thinker23" degenerates to:
"Atheism is not healthy ..." degenerates to:
"Dodney Rangerfield" degenerates to:
"tina" degenerates to:
"captain america" degenerates to:
"Atheist Hunter" degenerates to:
"Anybody know how to read? " degenerates to:
"just sayin" degenerates to:
"Kindness" degenerates to:
"Chad" degenerates to
"Bob" degenerates to
"nope" degenerates to:
"2357" degenerates to:
"WOW" degenerates to:
"fred" degenerates to:
"!" degenerates to:
"pervert alert"
This troll is not a christian..
You do not know God. He doesn't let one child live and another die. For example most christains believe when you die you go to heaven. When Jesus resurrected the dead while he was on Earth he said they were alseep in death.
It would have been cruel for him to ressurect them then. Jesus said that this is an example of what he will do: resurrect the righteous and unrighteous for judgement.
Therefore, God doesn't save to kill people right now because as the Bible says, "time and unforseen occourance befall us all."
Prayer changes things.
Prayer does not; you are such a LIAR. You have NO proof it changes anything! A great example of prayer proven not to work is the Christians in jail because prayer didn't work and their children died. For example: Susan Grady, who relied on prayer to heal her son. Nine-year-old Aaron Grady died and Susan Grady was arrested.
An article in the Journal of Pediatrics examined the deaths of 172 children from families who relied upon faith healing from 1975 to 1995. They concluded that four out of five ill children, who died under the care of faith healers or being left to prayer only, would most likely have survived if they had received medical care.
The statistical studies from the nineteenth century and the three CCU studies on prayer are quite consistent with the fact that humanity is wasting a huge amount of time on a procedure that simply doesn’t work. Nonetheless, faith in prayer is so pervasive and deeply rooted, you can be sure believers will continue to devise future studies in a desperate effort to confirm their beliefs!
"Ronald Regonzo" who degenerates to:
"truth be told" degenerates to:
"The Truth" degenerates to:
"Atheism is not healthy ..." degenerates to:
"Dodney Rangerfield" degenerates to:
"tina" degenerates to:
"captain america" degenerates to:
"Atheist Hunter" degenerates to:
"Anybody know how to read? " degenerates to:
"just sayin" degenerates to:
"Kindness" degenerates to:
"Chad" degenerates to
"Bob" degenerates to
"nope" degenerates to:
"2357" degenerates to:
"WOW" degenerates to:
"fred" degenerates to:
"!" degenerates to:
"pervert alert"
This troll is not a christian..
Good morning Cap'n Sayin' Nope Atheism Isn't an Angry Pervert Newmann Rangerfield
How's the trolling so far today?
@Doc...
nope
nope to nope
I'm sorry, "Atheism is not healthy for children and other living things", but your assertions regarding atheism and prayer are unfounded. Using my Idiomatic Expression Equivalency module, the expression that best matches the degree to which your assertions may represent truths is: "TOTAL FAIL".
I see that you repeat these unfounded statements with high frequency. Perhaps the following book can help you:
I'm Told I Have Dementia: What You Can Do... Who You Can Turn to...
by the Alzheimer's Disease Society
Go vegetarian!
Disbelieve six impossible things before breakfast.
Why?
@not unhealthy: why do i feel like i'm going into one of my explainations with my son. LMFAO
you have to eat your vegetables.
why?
because they will help you grow up strong and smart.
why?
because you want to be like daddy right?
why?
because if you don't eat them i'm going to eat you. lol
why?
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, i give up here is some ice cream.
yay it worked again.
"Why?" JellyBean asks. Because we are asked to believe so much bullshit it only makes sense to get an early start.
@ath...
nope
@was...
nope
nope to nope
@to...
nope
@sno...
nope
nope is false
Nope is a very very smart person.
ahhh, nope