By Laura Koran, 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: A new challenge for Andy Stanley
Since President Obama’s re-election, pundits have asked if the Republican Party needs to change its message to adapt to a changing America. Here’s another question: Will conservative Christians have to adapt their message as well?
Enlightening Reads:
Tulsa World: Teen sentenced to attend church as part of probation for DUI manslaughter conviction
Attending church on Sunday for 10 years was one of the conditions a Muskogee County judge placed on a teenager whose sentence in a manslaughter case was deferred this week for 10 years. Defense attorney Donn Baker said that although the church requirement in unusual, it is not something he intends to challenge.
Huffington Post: Buddhist 'People Of Color Sanghas,' Diversity Efforts Address Conflicts About Race Among Meditators
They came from near and far on a Tuesday night last month for an unusual gathering in the city's chic Capitol Hill neighborhood, a place known for its vibrant restaurants, art galleries and gay bars, not for its diversity. They were nervous, confused and a bit scared. Should they — seven women of African-American, Native American and Asian descent — even be here? None of them would use the same words to describe their race, but they were united around the colors of their skin. They entered a small church hall, sat in a circle, closed their eyes and faced their teacher, hungry for Buddhist wisdom.
The Toronto Star: Woman denied haircut goes to Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario
A request for a lunch-hour haircut has turned into a battle over human rights, pitting freedom of religion against a woman’s right not to be denied service based on her gender. Faith McGregor walked into the Terminal Barber Shop on Bay St. in June to get a haircut — the “businessman,” short on the sides, tapered, trim the top. The shop, like many barbers in Toronto, doesn’t do women’s haircuts. But McGregor, 35, said she wanted a men’s cut. Shop co-owner Omar Mahrouk told her his Muslim faith prohibits him from touching a woman who is not a member of his family. All the other barbers said the same thing.
Quote of the Day:
We are speaking out against deceit, lies and twisting of the truth, and turning us into folklore-for-profit. They are not telling the truth about time cycles.
Felipe Gomez, leader of the Mayan alliance Oxlaljuj Ajpop, told Agence France-Presse blasting Guatemala’s government and a number of tour groups for perpetuating the claim that the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world on December 21, 2012 by promoting doomsday themed vacation packages.
Today’s Opinion:
CNN: My Take: The danger of calling behavior ‘biblical’
Rachel Held Evans, a popular blogger and author of “A Year of Biblical Womanhood,” writes about her discomfort seeing the bible “edited down and used as a prop to support a select few political positions and platforms.”
A Breezy Point resident walks past burnt houses after the neighborhood was left devastated by Hurricane Sandy in the New York borough of Queens November 12, 2012.
CNN: My Take: Rebuilding your life and your faith after the storm
John and Bonnie Nystrom, the authors of “Sleeping Coconuts,” the true story of how a devastating tsunami changed the face of Bible translation in Papua New Guinea, write about keeping the faith when tragedy strikes.
CNN: My Take: 113th Congress looks like old America
Stephen Prothero, a Boston University religion scholar and author of "The American Bible: How Our Words Unite, Divide, and Define a Nation," and frequent CNN Belief Blog contributor, breaks down the makeup of the new U.S. Congress.
Join the conversation…
A quarter of President Barack Obama's supporters were religiously unaffiliated, the Public Religion Research Institute says.
CNN: Survey: Religiously unaffiliated, minority Christians propelled Obama’s victory
President Barack Obama’s victory relied largely on two dramatically different religious coalitions – minority Christians and those with no religion – according to a survey released Thursday.
Christianity is for the uneducated and the brainwashed. People who actually think about things and question them won't stay Christian for long.
Sane Person,
I know several highly educated believers and no one who has been brainwashed. Thinking and questioning can be real faith builders.
-> "Thinking and questioning" eh?
Since when do you do that?
Answer,
All the time, I even get an answer on occasion.
You contradict yourself.. If they are Christian they have been brainwashed.
Sane Person,
You obviously don’t understand Christianity or brainwashing for that matter.
Christianity relies on brainwashing. It wouldn't work otherwise.
So Robert.. do the honor of telling everyone what answer you have gotten from your religious thinking. Let's see whether science and it's discovery aren't really the real reason that you have such answers.
Let's analyze on what level it is that you think the answers are from your god.
I challenge you to read the evidence Bible, written by kirk cameron and ray comfort, it is both educational and scientific, ones educational value stems from their understanding and not a set of points driven into their minds or being brainwashed, check this out for yourselves, would love to see your view of this, as i would like to beleive your are educated. Gods Blessings to you and yours Shalom
Christians need mental help...lets hope they get it.
Let us hope that Robert Brown gets the help he needs. He keeps getting "feelings" and "vibes" while standing around a group of people. He walks to through life thinking he is living in a spirit world moving about with him.
Christianity,
Allow me to set the record straight. I have hope, I have help, and my needs are guaranteed. What do you have hope in? Who do you depend on for help? Who guarantees that your needs will be met?
I have never expressed the holy spirit as a mere feeling or emotion.
Brainwashing in action, Robert. But you can't recognize it.
Here Robert..
Youtube this person and take a look at the same kind of person that you yourself are. You'll learn for yourself if you want to proactively validate yourself as a "thinking person".
-–
Look him up.
"Dan Barker – How an Evangelical Preacher Became One of America's Leading Atheists "
"Good morning world and peace to those enduring the peace from others."
Mathew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God!"
Luke 17:21, "The kingdom of God is inside you!"
John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world!"
1Corinthians 3:9 "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building!"
Keep the above verses of Gospel scripture ever in one's mind as their being literal endowments for tp ponder upon in times of easing.
@lLL. I did enter the kingdom, and there I sat upon the throne and labored to get rid of that which was in me. Truly it was not of this world as it passeth through me, to the deep and dank below. It that hell? Smells like schitt too. Ever have I kept the gospels close, in keeping them with the buybull, as there have been times when I have run out of the other kinder, more gentle paper. RAmen.
Since you like those versus from the Bible, here is one I thought you may want to consider.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
"John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Actually that was made up. Everyone knows the story about Jesus and the woman about to be stoned by the mob. This account is only found in John 7:53-8:12. The mob asked Jesus whether they should stone the woman (the punishment required by the Old Testament) or show her mercy. Jesus doesn’t fall for this trap. Jesus allegedly states, let the one who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her. The crowd dissipates out of shame. That story was not originally in the Gospel of John or in any of the Gospels. It was added by later scribes. The story is not found in the oldest and best manuscripts of the Gospel of John. Nor does its writing style comport with the rest of John. Most serious textual critics state that this story should not be considered part of the Bible.
Emerald,
What are you saying was made up, the bible, book of John, or the little adultery story? Either way I think you have been deceived.
Emerald:
Then that begs the question: what else was added by later scribes?
Good morning all.
Mr. Lamb, you crazy fuck, how are you?
Akira, always a pleasure.
Robert. Odds are all three, although the adultery story may have a kernel of truth.
Good morning, Apple Bush.
Likewise.
Robert Brown
Since you like those versus from the Bible, here is one I thought you may want to consider.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh onto the Father, but by me.
.
I guess Jesus was a little freaky????
Good morning, everyone!
Good morning and may God richly bless you.
@ RB. prove, empirically, that your god exists, outside of your fairy-tale book.
Which God?,
It wouldn’t do you any good at all, even if I had some great profound argument to present to you, because according to God’s word, it is between you and him. All believers can do is give you the word and their personal experiences, the rest is literally between you and God. I have all the proof I need and hope you get the same. One little piece of advice, if you have sought God only on an intellectual basis, perhaps you may find involving your heart will help. Peace.
@ RB. Well, it didn't help my sister when she was dying of cancer. Her cherch prayed daily. Same with my mother. Didn't help my buds when mortar shells maimed them. Can't pray a leg or arm back. No, RB, your proof is the delusion you hold in your head. If you hear god, you need some serious help. Your goD is a sick joke on humanity, and the myth should be abolished.
You ready to save some souls this morning T?
Which God?,
All discussion of God aside, just human to human, I am very sorry for the loss of your loved ones. All of us, if we live long enough, experience the loss of loved ones, and even if it has been many years, just the thought of it, can bring it all back. Peace.
Prayer changes things
"Ronald Regonzo" who degenerates to:
"Salvatore" degenerates to:
"Douglas" degenerates to:
"truth be told" degenerates to:
"Thinker23" 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:
"ImLook'nUp" 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:
"John 3:16" degenerates to:
"pervert alert" is the degenerate.
This troll is not a christian.
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.
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 (IEE), 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...
Hi Prayerbot.