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18 Nov 2009 10:37

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Culture: Note to Fond du Lac Reporter journalists covering R. Crumb: Try harder

  • I don’t think a picture or comic could contain God. It is hard for me to pick a picture and say, ‘This is what God looks like’ because of His amazing greatness. When I think about God appearing, I think of the effect of God’s hand in the people’s lives around me.
  • Marian University campus ministry vice president Valerie Young • Discussing the controversy surrounding R. Crumb‘s new “Book of Genesis” graphic novel. First of all, screw the reporter (Heather Stanek) for comparing Crumb’s work to a bunch of superheroes. If you know anything about Crumb, he’s angled his entire career and drawing style and perverseness to be a reaction to the traditional comic book mold. Secondly, where’s the balance? No atheists were interviewed in the article, either, and neither were people who could look at the novel as a literary piece of work. Did this reporter know anything about Crumb – and his motivations for the work – before writing about him? • source

21 Oct 2009 10:47

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World: Daily Poll: Catholics and Anglicans in a fight to the death

  • Yesterday, the Catholic Church announced a bold move to grab members from the Anglican Church, the offshoot of Catholicism created after King Henry VIII wasn’t allowed a divorce hundreds of years ago. A lot’s changed since then, most notably the Anglican church’s allowance of gay pastors and bishops, which has become a wedge issue that has many Anglicans looking elsewhere. Is this the way the Catholic party should be headed? Vote. source

19 Oct 2009 23:20

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Politics: Our world is full of godless heathens. Let’s be honest about it.

“A Million New Yorkers Are Good Without God. Are You?” What a question. It begs you to respond. An anonymous donor with a lot of money and an inquisitive spirit has a pretty good question to ask New York subway-dwellers starting next week. And it's one bound to attract (depending on your corner) curiosity, debate, criticism or anger. But we say it's a good time to ask. Here's why:
  • At a turning point We’re closer to being a godless society than at any point in our world’s history. The thing is, though, it’s largely not recognized. Millions of people float around without going to any kind of church or actively thinking of religion. We may as well recognize it and talk about it, the heathens we are.
  • Why should we talk? Simple: It’s happening. And it’s not something that discounts anyone else who is religious or has a strong sense of faith in their lives. But the anonymous donor who wrote this clever ad is way closer to being right than many religious conservatives might like to admit. Let’s be straight-up about it.
  • Is this a good thing?Honestly, we’re not sure if this is even going to last. There’s a lot of reasons why religion is great on a purely practical scale – the building of community, for example. But on the other hand, religon often breeds intolerance and tolerance at equal levels. What do you guys think? We’re wondering. source

17 Oct 2009 10:26

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World: Mother Teresa: It seems like everyone wants a piece of her

  • She missed them very much all her life. My request is a very human one.
  • Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha • Describing his country’s desire to bring Mother Teresa back to her homeland from India, where she died. Berisha hopes to open up a museum in her honor. India wants to keep her, though, and Macedonia also holds a claim to her, because she was born there. Why the push to get her? Well, she’s well on the path to sainthood. That might have something to do with it. • source

24 Jul 2009 03:06

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U.S.: Texas rethinking how important they want God to be in the classroom

  • We’re in an all-out moral and spiritual civil war for the soul of America, and the record of American history is right at the heart of it.
  • Reverend Peter Marshall • On his bid to add a major religious component to the Texas school curriculum. Among other things, the state’s education board is looking at recommendations to include history lessons on the role Christianity played in founding the United States. Some think he’s exaggerating and others think he’s spot on. As per usual, they’re all arguing.  • source

11 Jul 2009 10:24

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U.S., World: Obama stands up for war-ravaged Africa

  • There are wars over land and wars over resources. And it is still far too easy for those without conscience to manipulate whole communities into fighting among faiths and tribes.
  • Presdient Barack Obama • Discussing how conflicts in Africa can get out of hand for selfish, heartless reasons. Obama says the differences in cultures should be “a source of strength, not a cause for division.” • source

03 Jul 2009 21:49

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Offbeat: Turkish TV turns the search for God into a game show

  • We are giving the biggest prize in the world, the gift of belief in God. … We don’t approve of anyone being an atheist. God is great and it doesn’t matter which religion you believe in. The important thing is to believe.
  • Kanal T CEO Seyhan Soylu • On why his television network is hosting a game show called “Penitents Compete,” which tries to convince a bunch of atheists that you need to have religion of some kind in your life. Religious leaders in the country are skeptical. “Religion should not be a subject for entertainment programs,” said Hamza Aktan, chairman of the High Board of Religious Affairs. Our question: When does Fox bring this show to the States? • source
 

09 May 2009 08:40

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U.S.: Just because you’re raised athiest doesn’t mean you stay atheist

  • 54% of kids raised atheist turn to religion as adults source

02 Apr 2009 10:20

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Culture: Sounds like this woman has a crisis of faith

  • Had anyone told me in February 2006 that I would be a Muslim before April rolled around, I would have shaken my head in concern for the person’s mental health.
  • Ann Holmes Redding • A former Episcopal minister who converted to Islam three years ago and straddled the line between both before the Episcopal Church defrocked her. Seriously, why you makin’ her decide? She clearly doesn’t want to. • source

17 Feb 2009 11:05

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Culture, World: Dwight from “The Office” speaks out on his Baha’i faith

  • About the faith Rainn Wilson is a member of the Baha’i faith, a monotheistic religion which started in Iran in the mid 1800s. As places to start religions go, Iran is a pretty bad one, and much religious persecution has occurred there since. It’s probably worse than anything Dwight puts up with.
  • Why he’s speaking out Wilson, in a commentary piece he wrote for CNN, is bringing light to the religion in part because of a group of seven prisoners being held in Iran on a variety of charges he says lack evidence – just the latest to be persecuted by Iran. Learn more about the seven here. source