News items from the past week include the Christian Right turning on Senator Frist for his stem-cell research views, a public school that tried to promote religious art, questions about the nature of humanity, Christians honestly expressing what they think of Judaism and Jews, questions about why a Christian law firm would defend the allegedly secular notion of Intelligent Design, and more.

Anger and Christianity
Although the concept of 'seven deadly sins' no longer holds the same authority as it once did, the degree to which many of them have come to be viewed positively is remarkable. Even anger, one of the few which Jesus is recorded as specifically speaking out against, is treated as having positive value by Christians today.

Non-Religious Intelligent Design Defended by Christian Lawye
The Dover Area School District is defending in court its decision to include Intelligent Design theology in its classes. The school absolutely insists that Intelligent Design is not even religious, much less favoritism towards one religion. Why, then, are they being defended by a law firm the specializes in defending Christians' rights?

Jews are Doomed to Hell
Arrogant, superior attitudes towards Jews still exist among Christians. In the past, these attitudes fueled anti-Semitism; if Christians continue to be anti-Semitic, they aren't willing to acknowledge it anymore. Ryan Church, an outfielder with the Washington Nationals, had to apologize for indicating that Jews are headed for eternal damnation.

Violence as a Means for Achieving Justice
Does it ever work?

Frist & Stem-Cell Research
Christian Right Turns on Their Own

Should Sunday be Sacred?
Not by law...

Anglican Bishops Criticize American Evangelicals
No reactions yet, though

Religious Art Removed from School
There was simply no defense

Political, Extremist Order of Priests
Formed in Texas

What Is Humanity?
A difficult question

 

Book Reviews:

1) The Yellow Cross: Story of the Last Cathars' Rebellion
During the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church worked vigorously to suppress any challenges to its authority, both inside and outside Europe. One of the victims of those efforts was Catharism, an offshoot of Christianity which preached a doctrine of peace and love. Differing from orthodox Christianity on a number of important points, they were targeted by the Inquisition for elimination.

2) The Vanquished Gods: Science, Religion and the Nature of Belief
For Tertullian, writing in the early 3rd century, the question was "What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?" The implied answer was that Athens and Jerusalem had nothing relevant in common, and therefore that the dominant philosophies of Greek culture had no interest or application for Christian faith. The same question, and mirror answer, occupy a book by Richard H. Schlagel.

3) Give Me That Online Religion
Religion is developing an increasing presence online, there is no question about that. But what does this development mean for religion and for the online world? That question isn't so easy to answer, but Barbara Brasher does explore the matter and attempts to give us an ideas of where the answer might lie.