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In the News...
Updated daily: Monday to Friday
Friday, February 10th, 2012Are Church Confessions Safe? Court To Hear Arguments
In a case that could set national precedent, the three-judge Michigan Court of Appeals panel plans to hear arguments Thursday about whether a pastor’s testimony related to a possible confession in a child sexual assault case may be used in court.
Rick Warren, others, credit Anabaptists
Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., and author of "The Purpose Driven Life," says that the 16th-century Anabaptists shaped his Purpose Driven model for the church.
Public backs right of parents to spank
The British public overwhelmingly backs calls to scrap curbs on smacking, a new survey has revealed.
Air Force Removes ‘God’ From Logo
A Virginia lawmaker is calling on the Air Force to reverse a decision to remove a Latin reference to “God” from a logo after an atheist group complained.
Thursday, February 9th, 2012Churches go less formal to make people comfortable
Comfortable is a theme that's becoming common among churches taking advantage of new, non-traditional spaces. Across the country, churches are springing up in unexpected locations — movie theaters, skating rinks, strip malls and old warehouses, among others — in an effort to welcome people who may not feel comfortable in more traditional settings.
Planned Parenthood: ‘A disgrace’
Susan G. Komen for the Cure senior vice president Karen Handel resigned her position Tuesday morning and told the press in the afternoon that her breast cancer charity had politely told Planned Parenthood in December that it would not entertain further grant requests from the abortion giant. This notification, Handel said, gave Planned Parenthood time to unroll a “pre-meditated” campaign last week “that was nothing short of a shakedown to coerce a private entity to give them grants.”
Christian Group Banned From Advertising God Can Heal
Faith healing comes with a fair share of controversy. For some non-believers, the notion that a higher power would intervene to heal the afflicted it patently absurd. For some believers, even, the practice seems somewhat above and beyond the earthly realm of possibility.
Shari’a Court Orders 3 Christian Pastors and Catholic Missionary Out of India's Kashmir
A “shari’a court” in Srinagar, capital of India’s Jammu and Kashmir state, has issued a decree expelling four pastors from the territory, after accusing them of using financial inducements to convert young Muslims to Christianity.
Prop. 8 overturned in California, court says state can’t ban gay marriage
The 9th Circuit Court in California struck down as unconstitutional the state's voter-passed ban on gay marriage Tuesday, ruling 2-1 that it violates the rights of gay Californians.
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012Ian Paisley taken to hospital after suffering respiratory problems
Former Northern Ireland first minister Ian Paisley is in intensive care in hospital after suffering respiratory problems. The family of the 85-year-old founder of the Democratic Unionist party, now officially known as Lord Bannside, confirmed that he was being treated in Ulster hospital on the outskirts of east Belfast.
Christians' new option: Fight fire with fire
A long-fought battle at Hastings College in California ended up with the Supreme Court allowing enforcement of a requirement that campus organizations let all comers be members – and even run for office – no matter what they believe.
Catholic League Poised To Go To War With Obama Over Mandatory Birth Control Payments
Catholic leaders upped the ante Monday, threatening to challenge the Obama administration over a provision of the new health care law that would require all employers, including religious institutions, to pay for birth control.
Newsweek: The War On Christians
We hear so often about Muslims as victims of abuse in the West and combatants in the Arab Spring’s fight against tyranny. But, in fact, a wholly different kind of war is underway—an unrecognized battle costing thousands of lives. Christians are being killed in the Islamic world because of their religion. It is a rising genocide that ought to provoke global alarm.
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012Columnist: Planned Parenthood, Contraception Mandate Illustrate Anti-Choice Liberalism
Conservative columnist George Will argued Sunday on ABC's "This Week" that the Obama administration's contraception mandate and Planned Parenthood's outrage over the withdrawal of funding by cancer charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure suggest pro-choice liberals oppose choice.
Woman reads Bible to man before he slashes her throat
A woman read the Bible for more than an hour to a man holding a knife to her throat, according to police in Shelby.
Monday, February 6th, 2012Marrying a Nonbeliever Won't Work, Says Prominent Pastor's Wife
Christians should not marry nonbelievers. It just won't work, says Kathy Keller, wife of well-known pastor Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
Pelosi Vows to Stand With Obama Against Catholic Church; Says Decision Forcing Catholics to Act Against Faith Was ‘Very Courageous’
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.) vowed today that she will join with the Obama administration in standing up against the Catholic Church in defending a new regulation that will require Catholic individuals to buy, and Catholic institutions to provide, health insurance plans that cover sterilizations and artificial contraceptives, including those that induce abortions.
Military Now Telling Chaplains What They Can and Can't Say About Obama Administration
The emerging conflict between the Catholic Church and the Obama administration may have a new front: in the U.S. military itself.
US study: divorce never good for children
Children always suffer from divorce, and the idea of a ‘good divorce’ is just wishful thinking, according to new research from the US.
National Atheist Ad Campaign Targets Black Community
Atheist organizations from around the country have taken to billboard advertising to promote their views and their organizations over the last few months, but a new campaign by one atheist organization is focusing on reaching one group of people in particular: African-Americans.
Obama: Jesus would back my tax-the-rich policy
President Obama offered a new line of reasoning for hiking taxes on the rich on Thursday, saying at the National Prayer Breakfast that his policy proposals are shaped by his religious beliefs.
Friday, February 3rd, 2012Monogamous societies are safer, reveals study
Societies where monogamy is the norm are safer than polygamous ones, new research has revealed. Researchers at the University of British Columbia found that polygamous cultures have higher levels of robbery, rape, kidnapping, fraud and murder.
Christian Photographer Won't Compromise Faith If Gay Marriage Legalized
Washington appears poised to become the seventh state in the nation to allow gay marriage. Backers say they have the votes in the legislature. The law would exempt churches that oppose same-sex marriage. But not wedding-related businesses.
Crystal Cathedral Congregation Fails in Last-Minute Attempt to Keep Church Building
Some congregation members of the Crystal Cathedral Ministries have failed in their last-minute attempt to keep the signature Garden Grove, Calif., property by claiming a 99-year lease, as the Santa Ana bankruptcy court ordered Monday to proceed with the sale to a Catholic Diocese.
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012Why Churches Should Resurrect Sunday Evening Services
Kevin DeYoung, senior pastor at University Reformed Church, recently revealed a few reasons why congregants should consider "keeping ... going to ... or even starting" an evening service at the church on The Gospel Coalition website.
Urban Parents turn to homeschooling
In the beginning, your kids need you—a lot. They’re attached to your hip, all the time. It might be a month. It might be five years. Then suddenly you are expected to send them off to school for seven hours a day, where they’ll have to cope with life in ways they never had to before. You no longer control what they learn, or how, or with whom.
A pyrrhic victory?
At issue is ownership of seven Virginia churches, including two prominent, historic congregations that trace their roots to George Washington: Truro Church in Fairfax and The Falls Church, for which the city of Falls Church is named. But it is not clear that the denomination, on the verge of finally winning the battle that began in 2006, has either the members or the money to keep operating the churches themselves.
Tattoos: Marks of Christ or of culture?
The popularity of tattoos among young Christians raises questions about the message they really send and who they're really for. Tattoos have long been taboo in the Christian community, but many young believers now choose to get inked as an outward symbol of their faith. Unlike previous generations, which saw the permanent marks as a violation of Scripture, as well a sign of youth rebellion or gang activity, today's young adults consider tattoos a cultural norm. Some even think of their artwork as a witnessing tool, although critics question the real motivation behind the practice.
Catholics blast federal birth control mandate
From Maine to Phoenix to southern Louisiana, Catholic churches across the USA this weekend echoed with scorn for a new federal rule requiring faith-based employers to include birth control and other reproductive services in their health care coverage.
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012UN Textbooks for Palestinian Children ‘Explosively Anti-Semitic, Anti-American and Anti-Israeli'
The textbooks used to educate Palestinian children who live in refugee camps came under fire at a briefing on Wednesday on Capitol Hill where experts said lessons of intolerance and hatred toward Jews and Israel fill the books’ pages.
Thousands Join Brooklyn Bridge March to Protest Ban on Churches Renting Schools
Some 3,500 people marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall Park Sunday in protest of the ban on churches renting New York City's public schools on the weekends.
New Bible yanks 'Father,' Jesus as 'Son of God'
We’ve seen the “In da beginnin’ Big Daddy created da heaven an’ da earth” Ebonics Bible, as well as the “Apostle’s Log” Star Trek English paraphrase Bible. In a more serious effort, the New Oxford Annotated Bible was created in part by pro-”gay” and feminist scholars in order to set forth a more “gay” revisionist interpretation of Scripture.
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012Islamic parents found guilty of murdering daughters
KINGSTON, Ontario - A jury on Sunday found an Afghan father, his wife and their son guilty of killing three teenage sisters and a co-wife in what the judge described as "cold-blooded, shameful murders" resulting from a "twisted concept of honor."
People have less integrity and it is harming society
British people have significantly less integrity than ten years ago, and it risks harming civic mindedness, new research claims.
Monday, January 30th, 2012Bible Preaching Banned on Bourbon Street at Night
When the New Orleans City Council passed an ordinance in October prohibiting "aggressive solicitation" by people who allegedly harass or intimidate French Quarter residents and tourists while asking for money, it included a seemingly unrelated provision that attracted no attention at the time.
Court: 'Tolerance is a two-way street'
The Sixth Circuit has ruled in favor of Christian graduate student Julea Ward, who almost three years ago was expelled from a university counseling program for her religious beliefs.
Thousands of parents illegally home schooling 
As a new school year begins, more than 50,000 Australian children will be home-schooled and in most cases, their parents are doing it illegally. It is compulsory to send children between the ages of six and 16 to school, or register them for home schooling, but more parents are opting out of the traditional school system and keeping their children at home.
Wis. Student 'Censored, Punished' by School for Gay Adoption Beliefs
A 15-year-old Wisconsin student has been "censored and punished" for expressing his Christian beliefs – supporting the biblical family view – in a school newspaper op-ed article about homosexuality and same-sex parent adoption.
International backlash begins against Obama’s LGBT agenda
NEW YORK, January 20 (C-FAM) - The citizens of several countries are pushing back against President Obama’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender foreign policy imperative. Leaders in El Salvador launched a website on “Obama’s Corrupting Foreign Policy” and are asking the U.S. Senate to reject Obama’s nominee for ambassador to their country.
Friday, January 27th, 2012Homeschoolers React to Obama's Education Demand
Tuesday night in his State of the Union address President Obama called on all states to raise their school compulsory attendance age to 18, a move that stirred verbal backlash from homeschoolers.
Atheist Billboard: God is an Imaginary Friend
As a Colorado atheist group purchases space for three billboards in major cities in Colorado, one Christian research fellow refers to their efforts as "bad manners."
Alaska Airlines to stop handing out prayer cards to passengers
Alaska Airlines' prayer cards always offended Gordon Bowker, not because the Seattle businessman cared what religion they represented, but because they suggested in-flight prayer was a good idea.
Life Sentence For Spanking?
If Senate Bill 2180 passes the Mississippi Legislature, a parent would be in jeopardy of receiving a life sentence in prison for spanking a child. Sponsored by Senator Brice Wiggins (District 52-Jackson), this legislation would make it a felony to “whip, strike or otherwise abuse any child,” thereby causing “bodily harm” to the child. “Reasonable discipline” would be an exception to this offense. The minimum penalty upon conviction of this crime would be 10 years in prison. The maximum penalty would be life in prison.
Creation evangelist appeals conviction after 5 years
After five years in a federal penitentiary, the mission of the popular Florida-based creation-science lecturer and theme-park creator known as Dr. Dino remains the same: Win people to faith in Jesus Christ and get out of prison.
Kuwait: The prince's mysterious conversion to Christianity?
According to reports, a Kuwaiti royal prince has become a follower of Jesus Christ. In an audio file posted with his name, he affirms that if he is killed because of a recording he made where he talks about his conversion, he firmly believes that he will meet Jesus Christ face-to-face. The news comes from Middle Eastern sources which state that al-Haqiqa – a Christian satellite TV channel in Arabic that transmits Christian religious programmes – broadcast an audio file attributed to the Kuwaiti prince, identified as Abdullah al-Sabah. The al-Sabahs are the royal family of Kuwait, a country rich in oil. The name Abdullah (servant of God) frequently appears in the Emir’s family tree.
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012Tens of Thousands Join West Coast Pro-Life March in San Francisco
More than 40,000 pro-life activists and supporters participated in the eighth annual Walk for Life West Coast event in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday to celebrate life and proclaim, "Women deserve better than abortion!"
Nigeria violence: Scores dead
Co-ordinated attacks by Islamist militants in the northern Nigerian city of Kano on Friday killed about 150 people, witnesses and reports say.
Mommy Tattoos Gaining Popularity
Many women are choosing tattoos as a way to celebrate their children, both publicly and privately. The trend has grown even more popular in recent years with celebrity moms like Angelina Jolie, Nicole Richie and Jessica Alba showing others tattoos and the love for their kids are nothing to hide.
Anti-casino legislative prayer gets attention
When pastor and seminary professor Hershael York took the podium to offer a prayer prior to the Kentucky governor's address to state legislators, senators and representatives likely didn't expect to hear an appeal to God to defeat one of the governor's chief legislative proposals. But they did.
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012Private clinics allowed to advertise abortions on television
The decision last night attracted criticism from pro-life campaigners, who said it risked trivialising terminations by putting them on the same footing as consumer choices such as different brands of car or detergent.
Government plans for three-parent babies
Babies with three genetic parents could be born within a few years, as the Government this week announced plans for a consultation on changing embryology rules.
Christians in Uganda demand protection from Muslim extremists
A Pentecostal preacher who has converted thousands of Muslims to Christianity was disfigured when men shouting “God is great” in Arabic threw acid in his face in a Christmas Eve attack that has stoked religious tensions here.
Disaffected Presbyterians Announce New Evangelical Body
Calling it the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians, the group presented the body not as an "alternative" but rather as a structure that "enables ministry," Layman.org quoted Dr. John Ortberg, pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, as saying.
Obama: Free Birth Control For All
Most healthcare plans will be required to cover birth control without charging co-pays or deductibles starting Aug. 1, the Obama administration announced Friday.
College Tries to Charge Student for Sharing Faith
All Ryan Arneson wanted to do was peacefully share his faith on campus. He hoped to hand out literature and speak with willing passers-by—just like he had been doing for the previous two years without incident.
Friday, January 20th, 2012Citizens sue to stop 'Lord's Prayer' Recitation
Intense debate over the presence of prayers in the public square — especially Christian ones — is nothing new. In recent weeks, we‘ve covered a teen atheist’s successful campaign to ban a prayer mural in a Rhode Island public high school. Now, there’s another battle brewing in Wilmington, Delaware, over recitation of the Lord’s Prayer at public meetings.
Planned Parenthood takes credit for helping ‘shape’ Obamacare
In a recently released report, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) claimed credit for helping to “shape” the Affordable Care Act signed by President Obama this past March.
Thursday, January 19th, 2012Ugandan Girl Tortured for Christ Regaining Use of Legs
A 15-year-old Christian girl in western Uganda who lost the use of her legs after her father locked her in a room for six months for leaving Islam has begun to take tentative steps.
US Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Prayer Case
A dispute over prayer in the name of Jesus has traveled all the way to US Supreme Court, but the nation’s most authoritative judges have decided not to get involved.
Coptic Christian Priest Prefers Martyrdom to Slave Tax in Egypt
After the sweeping political victories Islamists made in the early round of elections in Egypt, the Deputy Patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church Yohanna Qulta was interviewed on Arab television concerning the looming threat that Egypt's Christian communities will face in an Islamist society. The interview gives us unusual insight into the mind and heart of our Coptic brothers and sisters.
Karnataka Most Dangerous State in India for Christians
Attacks on Christians accelerated over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays in the south Indian state of Karnataka, which was identified as the most unsafe place for the religious minority for the third consecutive year in 2011.
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012Billy Graham Remembers Martin Luther King, Jr.
On Monday, Jan. 16, when the world stops to remember a civil-rights figure who fought for social and political change, Billy Graham will be remembering a man he counted as a friend.
Joel Osteen: Mitt Romney Is a 'Believer in Christ Like Me'
Joel Osteen, pastor of America's fastest growing megachurch, has reiterated his opinion that GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is a “believer in Christ like me” and that the former Massachusetts governor's confession of Jesus as the Son of God is “enough” for him.
MI5 named a top employer for gays
Britain’s Security Service, MI5, has been included in a lobby group’s top 100 employers for homosexuals for the first time.
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012Impact of Obama’s ‘gay’ campaign still to hit
Barack Obama may have pushed through the legislation that opened the U.S. military for open homosexuality to pay off a campaign promise to his constituents, but it will be the president during the next term who will have to deal with the ramifications, according to officials with the Center for Military Readiness.
'Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus' video logs 10 million hits in 4 days
It’s the poem about Jesus versus “religion” that’s lighting up the blogosphere at a dizzying pace.
High school newspaper column sparks controversy
A gay couple with school-age children is outraged over a column in a local high school newspaper that cites Bible passages and calls homosexuality a sin punishable by death.
Barbour Says Pardons Were Based on Christian Call for Forgiveness
Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour responded to criticism over his decision to grant clemency to 215 people, saying as an evangelical Christian he believes in forgiveness and the power of a second chance.
S&P downgrades France and Austria
The eurozone debt crisis returned with a vengeance on Friday as Standard & Poor’s, the credit rating agency, downgraded France and Austria – two of the currency zone’s six triple A rated countries – as well as seven nations not in that top tier, among them Italy and Spain.
Monday, January 16th, 2012Judge: Following Christian beliefs wrong
A ministry that follows the dictates of its faith is engaging in wrongdoing, according to a New Jersey judge who recommended today that the state Division on Civil Rights find the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association violated the state’s nondiscrimination law.
43 arrested while protesting NYC church ban
Police arrested 43 New York City pastors and lay people on Jan. 12 who were protesting the city's ban on church use of public schools for worship services. The ban is scheduled to go into effect Feb. 12.
Sons from traditional families do better at school
Boys with a mother and father behave and perform better in classes than sons with single mothers, according to research.
43% say Tim Tebow is winning via Divine Intervention
A lot of jokes have been made about Tim Tebow getting help from up above, but apparently many people believe that's actually the case.
Delaware lawsuit delves into Lord's Prayer
A hearing Wednesday in a lawsuit aimed at stopping the Sussex County Council from reciting the Lord's Prayer before each meeting delved into the theological meaning and history of the prayer's title and whether it is explicitly a Christian prayer.
Friday, January 13th, 2012Church’s authority ‘alone’
In one of the clearest rulings for religious freedom in years, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously decided that courts may not intervene in church hiring decisions, protecting the “ministerial exception” that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sought to eliminate in Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC.
National “Sexuality Standards” vs. Parental Rights?
The Associated Press is running a story in nationwide news outlets promoting the advent of “national sexuality education standards.”
Texas Megachurch Quits Using NIV Over 'Accuracy Concerns'
The leader of a large Baptist church in Texas has announced that his congregation will no longer be using the NIV due to “accuracy concerns.”
Court: Okla. ban on Islamic law unconstitutional
An amendment that would ban Oklahoma courts from considering international or Islamic law discriminates against religions and a Muslim community leader has the right to challenge its constitutionality, a federal appeals court said Tuesday.
Poll: Pastors oppose evolution, split on earth’s age
Pastors overwhelmingly believe that God did not use evolution to create humans and think Adam and Eve were literal people, according to a recent survey by LifeWay Research.
'Sexperiment:' Pastor, Wife to Spend 24 Hours in Bed on Church Roof
Ed and Lisa Young, founders of Texas-based Fellowship Church, will spend 24 hours in bed on the church roof next week and stream themselves discussing sex live on the Internet to encourage married couples to see firsthand the power of a healthy sex life as prescribed in their new book, Sexperiment.
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012Justin Bieber talks to God, doesn't need church
Justin Bieber talks directly to God. The 17-year-old pop superstar is a Christian and believes there is a higher power guiding everyone's lives, but he doesn't go to church to affirm his faith and instead focuses on praying to God in private.
What the U.S. Census says about homeschool families
Three percent of American students -- about 1.5 million children -- are homeschooled, according to the 2012 Statistical Abstract recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Study: Younger Christians Care Less About Church
The Barna Group has released a study of what American Christians experience in their hearts and minds during their time in church, revealing the gaps in experiences regarding denomination and age.
'Oprah's Next Chapter': Pastor Joel Osteen Talks Homosexuality And Degrees Of Sin
Pastor Joel Osteen reaches millions through his sermons, and he tries to preach in a more positive way than some of his notable contemporaries. But because he doesn't focus on sin in his sermons doesn't mean that he doesn't believe in it. He clarified his stance on sin and homosexuality on "Oprah's Next Chapter."
New sex education standards: Teach Homosex to 5th Graders
Young elementary school students should use the proper names for body parts and, by the end of fifth grade, know that sexual orientation is “the romantic attraction of an individual to someone of the same gender or a different gender,” according to new sexual education guidelines released Monday by a coalition of health and education groups.
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012Persecuted Christians: What Happens to the Children?
Christians now wonder what happens to the children of persecuted parents, who, with their past experiences, are sure to carry the word of Jesus Christ with strength and conviction.
Pat Robertson Says God Showed Him Who the Next President Will Be
Christian conservative leader Pat Robertson says he has a secret straight from God: He knows who the next president of the United States will be.
Latest NIV Bible Translation Clearer on Homosexual Sins, Says Theologian
The latest version of the popular NIV Bible translation has had its verses on homosexuality reworded, making them clearer in denouncing the practice, a theologian who helped with the translation says.
Atheists form new political party
How viable is a political party with the word "atheist" in its name? Troy Boyle, a corporate legal representative for a finance company, thinks very viable. Last March, he and a friend founded the National Atheist Party, which they believe to be the first American political party organized on the belief that God does not exist.
Bible becomes 2011 bestseller in Norway
The first Norwegian translation of the Bible for 30 years topped the country's book charts almost every week between its publication in October and the end of the year, selling almost 80,000 copies so far and hugely exceeding expectations. Its launch in the autumn saw Harry Potter-style overnight queues, with bookshops selling out on the first day as Norwegians rushed to get their hands on the new edition.
Monday, January 9th, 2012Latinos expanding their religious horizons
While the Catholic church is still the principal religion for Latinos, a growing number are bucking tradition and moving toward evangelism -- particularly among the younger generation.
Muslims global leaders in persecuting Christians
Nine of the 10 worst nations for persecution of Christians are run essentially under Islamic law, and the “Arab Spring” across parts of northern African has led to a surge of repression, according to the new Open Doors “World Watch” list.
Bible Will 'Defend Itself' Against Pagan Books, Says NC Pastor
Less than a month after a North Carolina Pagan woman caused a stir because her son's middle school allowed him to take a Bible from the school's office, some area pastors are speaking out, saying that if it was the other way around, and their children could get books about Paganism from the school, they wouldn't mind.
Claim: Giant Foot Print 200 Million Yrs Old
Michael Tellinger shows off what could One of the best pieces of evidence that there were giants on Earth a long, long time ago. Geologists have marvelled at this giant foot print in rough granite, about 4 feet long. It is located in South Africa, near the town of Mpaluzi, close to the Swaziland border. It is estimated to be between 200 million and 3 Billion years old because of our current understanding of the formation of granites in Earth's history.
The Jesus of Siberia
Brooklyn, New York (VICE) -- In the middle of Siberia's Taiga forest, east of Abakan and down an unmarked dirt road stretching across the Kuraginsk district of Krasnoyarsk territory, there is a place where many have found salvation. It is known as Petropavlovka, the home of the Church of the Last Testament, which has attracted at least 5,000 followers since its establishment in 1990. Last summer, after years of unanswered emails to the church's press department, I was finally invited to visit.
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012Lao Officials Force Christians to Recant for Burial
Officials this week forced Christians in a Lao village to give up their faith in order to bury a family member in the village graveyard, according to advocacy group Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF).
Child sacrificed, liver offered to gods: Indian police
A seven-year-old Indian girl was murdered in a tribal sacrifice and her liver offered to the gods to improve crop growth, police in the central state of Chhattisgarh said on Sunday.
Planned Parenthood tops $1 billion in assets
The nation’s largest abortion provider topped $1 billion in total net assets in 2009-2010, its first time reaching that mark, according to Planned Parenthood’s latest annual report.
Fox TV poll on Facebook: Do you think the Jews killed Jesus?
Fox Latin America has apologized for a poll on whether Jews killed Jesus Christ that one of its staffers put on a Facebook page promoting the National Geographic Channel's Christmas special.
After 400 years, is technology rendering KJV redundant?
More than four centuries ago, the invention of the printing press revolutionized the written word and made it possible for the then-brand new King James Version of the Bible to become the most widely-distributed book on the planet and the definitive translation of the scriptures.
Friday, December 30th, 2011Hundreds more Church of England defections expected
At least 20 clergy and several hundred of their parishioners are already lined up to join the Ordinariate, the new structure set up by the Pope a year ago that allows them to remain some of their Anglican heritage while entering into full communion with the Holy See.
Sexting: Youth Pastors Deal With New Challenge
A survey conducted by The Pew Internet and American Life Project in 2009 including only minors (age 12-17) said 4 percent of mobile phone-owning teens say they have sent sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images or videos of themselves to someone else via text message, and 15 percent have received such messages.
Battling Anew Over the Place of Religion in Public Schools
It has been nearly 50 years since the Supreme Court ruled that officially sponsored prayer in public schools violated the separation of church and state.
Mormon Romney struggles to win over Christians
He's had one marriage, five kids, no hint of personal or financial scandal, a position of responsibility in his church, and he doesn't drink, smoke or chew. By some standards, Republican Mitt Romney, a Mormon, and Christian conservative voters in Iowa are right on the same page.
Thursday, December 29th, 2011Poll: Churchgoers as digitally engaged as U.S.
American churchgoers are just as likely to use Twitter, Facebook and the Internet as non-churchgoers, according to a new study that shows the impact that technology can have on spreading a church's message.
Following Our Father
For Walt, a ninth-grade earth science teacher and high school track coach, one of the great joys of a few hours in a quiet stretch of woods was the blessing of unfettered thinking. His true calling was sharing his Christian beliefs. In a given year, he might guest-preach at dozens of small Allegheny Plateau congregations. He talked to nearly everyone he met about his faith: the kids on his track team, a lady in the grocery store, a man picking blueberries on a mountain roadside. Tomorrow morning, Walt would speak from the pulpit of Calvary Bible Church in nearby Ellerslie, Md.
Christian numbers in S.D. take a tumble
How many South Dakotans celebrated Christmas on Sunday? Probably not as many as you think, and certainly fewer than a generation ago.
Messianic Church Growth Mirrors Rise of Charismatic Movement
Messianic congregations are on the rise in the United States and Canada.
Web gambling gets boost from Obama administration
The Obama administration cleared the way for U.S. states to legalize Internet poker and certain other online betting in a switch that may help them reap billions in tax revenue and spur web-based gambling.
Tuesday, December 27th, 2011African Warlord Who Killed 20,000 People Repents; Now Christian Evangelist
It’s a story of transformation that has surprised thousands and shocked all who have heard: a brutal African warlord with a violent past finds Christ and dramatically turns his life around.
Pope ushers in Christmas, decries commercialization
Pope Benedict ushered in Christmas for the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics on Saturday, urging humanity to see through the superficial glitter and commercialism of the season and rediscover the real significance of the humble birth of Jesus.
Christians Fleeing Iraq After 14 Car Bombs Kill 63
A series of strategically-planned car bombs claimed the lives of 63 people in Baghdad, leaving many wondering about the security of the nation. With American troops now out of Iraq, many fear sectarian violence could erupt into civil war.
Monday, December 26th, 2011Security forces jail dozens attending prayer meeting
Saudi Arabian security forces have arrested and detained 35 members of an Ethiopian Christian prayer group in the western city of Jeddah, according to ministries that monitor religious persecution in the restricted Islamic nation.
Should churches close on Sunday for Christmas?
Because Christmas falls on Sunday this year, some churches are opting to close that day so that families can spend the morning together at home. Among the nation's top 20 largest Protestant churches — as ranked by Outreach Magazine — three will be closed on Christmas, and 10 will be having only one service, The Tennessean reports.
Pat Robertson Criticized for Suggesting Homosexuals Can Change
Pat Robertson, often criticized for his sometimes controversial viewpoints and seemingly off-the-cuff comments, has ruffled more feathers with his suggestion to a Christian father that his son was not born gay and could be free of homosexuality.
Friday, December 23rd, 2011Obscuring the meaning of ‘pro-life’
Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin (both D-Mich.) had 100 percent pro-abortion voting records in the 110th Congress (2007-08), but if the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) has its way, pro-life voters will think they’re pro-life.
Pro-Gay Religious Groups Pit Scriptures in Fight for Marriage
Faith leaders and lay people from numerous denominations and religions will convene next month at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Baltimore conference to “strategize on how to bring more faith allies into the LGBT movement and how best to counter religious-based bigotry.”
2 women share 1st kiss at US Navy ship's return
A Navy tradition caught up with the repeal of the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule on Wednesday when two women sailors became the first to share the coveted "first kiss" on the dock after one of them returned from 80 days at sea.
Gay couple sue Hawaii B&B, claim discrimination
Two Southern California women filed a lawsuit Monday against a Hawaii bed and breakfast, saying the business denied them a room because they are gay.
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011Turin Shroud is Christ's authentic burial robe?
Italian scientists have conducted a series of advanced experiments which, they claim, show that the marks on the shroud – purportedly left by the imprint of Christ's body – could not possibly have been faked with technology that was available in the medieval period.
Why young evangelicals are leaving church
Republican conservatives should be worried. Evangelical churches that frequently support conservative candidates are finally admitting something the rest of us have known for some time: Their young adult members are abandoning church in significant numbers and taking their voting power with them.
Christianity grows exponentially in Africa
Billed as the most comprehensive and reliable study to date, the Pew Research Center's "Global Christianity" reports on self-identified Christian populations based on more than 2,400 sources of information, especially census and survey data.
Wednesday, December 21st, 2011Native American is proclaimed Catholic saint
The Vatican on Monday announced a 17th-century Mohawk-Algonquin woman will be canonized as a Catholic saint, the first Native American from North America so proclaimed.
Barack Obama preps pitch to gay voters
“I think they’re doing incredibly well. I think they’re been putting out a lot of strong proposals to move equality forward,” Brian Moulton, chief legal counsel for the advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, said of the White House.
U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Pays Homage to Obama—But Not Jesus
The 63-foot Sierra White Fir lighted at the U.S. Capitol Grounds on Dec. 6 as the official 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree includes a prominently displayed ornament paying homage to President Barack Obama, but includes no ornament readily visible to a person standing near the tree's base that uses the word “Christmas,” or includes an image of the Nativity, or bears the name or image of Jesus Christ.
The Bible played a role on the Civil War’s battlefields
Civil War soldiers were said to carry few personal belongings. Of those, the Bible, a journal and playing cards were usually the most popular. There were some stories that soldiers, at the time of battle, would toss their playing cards. While the Bible served as a good luck token, the soldiers didn’t want to meet their maker with gambling paraphernalia in their pockets.During the Civil War, there was a religious awakening among soldiers and citizens alike. While the North used the Bible as a means to rid the nation of slavery, the South found passages defending the 'peculiar institution.' In his second inaugural address in 1865, President Abraham Lincoln spoke of this oddity.
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011R. C. Sproul Jr's wife (Denise Sproul) passes away
This morning we received news that Denise had passed into eternity and was in the presence of her Creator and Savior. Perhaps you received the same news.
Islamic World Tells Clinton: Defamation of Islam Must be Prevented– in America
As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomes Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu to Washington this week, it is critical that Americans pay attention to what these two leaders intend to do. From 12 to 14 December 2011, working teams from the Department of State (DoS) and the OIC are going to discuss implementation mechanisms that could impose limits on freedom of speech and expression.
‘60 Minutes’ Edits Out Obama‘s Claim That He’s the Fourth Best President
President Barack Obama sat for an extensive interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes” last week, though it appears the portion of the interview actually broadcast on TV left out a statement where Obama essentially declared himself the fourth best president in terms of his accomplishments.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il dead at age 69
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- Kim Jong Il, North Korea's mercurial and enigmatic longtime leader, has died of heart failure. He was 69.
Monday, December 19th, 2011Ian Paisley to deliver final sermon
Former moderator and founder of the Free Presbyterian Church Ian Paisley has spoken to UTV ahead of his final sermon as a senior minister, which he will deliver this weekend.
David Cameron: the Church must shape our values
In a landmark speech on religion, the Prime Minister said that the country had been "unwilling" to "distinguish right from wrong", but warned "moral neutrality is not going to cut it any more".
Algeria Stalls Appeal of Convicted Christian
A judge’s decision this month to indefinitely postpone the appeal of a Christian sentenced under Algeria’s defamation and anti-proselytizing laws shows how the judicial system keeps Christians locked up without officially punishing or acquitting them, according to sources.
Alternative Nativity Scene Set Up At Capitol
An atheists' group, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, has set up an alternative Nativity scene in the Capitol Rotunda.
Christopher Hitchens dies at age 62
British-American writer Christopher Hitchens— the combative and caustic critic, intellectual, atheist and self-defined "conservative Marxist" — died Thursday at the age of 62 at a Texas hospital.
Unequally yoked
Occupy Wall Street is not yet over, and it's not a religious movement, though some would like it to be.
Thursday, December 15th, 2011Air Force Academy dogged by anti-Christian pressure
Recent actions by the U.S. Air Force Academy could appear as if commanders are on a mission to rid the institution of Christian influence, but a nearby pastor says the actions are the result of intense pressure from one man.
Santorum issues call to confront ‘cancer’ of radical Islam
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum said Monday he doesn’t claim that all Muslims are radicals, and he believes that those who suffer the most from radical Islam are Muslims who suffer from persecution, such as people in Iran.
Islamists' vision for sin-free tourism in Egypt
Islamists are dominating Egypt's elections and some of them have a new message for tourists: welcome, but no booze, bikinis or mixed bathing at beaches, please.
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011First Hindu chaplain in US military is 'groundbreaking'
Captain Pratima Dharm has been appointed as the US military's first Hindu chaplain.
Euthanasia at home under Dutch plans for mobile medics
Mobile medical teams that can euthanise people in their own homes are being considered by the Dutch government. The teams of doctors and nurses would be sent out from a clinic following a referral from the patient's doctor.
Lords set to vote on civil partnerships in churches
Churches are not adequately protected by new regulations that allow civil partnerships to be registered on religious premises, Parliamentarians say.
Study: Atheists distrusted as much as rapists
A new study finds that atheists are among society's most distrusted group, comparable even to rapists in certain circumstances.
Study Reveals Internet Evangelism Is Effective
Online evangelism is producing real disciples for Christ, according to a recent study. Over half of those who made a decision for Jesus over the Internet have subsequently shared their faith with others, Global Media Outreach's study reveals. Additionally, 34 percent read their Bibles daily and nearly half pray for at least 10 minutes a day.
Monday, December 12th, 2011Archbishop: Jesus would be siding with Occupy movement
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams says Jesus would have joined protesters from the anti-corporate Occupy movement who have been camped outside London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral for more than seven weeks.
New license plate for Texas: ‘One State Under God’
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has approved a new license plate for the state’s drivers with the slogan, “One State Under God” which has renewed controversy over specialty plates, but supporters say the new plate will fund youth ministry.
Hillary Clinton: Religious objections to homosexuality like supporting honor killings, widow burning
In a speech designed to convince the world that “gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said religious objections to homosexuality should not stand in the way of vigorous United Nations action to promote the homosexual rights agenda.
Should Christians attend public schools?
That’s the question tackled by documentary producer Colin Gunn in his new film, IndoctriNation: Public Schools and the Decline of Christianity in America (see the trailer below).
Christian Civilians in Burma Face Deadly Attacks
As U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Burma’s capital, Naypyidaw, last week in a show of support for authorities’ ostensible reforms and to discuss minority rights, government troops killed civilians and burned houses in a Christian-majority state about 450 miles away.
Will True Christian Churches Be Forced Underground in America?
Will the real Christian churches please stand up? Or, er, should they rather go underground? In order to stay true to their belief and to God, one conservative Christian commentator is convinced that the “real” Christian church in America is going to be forced to do as the early Christians did—go underground.
Friday, December 9th, 2011Clinton Says Obama Wants Gay Rights Over Religious Freedom in Key Speech
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday put the Obama administration clearly on the opposite side of Christians seeking religious freedom in the debate over human sexuality, prompting praise from gay rights activists and criticism from GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry.
Illinois Bed and Breakfast Answers Gay Discrimination Claims
A central Illinois bed and breakfast is fighting for the right not to host “civil unions” at its facilities. TimberCreek Bed and Breakfast has responded to complaints filed against it with the state’s Human Rights Commission.
Don't mock Tim Tebow
Tebow is a good man and a good football player. He's a man of character, faith and integrity. He's also a Heisman Trophy winner, a two-time BCS national champion and arguably one of the greatest college football players of all time.
UK teen abortions are nearly double EU average
Teenage abortions in the UK stand at nearly twice the EU average, according to a sobering newly released report.
Muslims global leaders in persecuting Christians
Nine of the 10 worst nations for persecution of Christians are run essentially under Islamic law, and the “Arab Spring” across parts of northern African has led to a surge of repression, according to the new Open Doors “World Watch” list.
Thursday, December 8th, 2011Atheist Leader Complains About U.S. Troops Praying Together Before Combat Mission
The man pushing to get the military to install “atheist chaplains” in the armed forces told government-subsidized National Public Radio that military officers should not be praying with their men before going out on missions.
The Bible of King James
But this cowboy life was empty. He was looking for meaning, and one day in the drunk tank in a jail in Montana, he found himself reading the pages of the Bible. "I looked at that book in jail, and I saw then that He'd established me a house in heaven … He came into my heart."
ACLU Sues S.C. School for Promoting Christianity
The American Civil Liberties Union is suing a South Carolina school district for unconstitutionally promoting Christianity.
Over 20,000 Sign Petition Over Banned Bibles at Military Hospital
The Family Research Council issued a petition Monday over a ban on Bibles and religious materials at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011U.S. Military to Rescind Policy Banning Bibles at Hospital
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center said they are rescinding a policy that prohibits family members of wounded military troops from bringing Bibles or any religious reading materials to their loved ones.
Recent Charges of Sexual Abuse of Children in Hollywood Just Tip of Iceberg, Experts Say
If a spate of recent allegations proves true, Hollywood may have a hideous epidemic on its hands. The past two weeks have brought three separate reports of alleged child sexual abuse in the entertainment industry.
Supreme Court rules against church meetings at public schools
The Supreme Court has rejected an evangelical church's plea to overturn New York City's ban on after-hours religious worship services at public schools.
Homeschool Families Face Criminal Charges
New truancy enforcement laws have sparked criminal charges against several homeschool families in Nebraska. A Dawson County Sheriff’s deputy actually threatened to remove one family’s children unless they enrolled them in public school.
Thousands of honour attacks in Britain last year
Figures obtained by the Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation (Ikwro), reveal that at least 2,823 incidents of "honour-based" violence took place, with the highest number recorded in London.
Beware of the Tattoo Preacher
Thousands have been flocking to hear tattooed former Hell’s Angel Todd Bentley speak at a church in Cwmbran in South Wales, where he is holding revivalist meetings until Thursday. Last Thursday night he told his audience he had brought 33 people back from the dead and cured more than 100 deaf mutes of their handicap.
Monday, December 5th, 2011Muslim Extremists Destroy Lives, Church Buildings in Nigeria
In Nigeria’s increasingly dangerous northeast, Muslim extremists in this town in Yobe state helped members of the Islamic terrorist sect Boko Haram destroy five church buildings last Saturday (Nov. 26), while previously in neighboring Bauchi state Islamic radicals killed four Christians, including three girls.
Some atheist scientists take their children to church
A new study suggests that a surprising number of atheists are taking their children to church. Research published in the December issue of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion found that 17 percent of atheist professors with children reported attending more than one religious service in the past year.
Church of Scotland rejects proposals to legalise gay marriage
The Church of Scotland has rejected proposals to legalise marriage for gay men and lesbians, claiming the Scottish government's proposals undermine society and the meaning of marriage.
Bet El - The site of Jacob's Dream Discovered
For many years, the site of Jacob's dream was identified in a Roman - Byzantine citadel named Burj Bitin located south of the Arab village of Bitin, near Ramallah. In a new documentary, just released today, Dr. Hagi Ben-Artzi brings the archaeological discoveries in a site named Makam Sheikh Abdallah, near the settlement of Bet El.
Loved ones not always told their relative is on controversial 'death pathway'
Tens of thousands of patients with terminal illnesses are being placed on a “death pathway”, almost double the number just two years ago, a study published today shows.
Senate Approves Bill that Legalizes Sodomy and Bestiality in U.S. Military
The Senate on Thursday evening voted 93-7 to approve a defense authorization bill that includes a provision which not only repeals the military law on sodomy, it also repeals the military ban on sex with animals--or bestiality.
Friday, December 2nd, 2011Small Ky. church votes against interracial couples, prompting race argument between members
A tiny all-white Appalachian church in rural Kentucky has voted to ban interracial couples from joining its flock, pitting members against each other in an argument over race.
Houston Democrats Throw Christmas Party at Planned Parenthood
Democrats in Houston have decided on a location for their annual Christmas party and have decided to hold it at a local Houston Planned Parenthood facility.
Billy Graham hospitalized, in stable condition
Evangelist Billy Graham has been hospitalized, potentially with pneumonia, and is in stable condition, according a hospital statement.
Thursday, December 1st, 2011Special Report on 'Pastor' Youcef Nadarkhani
During 2011 Parsa Trust has received many enquiries about the alleged Iranian Pastor who has been under death sentence in Iran. We felt that as various evangelical and secular media have misinformed the public, it is time to give a short report on the faith of Youcef Nadarkhani and others of his colleagues.
Siri Sends Women to Pregnancy Centers, Not Abortion Clinics
Siri serves as an electronic personal assistant that responds to voice commands for owners of the iPhone 4S. Abortion advocates were outraged to find when Siri was asked questions related to abortion, the phone responded with a list of pregnancy resource centers instead of local abortion facilities.
Lewis Kirk Presbytery says don’t redefine marriage
The Presbytery affirmed that marriage is the unique union between “one man and one woman” and is the “bed-rock of a stable, moral and safe society”.
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011LGBT Groups Boycott Salvation Army's Red Kettles
The Salvation Army red kettles that sit outside storefronts during the Christmas season are causing some gay groups to see red. LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) activists are calling for a boycott of the Salvation Army’s annual red kettle drive because of its stance on homosexuality.
European debt crisis may hit U.S. economy harder
In its latest economic outlook released on Monday, the OECD said the level of uncertainty surrounding the U.S. economy was high and risks were heavily tilted to the downside.
U.K. Christian Worker Loses Airport Job Because of Muslim "Extremists"
An ex-employee of London’s buzzing Heathrow Airport is suing her former employer for unfair dismissal, claiming that she and other Christian staff were discriminated against because of their religious beliefs. According to the U.K.’s Sunday Telegraph, Nohad Halawi, who migrated to Britain from Lebanon in 1977, professed "that she was told that she would go to Hell for her religion, that Jews were responsible for the September 11th terror attacks, and that a friend was reduced to tears having been bullied for wearing a cross."
Pope urges international agreement on climate change
Pope Benedict XVI urged international leaders to reach a credible agreement on climate change, keeping in mind the needs of the poor and of future generations.
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011Worship Wars: The Fight Over Style of Music
There’s a war brewing inside of U.S. churches. While some congregants prefer the beat-bopping sounds of electric guitars, drums and fast-paced tunes, others seek a more traditional worship experience. The divide, which often hinges upon age and personal music taste, only seems to be intensifying — especially as churches seek to modernize and attract younger audiences.
'Same-sex unions' called 'destructive'
More than 80 non-governmental organizations and experts have endorsed a statement that describes alternatives to a husband-and-wife family, "particularly … same-sex unions" as "socially destructive."
Air Force Academy adapts to pagans, druids, witches and Wiccans
In the still of a cold November evening, a small gathering of pagans, led by two witches, begins preparations for the coming winter solstice. But these are not just any pagans, and this is not just any setting. They are future officers of the United States Air Force practicing their faith in the basement of the Air Force Academy's cadet chapel.
Focusing on the Jewish Story of the New Testament
The book Dr. Jill Levine has just edited with a Brandeis University professor, Marc Zvi Brettler, “The Jewish Annotated New Testament” (Oxford University Press), is an unusual scholarly experiment: an edition of the Christian holy book edited entirely by Jews. The volume includes notes and explanatory essays by 50 leading Jewish scholars, including Susannah Heschel, a historian and the daughter of the theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel; the Talmudist Daniel Boyarin; and Shaye J. D. Cohen, who teaches ancient Judaism at Harvard.
For many, 'Losing My Religion' isn't just a song: It's life
"The real dirty little secret of religiosity in America is that there are so many people for whom spiritual interest, thinking about ultimate questions, is minimal," says Mark Silk, professor of religion and public life at Trinity College, Hartford, Conn.
Monday, November 28th, 2011Obama Leaves God Out of Thanksgiving Address
President Obama did not include any reference to God during his weekly address titled, “On Thanksgiving, Grateful for the Men and Women Who Defend Our Country.”
Some fear megachurch bubble may soon burst
Most megachurches — which earn that label around the 2,000-attendance level — are led by baby boomer pastors who soon will hit retirement age and without suitable replacements in the pipeline. And some fear the big-box worship centers with lots of individual programs no longer appeal to younger generations.
Cross removed at base in Afghanistan
A large cross that had been prominently displayed outside a chapel on an isolated military base in northern Afghanistan was taken down last week, prompting outrage from some American service members stationed there.
Steve Jobs: 'I'm glad I didn't end up as an abortion'
Jobs eventually arranged a reunion, hoping to tell his mother she had "done the right thing. I wanted to meet [her] mostly to see if she was OK and to thank her, because I'm glad I didn't end up as an abortion," he told Isaacson. "She was 23 and she went through a lot to have me."
Ian Paisley will continue to preach "for a long time,"
Dr Paisley said he intended to remain active during his retirement. "I'm going to give up the full-time pastorate," he told BBC Newsline, "but I will still remain the pastor emeritus and I will still be doing a bit of church work." I hope people will not forget me, I don't think they will.
Monday, November 21st, 2011Obama Hires Pro-Abortion Activist to Head Women’s Outreach
The re-election campaign of President Barack Obama has hired an activist who formerly worked for one of the top pro-abortion groups to head up a new women’s outreach effort for the 2012 presidential election.
Pakistan Lists ‘Jesus Christ’ on List of Banned Obscenities
Pakistan is grouping pornography and Jesus Christ in the same heap. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, or PTA, compiled a list of what it considers obscene and offensive words and has ordered mobile phone companies to block text messages that contain them.
Planned Parenthood Abortion Director Fired, Becomes Pro-Life
Thousands of pro-life advocates on Monday night were introduced to the latest Planned Parenthood official to quit working for the abortion business and become a pro-life advocate.
Five Myths about Young Adult Church Dropouts
The Barna Group team spent much of the last five years exploring the lives of young people who drop out of church. The research provides many insights into the spiritual journeys of teens and young adults. The findings are revealed extensively in a new book called, You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving Church…and Rethinking Faith.
Evangelist Shot Dead in Pakistan
An evangelist was shot dead here on Wednesday (Nov. 16) by an unidentified gunman in what his family believes was a radical Muslim group’s targeting of a Christian.
Algerian Christian Stands Retrial for Insulting Prophet Muhammad
Siagh Krimo, an Algerian Christian who was arrested for proselytizing, is scheduled to stand trial on Thursday.
Friday, November 11th, 2011Most Americans Own a Bible, So Why Aren't They Reading It?
It may surprise you to learn that America is decidedly pro-Bible. According to research commissioned by American Bible Society, Barna Research polled 2,000 Americans and discovered that nine out of 10 households own a Bible. A full 86 percent of people surveyed indicated that they consider the Bible to be sacred or holy. That’s the good news.
Remains of war dead dumped in landfill
The Dover Air Force Base mortuary for years disposed of portions of troops’ remains by cremating them and dumping the ashes in a Virginia landfill, a practice that officials have since abandoned in favor of burial at sea.
71 tattooed Texas Pentecostal preachers roar up to Israel’s Wailing Wall — on Harleys!
A group of tattooed Texans on a mission of solidarity roared up to Israel’s Temple Mount and joined Orthodox Jews praying Sunday night at the Western Wall — all that remains of Solomon’s Temple.
Iran presses pastor: Islam or death
Iran’s government and security apparatus have ratcheted up the pressure on Evangelical pastor Youcef Nadarkhani to convert to Islam or face execution, Fox News reported on Saturday.
Islamists Kill Child in Attack on Christians
Suspected Islamic extremists with Somalia’s al Shabaab militia threw a grenade into the home of the church guard of an East Africa Pentecostal Church (EAPC) congregation outside Garissa, Kenya on Nov. 5, killing an eight-year-old girl and another member of the church, sources said.
Are colleges becoming 'boot camps' for 'gay' activists?
California State University Fullerton became the latest CSU school to offer a Queer Studies minor this fall, and SaveCalifornia.com President Randy Thomasson, a prominent pro-family voice in the Golden State's Proposition 8 battle to protect marriage as the union between one man and one woman, argues there's an agenda behind the increasingly common courses.
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011Persecuted Christian? Don't expect these pastors to speak up
About half of all the pastors in America's churches today do not want to tell their congregations that there are forces in the world that persecute Christians for their beliefs, because it's a "downer," according to the results of a startling new poll.
Pastor Shares 'What Not to Say to Single Women in Your Church'
Offering a few words of wisdom, Kevin DeYoung, senior pastor of University Reformed Church in Michigan, published on The Gospel Coalition website what one woman informed him on the matter via email.
Joel Osteen Discusses Views on End Times and Heaven
Harold Camping was sure he knew when Jesus would return. Megachurch pastor Joel Osteen is sure he doesn’t know.
Masons make no secret of a desire for new members
The Freemasons, the venerable “secret society” featured in blockbuster films “The Da Vinci Code” and “National Treasure,” is back in the limelight — by choice this time — with a new attitude and a new marketing campaign to attract a new generation of members.
Christian call to prayer riles Muslims
The local head of a national Muslim civil rights group says a Christian prayer summit to be held at Ford Field next week promotes anti-Muslim sentiment and is warning local mosques to step up their security.
'Church' Promises Free Alcohol, Cigarettes, Funky Music
IT will be a rare spectacle this Friday, November 4, when a Christian ministry devoted to the conversion of people considered as gross sinners holds its "Guys Night" in Lagos. Smoking, drinking of alcohol and dancing to immoral music - all of which are considered sin by much of Christendom - will not only be tolerated at the event but would indeed by actively supported by the organisers.
Gay Couples to be Allowed Church Ceremonies in UK
The ban on gay ceremonies in religious institutions in England is set to be lifted. According to reports, liberal MP Lynne Featherstone will make the announcement later today. However, the removal of the ban will not be official until Dec. 5.
Thursday, November 3rd, 2011Coptic Christian Massacre Costs Egypt Credibility
The Egyptian army’s killing of 27 people—including at least 23 Christians—who were protesting the burning of a church building has removed any respect most Egyptians had for the transitional military government, according to Christian human rights activists in the country.
Faith-healing parents sentenced to six years
An Oregon judge on Monday (Oct. 31) sentenced two members of a faith-healing church to more than six years in prison, saying the death of their newborn son was easily avoidable.
The state of evangelicalism: Canada differs from U.S.
The North American media seem obsessed with evangelical Protestants. Except for the occasional article about Pope Benedict XVI, evangelicals tend to be the dominant religion news makers. After all, evangelicals are often controversial.
California Church Preaches Gospel at the Bar … Beer Replaces Coffee
Churches, like businesses, are always trying to attract new faces. Some use tactics like providing coffee and sweets, or they boast a variety of different ministries for all age groups. Others have worship bands of rock star proportions and lots of digital technology to keep parishioners entertained. But a new church in San Jose, Calif., has a very different approach – it provides beer for attendees – after the service, of course.
Steve Jobs's last words: 'Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow'
Steve Jobs's biological sister, Mona Simpson, wrote a moving and highly personal eulogy for a private funeral service for the fallen tech titan that took place a few days after his death in last month.
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011IAN PAISLEY: Getting older, but still remembering
IT never ceases to make me smile at how many people expect me to have forgotten all sorts of things – forgotten their face, forgotten their name, forgotten how our paths crossed.
Understanding the Islam-Mormonism Connection
It's hard to believe that two religions that are worlds apart geographically have so many things in common. Here are some examples.
Religious tracts land in Trick or Treat bags
Twizzlers or tracts? Millions go missionary on Halloween by dropping little booklets on salvation in kids' candy bags.
Family Radio Founder Harold Camping Repents, Apologizes for False Teachings
With his speech sounding somewhat slurred and labored, Family Radio Stations Inc. founder and chairman Harold Camping sought to address in a recent message why Christ failed to return on Oct. 21 as the Bible teacher had predicted. Camping confessed, after decades of falsely misleading his followers, that he was wrong and regrets his misdeeds.
John Piper Explains Why Women Shouldn't Lead Men
“The Bible really cares about the dynamic between men and women. It has nothing to do with a woman’s incompetency,” Piper said during a 40-minute Q&A session at a recent seminar, “Let the Nations Be Glad!” organized by the Desiring God ministry.
The Messy Business of Clean Water in Africa
ICDI was birthed at the right place at the right time. It caught a surging wave of evangelical interest in Africa and water aid. Living Water International, with more than 10,000 wells completed in 26 countries, got the ball rolling in 1990 in Kenya. Dozens of smaller Christian ministries have sprung up since. Charity:Water, launched in 2006 by former New York City nightclub promoter Scott Harrison, has arguably taken water aid to a new level of prominence, raising more than $40 million for 4,300 projects in 19 countries.
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011'Chinese Bible' show really propaganda, says Christian group
An exhibit of Chinese Bibles currently touring the U.S. is a government propaganda ploy, according to China Aid.
Want to fight premarital sex, drug use, suicide?: eat more meals as a family
The dangers facing young people today are many: premarital sex, drug abuse, suicide, and dropping out of school among them. And if you listen to the “experts,” there are no easy answers for protecting our kids. And of course they are right. But saying there are no easy answers is entirely different from saying there are no answers.
Largest ever EU rebellion rocks British PM
David Cameron on Monday suffered his largest parliamentary rebellion since becoming prime minister as around 80 Conservative lawmakers defied their leader to vote in favour of holding a referendum on Britain's EU membership.
School tells Bible club not to advertise ... anywhere
A school superintendant in Oklahoma faces a lawsuit today for not only forbidding a community-led Christian club from placing fliers in the elementary school, but also for allegedly telling the Kids for Christ program not to advertise in the community either, lest it "stir up trouble."
Vatican calls for 'central world bank' to rule over financial institutions
The Vatican called on Monday for the establishment of a “global public authority” and a “central world bank” to rule over financial institutions that have become outdated and often ineffective in dealing fairly with crises. The document from the Vatican’s Justice and Peace department should please the “Occupy Wall Street” demonstrators and similar movements around the world who have protested against the economic downturn
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011Young Hispanic Catholics Continue to Shift to Evangelical Churches
Perhaps hungry to assimilate into American culture, more second and third generation Hispanics raised as Catholics are finding the worship style of evangelical churches in the U.S. more to their liking and leaving the centuries old religion.
Pope names three new saints
Pope Benedict XVI named three new saints for the Catholic Church during Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square that was disrupted by a man who climbed out onto the upper colonnade and burned a Bible.
Pastor: Obama has treated God 'like a spare tire'
On Wednesday, Pastor Ritter spoke with conservative talk-show host Sean Hannity about his face-to-face time with the president. Ritter said that during those few minutes, he shared that he pastors a local church and that his congregation prays for him often. According to the pastor, the president responded that he believes in the power of prayer and was trying to get some jobs to the area.
Libya unveils radical Islamic law
Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, the chairman of the National Transitional Council and de fact president, had already declared that Libyan laws in future would have Sharia, the Islamic code, as its "basic source".
Monday, October 24th, 2011Church Is Its Own Worst Critic, Says Church Planter
Two years ago, Cox was recruited by Pastor Rick Warren’s team at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., to help with its already well-developed global online community of pastors. His mission: take the church’s website which is dedicated to equip pastors, Pastors.com, to the next level.
Brand New Research on Pastors and their View of Ministry
According to just about every stat I hear, pastors hate the ministry, are miserable, would get out what if they could-- and that it is hurting their family. You've probably heard these statistics at a pastors conference. So, we decided to do a crazy thing-- we actually asked them.
Homosexual kiss at school assembly prompts student walk-out, parental fury
Members of the football team stomped out of a Hartford, Connecticut, high school assembly when a pro-homosexual advocacy play featured two boys kissing on stage.
Shariah advances as constitution is rewritten
Sudanese leader Omer Hassan Al-Bashir is moving forward with rewriting the country's constitution to implement Shariah law, according to reports from organizations with links inside the Muslim-dominated nation.
Vatican signs deal to collaborate on adult stem cell research
As chairman and chief executive of her own company, Dr. Robin Smith is a significant player in the world of biopharmaceutical products and research. Self-confident, poised and well traveled, she is used to dealing with movers and shakers.
New York City Parents Find Nothing Stylish About New Tattooed ‘Barbie’ Doll
The newest Barbie doll to hit store shelves is sparking controversy.The doll sports several tattoos, and some parents say it’s sending the wrong message to their kids, reports CBS 2’s Kathryn Brown.
Halloween’s Pagan Themes Fill West’s Faith Vacuum
Seems like Americans just want it to be Halloween all year. The holiday just keeps getting more popular. Seven in 10 expect to celebrate it in some way this Oct. 31, up from about six in 10 last year, according to a National Retail Federation report.
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011Wall Street Protest Stirs Christian Controversy
Beyond the protests on Wall Street, there is a battle brewing between the religious left and the religious right. So-called “religious left” voices have praised Wall Street occupiers whose demands range from cancellation of all debt, open borders, government control of health care and free college education, among other expansions of big government.
Victim's father warns about abortion pill
Eight years ago, mifepristone, "the abortion pill," claimed the life of Holly Patterson, an 18-year-old who received the drug from Planned Parenthood and used it to terminate a pregnancy.
Fremont members vote to leave Presbyterian Church USA over gay minister
After the vote, some church members wiped away tears. Others said they were relieved it was finally over.
Report says tithing, church spending hit record low
Tithing to mainline Protestant churches as a percentage of income is at its lowest level in at least 41 years, according to a new report, and churches are keeping a greater share of those donations for their own needs.
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011Pope wheeled up St Peter's instead of walking
Pope Benedict was wheeled up the main aisle of St Peter's Basilica on a mobile platform at a ceremony on Sunday to spare him the unnecessary fatigue of walking, but the Vatican said there was no concern for his overall health.
Destruction of Copts Is Islamically Correct
Raymond Ibrahim, an Islam specialist, Arabic speaker and author of The Al Qaeda Reader (Broadway, 2007), catalogs the key sequence of events that turned a church renovation project into terror and flames. With repair work in progress, he writes online at Hudson New York, "It was not long before local Muslims began complaining, making various demands, including that the church be devoid of crosses and bells—even though the permit approved them—citing that 'the cross irritates Muslims and their children.'"
Computer Program to Reveal: Who Wrote the Bible?
Precisely who wrote the Bible has been debated for centuries – but now scientists have devised a computer program that sheds much more light on the sources of the various religious texts within it.
United States National Academy of Sciences finds almost all human languages trace back to single root language
ALMOST all human languages trace back to a single root language, the United States' National Academy of Sciences (NAS) found after an exhaustive study, with one science blog claiming that the original pattern of human speech was much like that of the iconic Star Wars character Yoda.
Monday, October 17th, 2011Faith is No. 1 reason for teens' abstinence
The most frequent reason teenagers give for abstaining from sex is that the behavior is against their religion or morals, according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Oct. 12.
The Islamization of London: A Photo Tour
When I arrived in London in September it had been more than forty years since I had last spent any time in the city. If I hadn’t kept up with recent events through my British contacts, the changes would have been startling indeed.
Atheists Form Support Group for Nonbelieving Pastors
The Clergy Project has grown to nearly 100 members since the launch of a private, invitation only, website in March. The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Science and Reason and the Freedom From Religion Foundation have now made the project public in hopes of drawing more pastors, priests, rabbis and other religious leaders who have chosen to "move beyond faith."
Where child sacrifice is a business
The villages and farming communities that surround Uganda's capital, Kampala, are gripped by fear.
CSU begins Queer Studies program
California State University-Fullerton has initiated a progam for Queer Studies in what may be the start of a full-force takeover by homosexual activists in the public school system.
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