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Boris Kachka, "Why Author Mary Karr Struggled Writing Her Third Memoir 'Lit'," New York Magazine (Nov. 8, 2009)
Now here's a bon mot: "Minoring in religious studies and thinking you know about religion is like watching porn, reading gynecology textbooks, and thinking you know something about pussy." Mary Karr, quoted in this piece.
A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch: review - Telegraph
Eamon Duffy reviews Diarmuid MacCulloch's new book, A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years (to be released in the US in March 2010).
Who Is a Jew? Court Ruling in Britain Raises Question - NYTimes.com
Fascinating article -- a UK court has declared that any definition of Judaism based on descent -- i.e., on whether an individual's mother is Jewish -- is ipso facto discriminatory and thus illegal. The context was an admissions policy for a publicly-funded Jewish school, which had excluded a student applicant because the school's Orthodox policy did not recognize the mother's conversion, conducted in a liberal setting, as valid and thus did not accept the applicant's claim to be Jewish. Archived: http://sqrl.it/?l3q8t and http://www.webcitation.org/5lBnaZcq8
xkcd - A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language - By Randall Munroe (Legos and organ donors)
"When you take apart a Lego house and mix the pieces into the bin, where does the house go? -- It's in the bin. -- No, those are just pieces. They could become spaceships or trains. The house was an arrangement. The arrangement doesn't stay with the pieces and it doesn't go anywhere else. It's just gone."
Halloween 'devil' claim overstated, says Bishop of Leicester
More on the Leicestershire Halloween controversy. Saving this one for some good quotations.
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Add Sticky NoteToday, the Reverend Barry Hill, the diocese of Leicester's head of mission, said: "I think Halloween is an unhelpful time, for religious, spiritual and practical reasons. A lot of churches are organising light parties instead. They would prefer to celebrate something that comes from goodness. The problem people have with Halloween is its roots and origins."
- sounds very evangelical in tone, to me - on 2009-11-03
Children 'will go to hell if they celebrate Halloween', says church leaflet - Telegraph
I don't have a good feel for what things are like in the UK, but if this were a US news story -- and I can easily imagine that it would be -- I would think that the subtext was a developing split between evangelicals and traditionalists in this particular community (part of the Church of England, I assume). Some evangelical-leaning activists put together an article condemning Halloween, it gets into the local church newsletter, and traditionalists are more or less blindsided by the controversy that results.
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Add Sticky NoteChristians do not celebrate Halloween - an American festival - because it has
links to witchcraft and ghosts.- Really, now! - on 2009-11-03
Breitbart.tv » Planned Parenthood Leader Resigns After Watching Ultrasound of Abortion Procedure
A remarkable story -- the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic evidently undergoes a kind of conversion experience and joins a local anti-abortion organization. In this two-minute interview, she explains her decision in religious terms. Planned Parenthood, fearing the disclosure of confidential information, has initiated some kind of legal action against her, including (I think) a restraining order.
Christian registrar should not be disciplined over same-sex marriage refusal - Telegraph
From the UK: a clerk who refused to solemnize a same-sex marriage is claiming that her refusal to do so -- which she says stems from her religious beliefs -- is protected under freedom-of-conscience laws. She is suing her employer, the Islington Council, for religious discrimination, and she "claims she suffered ridicule and bullying as a result of her stance and said she had been harassed ... by the council."
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James Dingemans QC, representing her, told a panel of three appeal judges that
Ms Ladele had never wanted to undermine the human rights or respect due to
members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender communities.
But human rights laws must also be there to protect people with committed
views about marriage, he said. -
'Modern human rights jurisprudence was not intended to obliterate religious
beliefs held for millennia.''
Mr Dingemans said she could not go against her faith and take an active part
to enable same-sex unions. - 1 more annotations...
BBC NEWS | UK | England | Leicestershire | Row over Halloween devil article
A C.o.E.-sponsored publication in Leicestershire criticized participants in Halloween festivities as "siding with the devil" and using "fear" and "blackmail" to "extort" sweets from neighbors. The publication was sent to several hundred parishioners, some of whom are now understandably upset.
Stephen Colbert interviews Fr. Randall Balmer on the papal appeal to Anglicans, Oct. 27, 2009
"Manipulation is witchcraft!" (from John Hagee's Daily Devotional, Sept. 11, 2009)
Seen on @almightygod 's Twitter stream.
Kimberly Daniels, "The Danger of Celebrating Halloween: Spiritual Life in God," Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN.com), undated (Oct. 2009?)
There was a press release from Americans United on this (http://j.mp/rC2Dya ). Originally published in Charisma magazine.
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During this period demons are assigned against those who participate in the rituals and festivities. These demons are automatically drawn to the fetishes that open doors for them to come into the lives of human beings. For example, most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.
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Mother earth is highly celebrated during the fall demonic harvest. Witches praise mother earth by bringing her fruits, nuts and herbs. Demons are loosed during these acts of worship. When nice church folk lay out their pumpkins on the church lawn, fill their baskets with nuts and herbs, and fire up their bonfires, the demons get busy. They have no respect for the church grounds. They respect only the sacrifice and do not care if it comes from believers or non-believers.
- 1 more annotations...
Browsable Greek New Testament
Handy resource for anyone who wants to browse the Greek NT online. It's quick, simple, and there seem to be some good references built in.
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