Muslims Say Pope Misrepresented Them

by | Oct 14, 2006 | Catholicism, Culture

I just had to wonder as I read this report as to how the same Muslim community that criticized the Pope’s representation of Islam would respond to an academic evaluation of their own mischaracterizations of other religions. Muslims find errors in Pope’s presentation of Islam | Top News |...

I Wish She’d Just Be Quiet

by | Oct 12, 2006 | Culture

I’m not supposed to say “shut up” in our house.  It’s not too nice.  But, I loved this little article – I just wish she would not only “be quiet” on her political views.  It wouldn’t bother me a bit if she simply quit singing also. Streisand fans tell the star to shut up and sing – Yahoo!...

Separation of Church from State – But Not State from Church

by | Oct 10, 2006 | Culture, Ecclesiology

As Exemptions Grow, Religion Outweighs Regulation – New York Times Did you catch the NY Times article castigating churches for their tax exempt status? It may be a more popular idea to jump up and down on the church today, suggesting that we should be treated like any and every other business and secular non-profit group in the country. Just a comment or two: 1. The NY Times presents a hopeless double standard, along with others in the national media and other secular groups. I think it a bit disingenuous to suggest that the church and state should remain seperate, except when it comes to the church’s paying taxes like a business and further being accountable to the government for the way the church’s affairs are conducted. Where was the scream for the much hallowed Jeffersonian ecclesiastical separation from governmental affairs in this article? I’m not asking for mandatory prayer put back in the public schools; just that the government shouldn’t have it both ways: one hand stiff arming us from public involvement and another in our pocket pilfering our offerings. Why would the NY Times care that the church was escaping the clenches of the state, when they argue so often for such separation? 2. Redefinition of Ministry by the churches. Why are churches building “day care centers to funeral homes, from ice cream parlors to fitness clubs, from bookstores?” I know, evangelism, right? I’m not convinced. Is the Time so interested in seeing the church taxed like a business or secular non-profit group because the church has been actiing more like a business secular non-profit group? What’s...