This volume looks at the way a variety of American minority groups have read or misread the Bible and/or the Quran in applying them to modern life. Groups include: Native Americans, African Americans, US Latinos/as, Asian Americans, and “Arab” Americans.
Review of Biblical Literature.
Pakistani Christian, Parvez Henry Gill, is funding the building of a 140 ft. tall cross in Gora Qabristan, one of the older cemeteries in Karachi. Muslim workmen are involved in the project.
Asia’s largest Cross being built in Karachi – The Times of India.
Although 84 percent of citizens in Ireland identify themselves as Roman Catholic, attendance at mass is down significantly. Only about a third of Irish Catholics now attend on a weekly basis.
This article describes the faith and opinion of the famous astronaut, first to walk on the moon, who supports theistic evolution and the teaching of evolution in American schools.
John Glenn: Evolution should be taught in schools | Fox News.
This article about an atheist’s plans to sue for the removal of “In God We Trust” from U. S. currency explains that the motto was added around the time of our great Civil War, perhaps as an expression of people’s faith that God would lead the nation through that devastating conflict. ‘In God We Trust’: Is the motto on US currency unconstitutional? (+video) – CSMonitor.com.
This article about the first reconciliation meeting between a British royal and a leader of Sinn Fein included reference to a church service that Prince Charles would attend, memorializing the death of his godfather, Lord Mountbatten, who was killed in a terrorist bomb blast. Even with liberalization and decline in the Church of England, it still has an important role in reconciliation efforts.
Prince Charles meets Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.
A significant event since no Arabic speaking saints have been canonized for a very long time.
AP – Holy Land Christians celebrate sainthood of Arab nuns.
Jeb Bush, a devout convert to Roman Catholicism, spoke at Baptist Liberty University. The article notes that most Republican candidates court conservative Protestants, which make up 34% of the Republican vote. Jeb Bush at Liberty University: Why presidential hopefuls court Evangelicals (+video) – CSMonitor.com.
Raul Castro signaled a personal change in his relations to the Catholic Church after carefully following the teaching of Pope Francis. Castro also noted that Cubans are now free to exercise their faith, noteworthy changes for an atheistic, Catholic nation.
Castro: Ready to go back to church after meeting with Pope Francis.
This study, released today, has significant finding about the decline of Christian affiliation but does not provide explanations for the declines discovered in their surveys. I would suggestion the following reasons:
Personal rather than political reasons
The breakdown of families, which normally have held people in churches
Church-life feeling more hurtful than helpful
Social norms that caused people to say they were religious in the past are fading. People are more comfortable admitting they are unaffiliated.
America’s Changing Religious Landscape | Pew Research Center.
church history review 