Monty's Toilet Reading » The Wall of Separation (908 unread)

The Wall of Separation (10 unread)

Chinese Puzzle: Focus On The Family Brings ‘Abstinence-Only’ Education To The World’s Most Populous Country

Posted: September 3rd, 2010, 11:28am EDT by Rob Boston

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While researching my book Close Encounters with the Religious Right in 1999, I visited the headquarters of Focus on the Family (FOF) in Colorado Springs. During the tour, the guide showed us a large map of the world covered with lights. Each light represented a city where FOF broadcasts were heard over the radio. I was surprised […] Read More
Call And Response: Religious Right Rallies To Fire Up Base For November Elections

Posted: September 2nd, 2010, 3:24pm EDT by Sandhya Bathija

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This weekend, Religious Right groups will kickoff election season by holding the first in a series of rallies, conferences and other events to stir up their base and turn out the vote in November. On Sept. 3-4, Lou Engle, the raspy-voiced founder of the neo-Pentecostal group TheCall, will lead the initial event in Sacramento. “Faithful Christians” will gather to pray […] Read More
Walk Out Or Wuss Out?: Glenn Beck Wavers On Pulpit Politicking

Posted: September 1st, 2010, 10:44am EDT by Rob Boston

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The Alliance Defense Fund is trumpeting an Aug. 27 clip of “Christian nation” revisionist David Barton appearing on Glenn Beck’s program lauding pulpit politicking. Barton is looking forward to the ADF’s Sept. 26 “Pulpit Freedom Sunday,” during which pastors will openly violate the law by endorsing or opposing candidates from the pulpit. Beck seemed taken with the […] Read More
Trouble In Paradise: Hawaii GOP Official Warns Of ‘Unrighteous’ Government

Posted: August 31st, 2010, 2:40pm EDT by Sandhya Bathija

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It’s not often we hear much church-state news from Hawaii, but today is the exception. The head of the Hawaii Republican Party has taken it upon himself to send out an e-mail warning pastors that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mufi Hannemann is “not righteous.” Hannemann’s campaign has been looking to visit churches across the state, and Hawaii GOP head Jonah […] Read More
Beck’s Dreck: Fox News Host’s Real Target Is Religious Liberty

Posted: August 30th, 2010, 10:55am EDT by Rob Boston

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Now that Glenn Beck’s Lincoln Memorial rally is over, it’s time to step back and ask the all-important question: What the heck was that all about? Beck portrayed the “Restoring Honor” event as a celebration of civil rights. But the reporting I read about the bombastic Fox News Channel host’s D.C. get together made some of it sound more like […] Read More
Dubious ‘Destiny’: Glenn Beck & Co. Are Leading Americans Toward Intolerance, Extremism

Posted: August 27th, 2010, 2:31pm EDT by Joseph L. Conn

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Glenn Beck escalates his war on church-state separation tonight with a “Divine Destiny” event at the Kennedy Center here in Washington, D.C. According to Beck’s Web site, the program will feature “an inspiring look at the role faith played in the founding of America and the role it will play again in its destiny. The audience for the event […] Read More
Religion + Public School = Trouble: Prayer-Pushing Mississippi Math Teacher Resigns

Posted: August 26th, 2010, 2:23pm EDT by Sandhya Bathija

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For the most part, our public school teachers respect and appreciate the U.S. Constitution. They understand that parents should choose what to teach their children about religion, not school employees. But every once in a while, a teacher comes along who insists he or she knows better. For example, Meadville, Miss., math instructor Alice Hawley believes she should lead her […] Read More
Stem Cell Tragedy: ADF Lawsuit Blocks Badly Needed Medical Research

Posted: August 25th, 2010, 2:14pm EDT by Sandhya Bathija

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Attorneys for the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) should be ashamed of themselves. They have succeeded in temporarily hindering sound science and impeding research that could save lives – just to push their fundamentalist religious agenda. Yesterday, a district court issued a preliminary injunction to stop embryonic stem cell research. The ADF, along with Advocates International, had gone to court […] Read More
Misguided Military Maneuver: Army’s ‘Spiritual Fitness’ Program Improperly Proselytizes

Posted: August 24th, 2010, 12:31pm EDT by Joseph L. Conn

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Some U.S. military leaders just can’t seem to respect the religious liberty rights of American service personnel. The Army is now investigating an incident at a Virginia military base where soldiers were apparently punished for declining to attend a Christian rock concert. Personnel who skipped the evangelical Christian rally were reportedly ordered to return to their barracks and […] Read More
Respect And Religious Liberty: A Christian Minister’s Perspective On The NYC Islamic Center Debate

Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 3:08pm EDT by Sandhya Bathija

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Since the controversy over the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque” began, we have heard many deplorable and ignorant comments against law-abiding Muslim Americans who have every right to practice their faith in the United States. Most recently, TV preacher Pat Robertson announced on his TV program, “The 700 Club,” that Muslims could bribe local officials to expand their influence. “Imagine […] Read More